We needed a cross-platform development framework, but without relying on web technology.
We prioritized a low-level, type-safe application development technology that avoided the pitfalls of ported web tools. After exploring options like React Native and others, our team found Flutter to be the ideal solution.
Inspired by tools used in video game development and a Sony white paper on automotive interfaces, we recognized Flutter’s ability to write directly to the frame buffer as a game changer. This approach offered exceptional performance and graphics potential, avoiding the operational complexity imposed by the operating system. Combined with its unidirectional data flow and state management, Flutter became the perfect foundation for building TigerEye’s complex, enterprise-level application.
Flutter enables true cross-platform functionality, allowing us to maintain a single codebase without compromising speed or quality. It is fast and has far fewer trade-offs compared to alternatives like QT, React Native, or legacy systems such as Microsoft’s C# Mono. Its architecture delivers clean, maintainable, and testable code that performs consistently across platforms.
Much like apps such as Spotify, Zoom, or even the design systems used in modern video games like Diablo, TigerEye’s interface achieves consistency and polish across devices without sacrificing functionality. Flutter’s robust widget system ensures that our enterprise users experience high-quality results, no matter what platform they’re on.
Performance and Cross-Platform Development
TigerEye’s app runs at 60 frames per second while handling millions of data records, enabled in part by DuckDB.Dart. This Dart plugin for the DuckDB database provides high-performance data processing directly within the app. Flutter’s efficient widget system ensures only visible data is loaded into memory, optimizing both speed and resource usage. Together, DuckDB.Dart and Flutter’s seamless integration deliver enterprise-level performance and scalability across all platforms.
Because Flutter works directly with the frame buffer, it simplifies performance optimization. Custom widgets built for high data volumes avoid bottlenecks, a critical feature for TigerEye’s product, which processes millions of data points daily. Dart’s FFI (Foreign Function Interface) also plays a key role here, allowing us to integrate DuckDB efficiently into our system for low-level, high-performance data handling.
Consistent User Experience Across Platforms
TigerEye uses its own design system to ensure a cohesive experience across platforms. Flutter enables us to maintain a consistent look and feel for widgets like data grids and graphs, regardless of the device.
Flutter’s ability to adapt interfaces based on device capabilities — whether it’s touch-enabled like an iPad or a desktop with a mouse — has been instrumental. We don’t rely on default style guides like Cupertino or Material Design, but instead customize Flutter’s widgets to align with TigerEye’s unique design requirements.
Flutter’s flexibility also allows us to leverage device-specific functionality while maintaining a unified experience. For example, on Windows devices with touch screens, our app offers an optimized touch interface, while on macOS, we deliver a polished experience tailored to desktop users. This adaptability ensures users always have a native-like experience.
Automated Testing and CI/CD
Flutter’s command-line-friendly build process has been a game changer for CI/CD. Unlike GUI-heavy tools like Xcode, Flutter allows us to use a unified, code-based approach. This eliminates the need for manual steps or platform-specific configurations, streamlining our releases and enabling hundreds of deployments per week.
Flutter also excels in testing with its robust support for widget, view, and integration tests. This lets us isolate and test specific features, such as buttons or data views, without loading an entire operating system, saving time and resources. The headless nature of Flutter’s testing makes it particularly fast and developer-friendly.
Scalability and Long-Term Plans
TigerEye was built for enterprise-scale applications, and Flutter has proven its ability to handle large volumes of data efficiently. Backed by Google, Flutter provides the reliability and scalability we need for long-term growth. As a Google shop, we use Flutter alongside other Google technologies like GCP, creating a seamless ecosystem that supports our scalability goals.
Dart, the language that powers Flutter, is critical to our development. It drives both our front-end application through Flutter and our back-end data platform. This shared foundation allows us to reuse not just code but also fundamental core components. For example, we’ve written a simulator in Dart to model business futures and perform Monte Carlo analyses. This enables us to run thousands of simulations on the back end while using the same logic to run a single simulation on the front end for visualization. This dual-use capability enhances development efficiency and ensures consistency across our platform.
Our platform is designed for companies at IPO-level scale, where handling massive datasets is critical. Flutter’s architecture, combined with Dart and DuckDB.Dart, ensures we can meet these demands without compromising performance.
Advice for Teams Considering Flutter
For teams considering Flutter, our advice is simple: prioritize learning Dart. Its versatility allows for seamless integration across front-end and back-end systems, giving your team a significant edge in performance and scalability.
Flutter is a modern, reliable solution for serious, enterprise-grade applications.
