The Flutter community continues to improve the SDK in version 3.7, adding some great new features. For example, you can now create custom menu bars and cascading menus, utilize tools to support better internationalization, and rely on new debugging tools.

These new features are accompanied by improvements to existing features. Among these are the faster global selection tool, a rendering system called Impeller, and the ability to share resources across platforms.

What Is Flutter?

Flutter is Google's mobile app SDK for building high-quality native interfaces for iOS and Android using the Dart programming language. Flutter works with existing code, is used by developers and organizations around the world, and is free and open source.

While Flutter works with your existing code, it can easily adopt new code. You can start small with widgets in existing code bases or build an app from scratch. The choice is yours.

Let's take a quick look at some of the newest features.

1. Improved Material 3 Support

Flutter in Android Studio

Flutter has been updated with support for Material 3. This update allows you to use material components offered by the latest version of Android. The Material Pack features a sleek new theme that will make your content stand out boldly and prominently.

It is available for both iOS and Android.

Menus in Flutter

The latest Flutter update adds two new menu widgets: PlatformMenuBar and Material Design Menu. PlatformMenuBar is available on macOS and renders native menu bars instead of being rendered by Flutter.

For all platforms, you can define a Material Design menu that provides cascading menu bars (MenuBar) or individual cascading menus triggered by another UI element (MenuAnchor). These menus are fully customizable, and menu items can be custom widgets, or you can use the new menu item widgets (MenuItemButton, SubmenuButton).

3. Updated DevTools

Web developer using Flutter/Dart

Flutter 3.7 includes a major update to the memory debugging feature and several new tools you can use to debug your application. The first version of the snapshot analysis tool highlights areas in your Flutter application where performance could be improved.

4. Improved Scrolling

Several scrolling updates have arrived with this release to make the process of migrating to Flutter as easy as possible. Notable changes include new scrolling physics on the Mac platform, the addition of an animated grid, and improved handling of text selection in scrolling contexts.

5. Internationalization Tools

A new internationalization system makes it easier to translate and localize your Flutter app. The descriptive syntax allows for error messages that are easy to understand even for people with limited coding experience.

The new system allows you to create complex messages using placeholders and plural selections. See the updated Internationalizing Flutter apps page for more information.

6. Other New Flutter Features

iOS Release Validation

Other new features include a preview of the Impeller rendering engine (on iOS, Impeller on Android is not yet ready for preview), release verification (a checklist of settings to ensure your app is ready to be submitted to the App Store), and a text magnifier (which makes it easier reading small text on smartphones).

Flutter: Google's Mobile App SDK

Flutter 3.7 is out, and it's full of useful new features. While the previous releases were focused on performance and compatibility, this one is all about making it easier to build apps. There are plenty of useful updates to the developer tools with new features and improved navigation.

The Material Design theme has been updated with Enhanced Material 3 support, adding new icons and tweaked color schemes. In addition, support for menu bars and cascading menus are also now available. For more information view the release notes or Flutter's Medium page.

If you haven't looked into Flutter, now is a great time to consider it. Although its popularity as a mobile development framework is still modest compared to competitors such as React Native, it is gaining strength every day due to its remarkable advantages in simplicity and overall ease of use.