Google has unveiled updates to its Flutter cross-platform development tool and the accompanying Dart language including an early preview of the Flutter GPU API, a low-level graphics API for building rendering packages from scratch.
Flutter 3.24 and Dart 3.5 were launched on August 6.
Flutter GPU is a low-level graphics API integrated into the Flutter SDK. It allows developers to define custom raster pipelines and submit draw calls directly to the GPU, making it possible to develop specialized renderers such as 2D Canvas alternatives, 3D scene graphs, or particle systems for performant and immersive experiences without the engine-level bulk typically needed, Google said. Google noted that graphics programming has a steep learning curve, and that most users likely will choose to use a higher-level rendering package rather than build there own. As a result, Google is investing in rendering packages such as Flutter Scene, which leverages the Flutter GPU API and allows importing of animated glTF models and constructing 3D scenes, enabling developers to easily build 3D apps and games in Flutter and Dart. While the Flutter GPU API is in preview, Google recommends developing against Flutter’s main channel when using Flutter GPU.