Google’s recent ‘structural simplification’ resulted in the loss of roles for 200 people across several of its core development teams, including Python, Dart, and Flutter.
Considering Canonical’s commitment to using Flutter for its own desktop apps, the news of layoffs in the team responsible for building the framework has raised some concern within the wider Ubuntu community about its continued viability.
The new Ubuntu Installer, Firmware Updater, App Center, and the (currently unavailable) Desktop Security Center are all built using Flutter, Google’s cross-platform, web-based UI framework, which is supported by the Dart programming language.
A number of developers within the Ubuntu Flutter community are also utilizing the framework to create exciting new desktop apps. Perhaps the most well-known example is the sleek music, radio, podcast, and video player, MusicPod.
Has Canonical possibly chosen an unfavorable path? A community developer shared their concern, saying the Flutter 2024 roadmap has moved desktop features lower in their priority list. This decision, they say, does not indicate a promising future for Flutter, nor does it inspire them to create apps using it.
In the UK, there’s an encouraging phrase we tend to use: keep calm and carry on. It’s a motto that fits this situation well — because the situation with Flutter might not be as dire as it initially appears.
Is Flutter bound for the Google Graveyard?
A CNBC report described how internal documentation revealed 200 people from core teams, including Flutter and Dart, were laid off. However, many of these positions (the job, not the person) were reassigned to Google employees in other countries, such as India, Mexico, and Germany.
Contributing on X, Michael Thomsen, a Product Manager at Google for Dart and Flutter, provides assurance by saying: “No changes in strategy. The team size remains unaltered; only some DevOps roles are relocating. The 2024 roadmap persists.”
It indicates that the team’s size remains the same, but the composition may vary.
Kevin Moore, who also serves as a Project Manager on Dart and Flutter at Google, supplements:
“Neither Dart nor Flutter were more or less affected than others. Despite the sadness, we continue to work hard on I/O and beyond. We know how much you all care about the team, the project, and the incredible ecosystem we’ve collectively cultivated.”
“You’re nervous. I comprehend it. We comprehend it. You’re placing your bets on Flutter and Dart. As am I. As is Google.”
Soothing words — yet I’m not a software engineer so I may not get all the subtleties.
Indeed, the Flutter 2024 guide is what is causing Flutter developers within the Ubuntu community to be alarmed. GTK4 backing and accessibility planning are on the schedule, yet numerous requested features, for example, multi-window support, are absent.
With Google prioritising Flutter web and portable efforts this year (where most usage resides; numerous web applications and a multitude of iOS and Android applications use Flutter) individuals from throughout the community wonder if Canonical should increase its investment in Flutter to fill the gaps.
Ubuntu is not affected in the short term. The development of the Flutter apps developed by Canonical, and the Flutter professionals paid by Canonical to develop them, continues to be vibrant and continuous, and we can anticipate more refinements and bug fixes in the near future.
Note: The fact that people are losing jobs (even if they are allowed to ‘apply for new roles within the company,’ as Google states) is terrible. Aside from job security, people acquire expertise, become emotionally linked to results, and forge friendships – all of which come to a sudden halt.
Techcrunch (via P.P.)
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