flet

Introducing Flet

Flet is an innovative framework designed to help developers effortlessly create real-time web, mobile, and desktop applications in their preferred programming languages. One of the standout features of Flet is that it enables users to share applications securely with their teams, all without needing any prior experience in frontend development.

⚡ Rapid App Development

Flet allows developers to transform their ideas into fully functioning applications within minutes. Whether it’s an internal tool, a dashboard, a weekend project, a data entry form, a kiosk application, or a high-fidelity prototype, Flet serves as an excellent framework for quickly crafting interactive applications that cater to a group of users.

📐 Simplified Architecture

Unlike traditional development approaches that require complex systems involving a JavaScript frontend, REST API backend, databases, and caching systems, Flet offers a simplified architecture. With Flet, developers can write a single, stateful application using only Python, resulting in a multi-user, real-time Single-Page Application (SPA).

🔋 Inclusive Development Environment

Flet offers a development environment with fewer complications. Developers only need their preferred Integrated Development Environment (IDE) or text editor to start building applications. Unlike other platforms that require multiple Software Development Kits (SDKs), along with numerous dependencies and complicated tools, Flet provides a built-in web server for serving assets along with desktop clients.

   Backed by Flutter

The user interfaces in Flet are powered by Flutter. This ensures that applications developed on Flet are professional in appearance and can be delivered across various platforms. Flet simplifies the Flutter development model by combining smaller "widgets" into larger, ready-to-use "controls" that operate under an imperative programming model.

🌐 Language Flexibility

Flet is language-agnostic, meaning it allows team members to build applications using the programming language they are most comfortable with. Although it currently supports Python, additional languages such as Go and C# are being integrated into future releases.

📱 Multi-Device Deployment

Applications built with Flet can be deployed as web apps accessible through a web browser. They can also be packaged as standalone desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Additionally, Flet applications can be installed on mobile devices as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) or accessed via the Flet app on iOS and Android devices.

Example Application: Flet Counter App

Here’s a simple example using Python to build a basic counter application with Flet. Below is a snippet illustrating how easy it is to create a counter where users can increase or decrease a number:

import flet
from flet import IconButton, Page, Row, TextField, icons

def main(page: Page):
    page.title = "Flet counter example"
    page.vertical_alignment = "center"

    txt_number = TextField(value="0", text_align="right", width=100)

    def minus_click(e):
        txt_number.value = str(int(txt_number.value) - 1)
        page.update()

    def plus_click(e):
        txt_number.value = str(int(txt_number.value) + 1)
        page.update()

    page.add(
        Row(
            [
                IconButton(icons.REMOVE, on_click=minus_click),
                txt_number,
                IconButton(icons.ADD, on_click=plus_click),
            ],
            alignment="center",
        )
    )

flet.app(target=main)

To execute the app, one needs to install the flet module using:

pip install flet

Then run the program with:

python counter.py

This code initiates the application in a native OS window, providing a more streamlined alternative to Electron.

To convert this into a web app, the last line is modified as follows:

flet.app(target=main, view=flet.AppView.WEB_BROWSER)

Getting Started with Flet

Here are some resources for getting started with Flet:

• Creating Flet apps in Python
• Controls reference

Sample Applications in Python

Flet provides several example applications to inspire and guide developers, including:

• Greeter (Demo)
• Counter (Demo)
• To-Do (Demo)
• Icons Browser (Demo)

Further inspirational demo applications are available in the gallery.

Joining the Flet Community

For discussions, support, and updates, join the growing Flet community:

• GitHub Discussions
• Discord
• Twitter
• Email

Contributing to Flet

Interested in contributing to the Flet project? You can find more information in the CONTRIBUTING.md file.