51. Todd Volkert
It's All Widgets! Flutter Podcast
Deep Dive
What is Todd Volkert's role at Google?
Todd Volkert is the director of engineering for Flutter, leading the Flutter engineering team.
How long has Todd Volkert been working on Flutter?
Todd has been working on Flutter for about nine years, since early 2015.
What was Todd Volkert's previous experience before joining Google?
Before Google, Todd led engineering teams at companies like VMware and FOXSports, and he also started his own company doing photo management software.
What is Apache Pivot, and how is it related to Todd's experience?
Apache Pivot was a UI framework Todd helped develop at VMware, aiming to replace Java Swing and Adobe Flex, but it didn't gain traction due to the rise of mobile.
How does Google's management structure for Flutter work?
Google separates engineering and product management. Todd leads engineering for Flutter, Vijay Menon leads Dart engineering, and Michael Thompson is the product manager for both.
Why have some key Flutter team members left the team?
Some members, like Eric and Ian, left to pursue other opportunities, such as starting their own companies or consulting, but they still contribute to Flutter. Tim left to take on a new challenge but remains supportive of Flutter.
What is Google's stance on Kotlin Multiplatform and Flutter?
Google recommends Kotlin Multiplatform for shared business logic between Android and iOS, while Flutter is recommended for shared UI. Kotlin Multiplatform is part of Google's strategy to attract developers to the Android ecosystem.
What is the status of Impeller in Flutter's 2024 roadmap?
Impeller is on by default on the main channel and expected to be on by default on the stable channel for Android later this year. It's already on by default for iOS and close to being fully stable.
How does Flutter prioritize work between mobile, web, and desktop platforms?
Flutter prioritizes based on current roadmap needs, with mobile being a high priority. However, the community, including companies like Canonical and Microsoft, contributes significantly to desktop development.
How is Flutter investing in AI?
Flutter is exploring AI for generative UI experiences and assistive coding, aiming to innovate rather than just replicate existing AI tools like GitHub Copilot.
What is Todd Volkert's long-term vision for Flutter?
Todd envisions Flutter becoming the best way to paint pixels across all platforms, with Dart as the best general-purpose programming language, making multi-platform development without trade-offs the norm.
Shownotes Transcript