Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided information, crafted with the principles of in-depth journalism in mind:
Title: HarmonyOS WeChat App Launches, But Flutter’s Role Remains Murky
Introduction:
After 295 days of intense development, a native WeChat app for Huawei’s pure-blood HarmonyOS has finally arrived on the app store. The launch, while a significant milestone, has also ignited a debate within the tech community, particularly surrounding the app’s reliance on the cross-platform framework, Flutter. While Tencent acknowledges Flutter’s use, the specific extent of its integration remains unclear, leaving many to question the true native nature of the application.
Body:
A Long-Awaited Arrival: The official HarmonyOS WeChat app, version 1.0.3.42, landed on the Huawei AppGallery on January 9th. This release marks a significant step for both Huawei and WeChat users within China, offering a fully functional experience including core features such as messaging, social networking, WeChat Pay, official accounts, mini-programs, video channels, and live streaming. This version is a considerable upgrade from previous test versions, aiming to provide a seamless experience comparable to its counterparts on other platforms. However, Tencent has cautioned that some features are still undergoing refinement and may be temporarily limited or unavailable.
The Pure-Blood Challenge: The development of this app was no small feat. With Huawei’s HarmonyOS ditching compatibility with Android applications, the term pure-blood emerged, signifying a complete rewrite of applications using the new ArkTS programming language and a novel technical framework. As a Tencent employee, @客村小蒋, explained in a detailed Weibo post, the development required a complete overhaul of the WeChat app from the ground up. This meant a significant undertaking, requiring developers to build an app from scratch while simultaneously navigating the intricacies of a brand-new operating system.
Flutter’s Unclear Role: The development process began in earnest in March 2024, with a team led by a veteran engineer who previously worked on the Symbian version of WeChat. The team quickly began building the app’s infrastructure, leveraging Tencent’s Alita cross-platform kernel. The core of the debate lies in the fact that, while building the app, Tencent explicitly stated that they utilized Flutter and liteapp, a mobile-focused cross-platform framework. This is where the narrative becomes less clear. While Tencent openly acknowledges using Flutter, they haven’t specified which parts of the app are built with it. This ambiguity has led to speculation about the extent of Flutter’s role in what is supposed to be a native HarmonyOS application. The team also focused on decoupling modules to ensure stability and scalability, a crucial aspect for an app as complex as WeChat. By June 2024, the team was in the actual development phase, integrating features like payment and VoIP.
The Lingering Questions: The use of Flutter, a framework designed for cross-platform development, raises questions about the true native nature of the app. While Flutter can produce highly performant applications, it is not inherently tied to the underlying operating system in the same way as a purely native app built with ArkTS. The lack of transparency from Tencent about the specific areas where Flutter is used has fueled speculation. Is it used for UI rendering, specific modules, or just for rapid prototyping? The answer to this question will be crucial in understanding the long-term performance and capabilities of the HarmonyOS WeChat app.
Conclusion:
The launch of the HarmonyOS WeChat app is undoubtedly a significant development, showcasing the progress of Huawei’s ecosystem and Tencent’s commitment to supporting it. However, the ambiguity surrounding the extent of Flutter’s use within the app raises questions about its true native status. As the app matures and receives further updates, it will be crucial to monitor its performance and observe whether the use of cross-platform frameworks impacts its overall experience. The industry will be watching closely to see how this development impacts the future of HarmonyOS app development.
References:
- InfoQ Article: 纯血鸿蒙微信 App 正式上线！依然使用了 Flutter，依然没说清哪里用了Flutter (Original Source Provided)
- Tencent Official Account 鹅厂黑板报 (Mentioned in Article)
- Weibo Post by @客村小蒋 (Mentioned in Article)
Note: Since the provided information does not include specific academic papers or reports, the references are limited to the sources mentioned in the text. If additional sources were available, they would be included in a standard citation format (e.g., APA, MLA).
Views: 0