GanttSync vs. DHTMLX: Why Native Flutter wins over JS Wrappers
When building project management software in Flutter, you often face a choice: use a Native Widget (GanttSync) or wrap a mature JavaScript Library (like DHTMLX) in a WebView.
While DHTMLX is extremely powerful for the web, the "WebView bridge" creates a ceiling for your application's performance and developer experience.
🛑 Stop waiting for "Early Access"
While competitors are still building waitlists for their complex synchronization features, GanttSync is production-ready today. Don't delay your launch for a roadmap promise.
1. The performance cost of the "Bridge"
Serialization Overhead
To use DHTMLX in Flutter, you must pass data back and forth between Dart and JavaScript. This involves serializing large amounts of task data into JSON, which causes:
- Main Thread Blocking: Large JSON payloads can cause frame drops during synchronization.
- Memory Duplication: Data lives in both the Dart heap and the JavaScript engine's memory.
The GanttSync Advantage
GanttSync is 100% Native Dart.
- Direct Memory Access: No serialization needed to render.
- 120 FPS Rendering: Utilizing Flutter's Impeller engine for buttery smooth interactions.
- Low Latency: Touch events are processed immediately by the widget.
2. Synchronization & Offline Capability
The "Sync" Waitlist
DHTMLX is a rendering library. Building a robust, multi-user, offline-capable synchronization engine on top of it is a massive undertaking. Many teams find themselves on "early access" lists for commercial sync solutions that aren't yet ready for Flutter.
GanttSync includes the Engine:
- Built-in CRDTs: Conflict-free Replicated Data Types are baked into the core.
- Offline-First: Every edit is tracked with Hybrid Logical Clocks (HLCs) for perfect merging.
- Production Ready: We don't have a waitlist. Our sync server and client libraries are available now.
3. Developer Experience (DX)
The "Black Box" Problem
Debugging a JavaScript library inside a WebView from a Flutter app is a nightmare. You lose your IDE's debugger, hot reload is less effective, and stack traces are fragmented.
The Flutter-First Way
- Type Safety: Full Dart type definitions for tasks, dependencies, and themes.
- Widget Composition: Use standard Flutter widgets for task bars and tooltips.
- Hot Reload: See your styling changes instantly across the entire UI.
Technical Comparison
| Feature | GanttSync | DHTMLX (via WebView) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | ⚡ Native Dart Widget | 🌐 JS Library in WebView |
| Rendering | ✅ 120 FPS (Skia/Impeller) | ⚠️ 30-60 FPS (DOM dependent) |
| Sync Engine | ✅ Included (CRDT-based) | ❌ DIY or Commercial Waitlist |
| Debugging | ✅ Native Dart/IDE | ❌ fragmentized JS/WebView |
| Offline Mode | ✅ Native causality tracking | ⚠️ Requires extensive JS glue |
| Styling | ✅ Standard Flutter Widgets | ❌ CSS/HTML injection |
Move faster with Native
Don't spend your engineering budget building "glue" for a web library. Use the Gantt chart designed specifically for the Flutter ecosystem.