fossui vs shadcn_ui for Flutter
Both bring a coss/shadcn-style look to Flutter. Here is the honest trade-off, not a sales pitch.
| Dimension | shadcn_ui | fossui |
|---|---|---|
| Framework requirement | Built for MaterialApp | Reads its own theme first; works under MaterialApp, CupertinoApp, or a bare WidgetsApp |
| Dependencies | Pulls in an icon package and other runtime deps | 1 runtime dependency, ~430 KB |
| Docs | Established docs site | Rendered light/dark previews on every component page |
| Track record | Longer track record, larger install base | v0.1.1, early, verify before production use |
Framework requirement
shadcn_ui for Flutter is built for MaterialApp: its components assume that shell. fossui reads its own FossThemeData first and falls back to Material's ThemeExtension only if present, so it works identically under MaterialApp, CupertinoApp, or a bare WidgetsApp with no app-shell changes required.
Dependencies
shadcn_ui pulls in an icon package and other runtime dependencies as part of adopting the kit. fossui adds exactly one runtime dependency and stays around 430 KB with all 39 components used, and it takes no icon package at all: bring your own icons (Lucide, Material Icons, Cupertino, or custom).
Docs
shadcn_ui has an established docs site built up over more releases. fossui's docs render live light and dark previews for every variant, size, and state directly on each component page, so what you read matches what you'll actually see at runtime.
Track record
shadcn_ui has a longer track record and a larger install base today. fossui is at v0.1.1: usable now, but APIs can still change between releases, so verify behavior before shipping it to production.
shadcn_ui has more components and a bigger install base today, backed by a longer track record. fossui is framework-agnostic by design: it does not require MaterialApp, adds exactly one runtime dependency at roughly 430 KB, takes no bundled icon package, and its docs render live light and dark previews for every component and state. If you need a large, mature catalog and already build exclusively on MaterialApp, shadcn_ui is the safer choice today. If framework flexibility and a lighter dependency footprint matter more, fossui is built for that, with the same early-beta caveat as above.