Flexbox Layout Behavior in Jetpack Compose
Article Summary
Zalando's engineering team is evaluating Jetpack Compose to replace Litho for their backend-driven mobile screens. But there's no Flexbox composable, so they mapped it themselves.
Andy Dyer from Zalando breaks down how CSS Flexbox layout concepts translate to Jetpack Compose (then in beta). Their fashion store apps rely on flexbox for dynamic UI, currently using Litho and Yoga layout engine.
Key Takeaways
- Row and Column handle basic layouts, but FlowRow/FlowColumn were deprecated mid-article
- Use weight() modifier for flex-grow; Compose lacks true flex-shrink equivalent
- Box composable enables absolute positioning with align() modifier for layered layouts
- Arrangement and Alignment parameters replace justify-content and align-items properties
- Hack Week prototype of home screen in Compose showed promising performance
Critical Insight
Most flexbox behaviors have direct Compose analogs, though some require creative workarounds or custom Layout composables.
