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Today, it is most prominently used for Android development. Let’s look at the corresponding sub-projects of Kotlin:

• Kotlin/JVM: Enables writing JVM applications by transpiling to Java bytecode. For example -Android development, Spring services, and desktop applications.
• Kotlin/JS: Allows writing web applications by transpiling to JavaScript. For example, – React apps and Vanilla JS apps.
• Kotlin/Native: Enables writing applications for embedded devices or iOS development. For example – iOS apps, microcontroller programming, and others.

This programming language supports multi-platform application development, which enables you to share code between apps for different platforms. The most obvious use case is to share core functionality between the Kotlin Android app and the Kotlin iOS app.

Kotlin Language and Syntax

In terms of language and syntax, Kotlin simply aims to be readable, pragmatic, and safe. To fully appreciate what that means, let’s take a look at the language’s core tenets.

• Readability – It is supported by language features such as type inference, data classes, and infix functions. Such features enable concise code without sacrificing readability.
• Pragmatism – JetBrains themselves use it to develop their IDEs. Kotlin incorporates industry feedback and addresses large-scale app development issues, crucial for the large-scale enterprise app development This programming language is frequently used for JetBrains itself uses it to develop its IDEs.
• Safety – Kotlin aims to prevent common app bugs by design. This is accomplished through several language features such as nullable types (to avoid null pointer exceptions) and nudging towards the best practices like designing for inheritance.

Why Do Developers Prefer Kotlin Over Any Other Language?

How has It created such a buzz? Why do many developers love it? Why should one choose This programming language over others? We decided to handpick several answers to all of those questions. Let’s dive in and learn!

Open-Source

Kotlin was introduced with the need for more concise language compatible with Java and JavaScript in mind. Instead of keeping it as an internal project, JetBrains decided to open-source it in 2012. Since then, satisfied developers have sparked Kotlin’s meteoric rise through the app development world.

Lesser Code Writing

Java requires detailed code writing; the Kotlin compiler, on the other hand, can understand code and write a lot of code itself with ease. It is a fact that developers can write 20% less code in This programming language, drastically reducing boilerplate code. As a result, developers can spend more time on the exciting parts of the coding, leaving Kotlin to manage the routine code itself.

Kotlin Backed by Google

Perhaps the most appealing thing about Kotlin language is that Google backs it. Google’s support give life to Kotlin when it declares Kotlin to be the officially supports language for Android at its I/O annual summit 2017. With Google’s announcement, many prior fears, such as bugs, unsupport formats, and others, no longer exists, and developers can now freely develop apps using Kotlin.

100% Interoperability with Java

Kotlin and Java are two similar languages that can, fortunately, go hand-in-hand. Kotlin has 100% interoperability with Java, meaning developers can have any percentage of code written in Kotlin, and the rest in Java. If developers have the codes from both Java and Kotlin in the same project, they can compile correctly. In short, if developers are working with Kotlin, they get the benefit of vast Java commands, Java libraries, and Java frameworks.

Object-Oriented and Functional Language

Being both object-orient and functional constructs, Kotlin wins over other languages, which means you can use it in object-orient and functional programming styles, offering developers great features like high-order functions, function types, and lambdas to explore functional programming.

Server-Side Development

Kotlin is not only used for Android development but server-side developments as well. With 100% compatibility with JVMwhile maintaining full compatibility with existing Java-based technology stacks, developers can leverage server-side development using Spring and Vert frameworks.x, Ktor, Kotlinx.html, and more.

Null Safety

One of the best features of Kotlin is that there is no NullPointerException. With Kotlin, developers don’t need to worry about NPEs because null safety is build into Kotlin’s type system. The Kotlin system refuses to compile code that tries to assign or return null, so developers can catch NPEs at compile time instead of runtime, and eliminate the danger of null references from code.

Use of Existing Java Frameworks and Libraries

Kotlin can readily use all existing Java frameworks and libraries. apps created with this programming language can use all advanced frameworks too, which rely on annotation processing. Kotlin is an easy-to-integrate language and is frequently integrates with Gradle, Maven, and other build systems.

Extension Functions

It is easy to compose functions in Kotlin with extensions and operators. As in C# and Gosu, Kotlin gives developers the ability to extend a class with new functionality without inheriting the class or using any design pattern like Decorator. Extension functions help developers to extend the functionalities of classes without touching the core code.

Great IDE and Tooling Support

Kotlin’s excellent support is backed by JetBrains, a company that’s created some of the world’s most used IDEs. With a strong community behind Kotlin’s language and tools, developers can always have support when they need it. Additionally, all of Android Studio’s IDE features work perfectly in Kotlin.

Kotlin vs Java

For many years, Java was the only programming language for Android and server-side development. However, the launch and rise of Kotlin have changed Java’s dominant position. Let’s take a look at how the two heavyweights stack up against each other.

Size, Complexity, and Code Quality

Java requires more code lines, while Kotlin enables developers to accomplish the same tasks with lesser code, making it more expressive. This helps developers make code more organized, readable, and reusable, thus lessening their efforts and increasing productivity. To help manage the quality of code, Kotlin uses type inferencing, eliminating overly tedious syntax that Java developers face.

Kotlin has No NullPointerException

Built-in null safety makes It an obvious leader when it comes to Android development. NullPointerException is one of the major causes of Android mistakes as Java enables developers to assign a null value to an object reference, resulting in Android apps’ crash. Kotlin, on the other hand, offers inherent null safety, which means no variable or object can be assign with a null value.

Interoperability

Interoperability is probably one of the most attractive features of It. Being 100% interoperable with Java allows writing some parts of code that work seamlessly within Java code, making it much easier to switch from Java to Kotlin during development.

Coroutine Support

Whenever developers start a long-running process with CPU intensive operations in Java, the corresponding thread gets block. It is possible to create multiple threads but managing them is complex. With Coroutine support, however, developers can create multiple threads to run long processes in Kotlin without thread blocking.

Delegation

Java lacks this feature, which makes Kotlin superior in terms of using multiple inheritances. This programming language allows for a receiving object to delegate operations to a second delegate object, called the helper object, containing original content so that developers don’t need to rewrite it. The multiple inheritances avoid the duplication of code.

Compile Time and Performance

Talking about performance, Kotlin runs as fast as Java. However, the support of inline functions and the use of lambdas allow developers to create apps that run faster than Java code. Java compiles 10-15% faster than its counter partner in clean builds; however, This programming language works slightly better, thus better handling functional programming.

Functional Programming

Java supports functional programming, but only in Java 8, whereas most Android development is done with Java 6 and 7. Kotlin is a mix of functional, procedural programming, which consists of many useful methods like lambdas, higher-order functions, lazy evaluation, and more; You can offer most of this methods for Android developers in Java 8.

Top Popular Apps/Companies Using Kotlin

Is Kotlin a new era of Android app development? This question often arises as within a year of launch, Kotlin has been trending as a top-class replacement of Java for Android development. Over 60% of Android developers are now using Kotlin, becoming the fastest-growing language on GitHub in terms of the number of contributors. Some of the world’s most popular apps are build with Kotlin:

• Google
• Pinterest
• Square
• Trello
• Evernote
• Slack
• Corda
• Tinder
• N26
• Netflix
• Airbnb
• Basecmp

Conclusion

Kotlin is safer, stabler, more reliable, and faster, eliminating null reference errors, enabling extension functions, supporting functional programming, and adding coroutines. With big market players like Google, Netflix, Pinterest, Evernote, Airbnb, and Trello using Kotlin, it’s no wonder why both developers and companies are gravitating to This programming language in droves.