Kotlin: The evolution of Java development

Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that runs on the JVM, Android, and other platforms. It was developed by JetBrains and offers a simple yet powerful syntax and seamless interoperability with existing Java code. Kotlin is increasingly being used as an alternative to Java in Android development and is gaining traction in other areas such as the backend.

Notable features of Kotlin

Interoperability

Kotlin can seamlessly interact with Java code, which allows developers to migrate the code in Java projects to Kotlin step-by-step, while also leveraging the existing ecosystem of Java libraries.

Functional or object oriented

In Kotlin, both functional and object-oriented development can be used. This gives developers the opportunity to design the structure and organization of the code according to their requirements and preferences.

Many useful functionalities

Kotlin offers a wide range of additional features such as data classes, reactive operators or delegation patterns that facilitate development and make code more efficient and readable.

Null-Safety

Kotlin is static typing and ensures that null references are not allowed, which can prevent errors in the code early on.

Application areas of Kotlin

Android

Develop native Android apps with Kotlin.

Multiplatform Mobile

Develop cross-platform apps with Kotlin Multi Platform (KMM).

Server-side

Develop scalable server-side backend applications with Kotlin.

Advantages and disadvantages of Kotlin

Modern programming language

Kotlin is a very modern programming language that supports many modern features and concepts, such as lambda expressions, Extension functions, null-safety, and much more.

Easy to learn

Kotlin is easy to learn, especially for developers who already have experience with Java. Kotlin's syntax is simple and clear, which makes writing code easier.

Interoperability with Java

Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, which means that Kotlin code can be easily used in a Java environment and vice versa. This also means that any Java library can be used, which automatically gives Kotlin a very extensive ecosystem.

Less boilerplate code

Kotlin reduces the amount of boilerplate code needed to write an application. This means developers spend less time messing around with code that only serves to maintain the structure of the application.

Multiplatform support

Kotlin can be used to develop applications for different platforms such as Android, iOS, web and desktop. This allows developers to write an application only once and run it on different platforms.

Open source

Kotlin is open source, which means that all source code is public and can be viewed, modified and used by anyone free of charge.

Smaller Community

Since Kotlin is a newer programming language, there is not yet a comparable community to older programming languages.

Familiarization

Kotlin saves a considerable number of lines of code thanks to numerous functions. However, developers must first familiarize themselves with the new notation before they can use it efficiently and correctly. Otherwise, the readability of the code may suffer.

Dependency on JetBrains

One additional drawback of Kotlin is its dependence on Jetbrains as the primary developer of the language and developer tools, which could be a potential risk if Jetbrains reduces or changes its support in the future.

Our conclusion

Overall, Kotlin offers a modern, intuitive and effective way to develop applications, be it for Android, cross-platform apps or server-side applications.

We currently use Kotlin mainly in the backend and have had almost exclusively positive experiences so far. However, it remains to be seen whether Kotlin will also convince us in cross-platform apps.

You can find more information about Kotlin on its in-house website.

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Projects using Kotlin

16.06.2023 in Projects

Pension calculator and pension fund comparison

Development of digital solutions for pension planning.

16.06.2023 in Projects

Development of an insurance calculator

We developed a digital solution for insurance services.

15.12.2017 in Projects

Sales platform for Georg Fischer

devedis developed a new customized sales platform for GF Piping Systems.

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