Since its inception in 2011, the Kotlin programming language has seen significant development. In recent years, many Android app developers have become interested in Kotlin. Java is now seen as an error-prone, outdated programming language resistant to change. However, some of its key features are not available for Android app creation, forcing developers to migrate to a more result-oriented and user-friendly language like Kotlin. Swift is a programming language that was recently released. Objective C is no longer available because of Swift. Java, a different programming language, may not be famous for much longer because of Kotlin.
Google has announced that it will help developers use Kotlin for Android development. Google announced that Kotlin is the official Android language at the annual developer conference, Google I/O in 2017. This makes it clear why Kotlin is a good choice for Android development. In the past, Java was a popular choice for coders. It was used to create many innovative Android applications. However, Kotlin has since become a more popular option.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a modern and open-source programming language. Kotlin, which JetBrains developed, can be used to create Android applications and Java.
Before you hire Kotlin developer, take a look at the following facts regarding Kotlin:
- StackOverflow ranked Kotlin as the fourth most popular language in 2020, with 62.9 percent votes.
- Kotlin is now ranked among the top 20 programming languages on Redmonk.
- Kotlin Multi Platform allows you to develop cross-platform applications using Kotlin.
- Kotlin is a popular programming language used by major corporations like Google, Netflix, Amazon, Trello, etc.
- Uber and Pinterest, among other companies, migrated their apps to Kotlin from Java.
Reasons Why Kotlin is the Best Choice for Android App Development
Android developers have the freedom, simplicity, and autonomy to code and develop Android applications with Kotlin. However, there are several more reasons why they choose Kotlin.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why Kotlin is so vital for app development:
Simple to set up
Kotlin is now much simpler to include in your Android applications. In the past, developers were forced to use a plugin to add Kotlin to their applications. Android Studio 3.0 has a built-in function that makes it easier to use Kotlin. When creating a new Android Studio project, you can use Kotlin by checking the ‘Include Kotlin Support’ option.
No more null pointer exceptions
NullPointerExceptions (NPEs) are among Java developers’ most common errors. Kotlin eliminates these pesky errors, making your code cleaner and less prone to mistakes.
Concise Code
The most significant advantage of Kotlin is that it requires less code to be written, tested, and maintained, resulting in fewer bugs. Kotlin’s source code is smaller, more concise, and less verbose than Java. This implies that Kotlin scripts may be used to customize apps in Android Studio, resulting in reduced code. Auto-completion can help decrease the time it takes to find errors during compilation. This is because there will be less code, meaning programmers can swiftly deploy and compile Android apps that are lightweight and do not take up a lot of space.
Interoperable with Java
Kotlin is interoperable with Java, which means Kotlin and Java code can be used together.
You don’t have to replace all your existing Java code to use Kotlin. You may choose only the parts written in Kotlin without changing the other components.
With Java, you can call Kotlin and Java, and vice versa.
Kotlin also makes it simpler for Android developers to convert their Java code into Kotlin with minimal effort and hard work.
Reduce boilerplate code by cutting out repetition
Kotlin also helps to reduce boilerplate code, which is the repetition of code that appears in multiple locations.
This means that you can write your code once and use it everywhere without copying and pasting it. As all of your Kotlin code is centralized in one place, you won’t need to manage multiple files for each project.
Compatible with Android Studio
Kotlin is also compatible with Android Studio, the most popular Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Android development. This means that you can use all of the available features in Android Studio while developing your applications in Kotlin.
Android Studio also offers features such as code completion, refactoring, and debugging that can help you improve your code’s quality.
Wide IDE support
Kotlin is compatible with Android Studio and other IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and NetBeans.
Using these IDEs makes Kotlin easier to use for developers who are already familiar with them.
You can use the same plugins and libraries that you’re currently using with Java in these IDEs.
This implies that Kotlin can be used as a replacement for Java, allowing you to develop applications without learning a new IDE.
More Stability and Reliability
Kotlin is more stable than other languages such as JS. It also has a low risk of errors, making it easier for developers to build bug-free applications.
The result is faster development times and fewer crashes, which means more time for new features and less time fixing bugs.
Community support
The Kotlin community is large and active, meaning that you can find help easily if you need it.
The Kotlin developers are also very supportive, meaning that they will answer any questions you may have while developing your applications.
They can advise you on the best practices for using Kotlin and help with bugs and errors.
Stronger design pattern
Kotlin has a strong design pattern, meaning that you can use it to create complex applications and code without worrying about crashes. This is because the language is designed so that it will not crash if any errors occur. Additionally, developers can write clean and concise code, which means fewer bugs to fix.
Safe and Secure
Kotlin is a safe and secure language that has been designed to protect developers from errors. Thus, you can be confident that your code will not crash or cause any problems while it is running. Furthermore, Kotlin offers data classes, null safety, and smart casts that enable developers to write safe and secure code.
Cross-Platform
Kotlin was designed to work on any Java Virtual Machine device. This means that it can be used on many devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops.
Kotlin can also be used in web applications, meaning that you can write once and use your code on any platform.
Conclusion
There are several advantages to using the Kotlin programming language for developing Android apps. As a result, many businesses are adopting it. However, because Kotlin is a young language, finding suitable development partners may be difficult for enterprises.
If you want to develop a mobile application using Kotlin, you’ll need to conduct extensive research and hire dedicated Kotlin developers. Only an expert could come up with the best answers.
About Author:-
Maulik Shah is the CEO of BiztechCS, a Kotlin app developer from India. Maulik likes to explore beyond his comfort zone. When it comes to writing for the blog, his contribution is priceless. No one else on the team can bring the deep industry knowledge to articles that he has. However, his door is always open and he is generous with sharing that knowledge.