From the moment of its invention, Java dominates the Android application development market. Recently, another modern programming language is becoming immensely popular among Android developers across the world. Kotlin’s ranking is rising so much with time that experts hope that soon, it would become one of the top 20 programming languages ever! This article will give you a brief idea about Kotlin and why this language is getting so much attention from developers.
An introduction to Kotlin
This is an open source language and based on the JVM (Java Virtual Machine). Kotlin is the brainchild of the renowned Russia-based programmers at JetBrains. This new language is now part of the latest version 3.0 of Android Studio.
For more than 20 years, Java has dominated the market and obviously the impeccable features and functionalities it offers are of excellent quality. Otherwise, it will not be possible to govern an unparalleled market for so long. However, it may sound strange, but you can’t ignore the “aging” facet of Java. Here comes Kotlin in the picture. A new, modern and advanced Android dedicated language that offers a remarkable set of benefits. Read on and check out the list of benefits you can take advantage of if you opt for Kotlin.
- interoperability
Can you think of the situation, where two different programming languages coexist in the same project? Well, with Kotlin, this is possible. While using Kotlin, you don’t need to switch to a different project or change existing code. You can effortlessly use the features it offers and ease the application development process.
- less coding
Let’s think of something simple! Why would you write a hundred lines of code when you can get the job done by writing just a few lines of code? Yes, the amount of code you need to write in Java to perform a particular task, you can do it by writing almost 20% less code in Kotlin. Well, no wonder why Android developers all over the world are freaking out over it!
Certainly, this ‘less coding’ feature not only decreases the amount of repetitive coding, but also improves code execution.
- Easy learning curve
One of the most intriguing facts about Kotlin is its easy learning curve. Unlike the O version of Android, you can easily master it by checking the list of language references. It has a simple and intuitive syntax that is smooth for Java experts. If you already have Java skills, learning Kotlin is nothing for you!
- safe and secure
Working with Kotlin is a slightly safer option for developers. Wondering why? Well, with the help of this, you can notice crucial errors like NullPointExceptions. The compiler automatically throws errors. Sometimes a developer can miss a small bug, but it’s all thanks to the Kotlin compiler not allowing it to be done.
- Zero adoption cost
The term ‘free’ or ‘zero cost’ easily grabs people’s attention! Kotlin would not disappoint users in this case either. How? Well, this is an open source language. Therefore, you would not have to spend a single penny to get it. Just get a conversion tool that can convert all existing Java files to Kotlin and voila! You are all set to go with this impressive high-end language.
Although Kotlin is gaining exponential popularity in the market, for beginners in the field of Android application development, it is always advisable to start the learning process with Java.