Kotlin is increasingly becoming a favorite programming language among Android developers. Despite Java’s overwhelmingly widespread popularity as the go-to platform for Android app development, Kotlin has emerged as a powerful alternative. Java remains a significant coding language for developing Android apps. Yet Kotlin is making remarkable inroads across the app development industry. Both Java and Kotlin are now official languages for Android.
In this blog post, we will talk about the most striking advantages of using Kotlin over Java for Android app development. From easy learning to the code structure to accuracy, the benefits span across a wide spectrum. Keep scrolling to dive deeper.
Key Advantages of Kotlin-based Android App Development
More and more developers are choosing Kotlin over Java. Kotlin compiles to the same byte code as Java and can interoperate with Java in natural ways. Despite the familiarity and reliability that Java offer, a growing number of Android app developers are shifting to Kotlin for its more advanced features. Here’s a list of the most striking ones.
1. Shorter & simpler coding
With Kotlin you get both shorter code and better readability. The official developers of Kotlin have been putting their best efforts to keep the language as short as possible. Shorter codes mean lower chances of error in coding. You can focus more on the quality and logic of the code, rather than on avoiding long code-related errors.
Since Kotlin is a statically-typed programming language, it is very easy to read and write. The shortness and simplicity of the codes also make it easier for you to debug. Kotlin’s codes can more efficiently streamline the programming process than Java. The slick integrated development environment of Kotlin makes it possible.
2. Compatibility with Java
All Java libraries and development frameworks are perfectly compatible with Kotlin. This makes it easier for Android app development companies to smoothly switch to Kotlin from Java. If you are an Android developer, you can easily use Kotlin without making any major changes, such as converting an entire project in terms of coding. This is, in fact, one of the biggest advantages when it comes to time and efforts associated with changing the existing coding language.
Besides, the simplicity of Kotlin makes it incredibly easy for developers to learn and code. If you are familiar with Java, you can easily write codes in Kotlin. Also, you can easily convert Java codes into Kotlin. You just need IntelliJ or Android studio, and you’re good to convert Java to Kotlin. That’s why so many Android development projects are being shifted to Kotlin.
3. Null reference elimination
This is one of the biggest advantages of choosing Kotlin over Java. Null references, referred to as ‘the billion-dollar mistake’ by computer scientist Sir Tony Hoare, is a major roadblock to good-quality coding. In Java, null references may result in a null reference exception, called the NullPointerException (NPE). The Kotlin programming language is designed to eliminate NPE from the code. The only possible causes of NPE could be:
• A call to throw NullPointerException().
• Data consistency related to initialization.
• Java interoperation attempts to access a member of the null reference, among others.
4. Solution to Java’s flaws
Kotlin makes coding for Android app development better and smarter by solving some common flaws in Java. For instance, it enables you to overcome the problem of the null pointer. Over time, Kotlin has efficiently adopted some great elements from other languages such as C# and Scala. These adaptations are aimed at some the of long-existing flaws associated with Java. Coding elements like parameter lists and variable declarations make Kotlin a perfect tool for dealing with the flaws of Java.
5. Cross-platform app development
The development capabilities of Kotlin goes beyond Android app development, and even beyond mobile apps. With JavaScript interoperability support, Kotlin enables you to transfer the frontend development to Kotlin. Additionally, Kotlin allows you to write Gradle codes in Kotlin. This also enables mobile app developers to build iOS app. That’s why the cross-platforms apps written Kotlin have native-like performance.
Besides these, Kotlin also features efficient multithreading. It lets you synchronize multiple threads with simultaneous modification of data. You can use pure functions and immutable objects to eliminate the need for continuous modification.
Conclusion
Java is here to stay for the foreseeable future. But Kotlin is likely to become a more popular choice among Android app developers. With its developer-friendly features and constant evolution, the language is already creating a buzz. Leading software-based companies like Pinterest, Basecamp, and Atlassian have already implemented Kotlin. This trend will only grow over time. At Android Developer India, a leading Android app development company in India, we use both Kotlin and Java. But our developers are already more enthusiastic about Kotlin than Java. It’s just a matter of time before Kotlin surpasses Java’s popularity.
FAQs
Q. Is Kotlin better than Java?
Kotlin adds many advanced features to mobile app development. It is being increasingly used by the Android app developers’ community. Kotlin can compile the code to JavaScript or native. It enables developers to build code that can run both on Android and iOS. It’s a statically-typed language. Kotlin’s key features like built-in null safety support make apps flawless and user friendly.
Q. How much does it cost to build a Kotlin-based Android app?
The costs of developing a Kotlin-based Android app depend on several factors. Design complexity, development time, type of features, etc. play an important role in calculating the costs. We build impeccable Kotlin apps at a competitive price.
Q. How long does it take to develop an Android app in Kotlin?
There’s no predefined time for developing a Kotlin-based app. It varies widely depending on the features of the app and its design. The best way to know an estimated time is to consult development experts.
