We are all familiar with the most popular language, Java, as it is the primary language used for Android application development. But as time changed, technology-enhanced, and that’s why today we have Kotlin, not in place of Java, but as a better option than Java due to its immutability and being 100% interoperable with Java.
Since Google announced Kotlin as the official programming language for coding Android apps, many app developers have started adopting it, and they are doing very well in it. Many Java projects have been re-coded in Kotlin to make them more powerful and futuristic.
This guide is all about the trending Kotlin programming language, and if you’re also looking to code your application with Kotlin, hire our Android app developers team and get the best results.
What is kotlin?
Kotlin is a cross-platform, open-source programming language that is statically typed and runs on the Java virtual machine. Kotlin is designed to interoperate with Java. As we said, it mainly targets the JVM but also compiles JavaScript. Kotlin is considered the best for Android application development as it combines both acquisitive and functional programming features.
Kotlin is included as an alternative to the standard Java compiler in Android Studio.
Also read: Lambda Function in Python
Importance of Kotlin in Android App Development
We cannot ignore the advent of Java a few years ago. It helped developers develop some amazing applications, and now developers are well acquainted with the language. But now that technology has improved, it’s time to upgrade, and Kotlin is that upgrade.
We can argue, but we don’t, because we’re not defining something wrong; we are spreading the upgrade version everywhere. With the advent of Kotlin, not only companies but also developers have benefited. Developers are always ready to do some creativity and innovation, and with the advent of Kotlin, they may find it helpful.
Also, the interoperability of Kotlin, makes tasks easier for developers whenever Java and Kotlin exist in one place. It helps developers to be more efficient, and developers can simply build an Android application in two languages (Kotlin and Java) by using this function.
Additionally, in 2019, Google also revealed that Kotlin has become the most popular language for Android app development.
Now that you know why Kotlin is important, let’s have a look at its stats to ensure its success.
What Do Statistics Say About the Future of Kotlin Programming?
According to data published on the official site of JetBrains, in the last 12 months, there have been 4.86 million Kotlin developers globally.
The average number of monthly active users in 2021 will be 373,000.
The professional audience estimated for Kotlin is 1–1.9 million developers.
In 2021, about 2 million professional developers will have used Kotlin at least once.
According to StackOverflow, in 2020, Kotlin was the 4th most chosen language, with 62.9 percent of votes.
Many developers chose Kotlin as one of their first three preferred languages.
Within 3 years, Kotlin showed immense growth, and now it is used by more than 7.8 percent of the industry’s experts.
Kotlin is expected to release its new version sometime after June 2022.
The most popular companies, like Google, Netflix, Pinterest, Uber, Trello, and more, used Kotlin.
Pinterest and Uber migrated their apps from Java to Kotlin.
What are the design challenges faced by Kotlin?
One of the challenges mobile app development programmers faced was the nullification of the system. The Kotlin programmers came up with solutions, but it was too much trouble, and then, after several iterations, the Kotlin team came up with platform types. This is the current version that Kotlin uses.
Many things would have been clear from this part of the article. Now it’s time to move forward with the most important benefits of Kotlin.
Benefits of Choosing Kotlin for Android App Development
Here are the following benefits of choosing Kotlin as your primary language for application development:
Open-Source
JetBrains declared Kotlin as the open-source programming language that directly helps developers in the development process. Using open-source technology, developers can create robust applications and modify them with the Kotlin team’s support.
Interoperability
It is also a great benefit for companies that would like to interact with both Java and Kotlin. Kotlin is 100 percent interoperability with Java, which means that Java and Kotlin can easily share data whenever they’re in touch. This property of Kotlin allows developers to use both languages in app development projects.
Less Coding Required
Kotlin is designed in such a way that it minimizes the need for coding and helps developers be more efficient and productive. In Kotlin, there is 20% less coding required compared to Java. This is possible because Kotlin reduces the amount of boilerplate coding, which was essential for developers to write. This makes Kotlin the preferred choice for Android app development.
Kotlin is simpler than Java
In other languages like Java, you may find several issues, like rigidity. slow compilation time, and others. But Kotlin is free from them, as it is a simple and robust programming language that needs fewer methods and a small library to develop an app.
Migration
The migration has benefited several companies, including Pinterest and Uber, which have migrated their apps from Java to Kotlin. With Kotlin, if you want to upgrade your apps, it is easy.
Reliable
Kotlin is more secure and reliable than Java. It helps developers in the development process by avoiding errors and bugs like NullPointException. It protects developers from many other bugs and issues and makes your
Minimum App Development and Maintenance Costs with Kotlin
Kotlin comes with great features and high-quality results, but its cost is quite manageable. As a technology-enhanced language, it helps you save money on development, as Kotlin does. Kotlin requires less app development and maintenance costs compared to Java, and this is one of the best benefits for businesses that want to invest in Kotlin.
Popular companies working with Kotlin
Let’s take a look at the list of popular companies that are using Kotlin.
- Amazon
- Netflix
- Trello
- Capital One
- Uber
- Corda
Conclusion
We have included the most important stuff related to Kotlin in this article. We hope you find it helpful and are looking forward to developing your own Android app with the modern Kotlin programming language.