Advantages and Disadvantages of Kotlin

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Kotlin

Kotlin is a programming language that Google introduced in 2017 as the official language for Android development. Prague-based software company JetBrains developed it, and its name comes from Kotlin Island near St. Petersburg, Russia. Some developers consider it a better language than the older equivalent, Java. The language is intended to be fully compatible with Java. 

However, it can write code more efficiently than Java while maintaining security and performance. Java has dominated the Android development market for decades and has been the platform of choice for creating Android apps. After Google’s announcement, Kotlin’s popularity took off, and more developers are opting to use it instead of Java when creating cross-platform, iOS, and Android apps.

It is not to say that you should use Kotlin in your next Android development project. Before making a choice, you must become well-versed in the advantages and disadvantages of Kotlin. In this article, you will explore them to understand if it is a good option for your development team.

Advantages You Should Know About

The following are some of the advantages of the cross-platform open-source statically-typed programming language, Kotlin, which a growing number of developers prefer nowadays for Android development.

  • Readable and Concise Code
  • Compatibility With Java
  • Supports Cross-Platform Development
  • Easily Maintainable 
  • Increases Team Efficiency

1. Readable and Concise Code

Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that is easy to read and write, especially if you are familiar with Java. It is also concise, with fewer lines of code required to perform the same tasks as Java. Its readable and concise code allows you to focus more on the quality and logic of the code, lowering the chances of bugs. So, it can easily streamline the programming process compared to Java.

2. Compatibility With Java

Kotlin is fully compatible with all Java development frameworks and libraries. It is, therefore, easy for developers to switch from Java to Kotlin. Because the language is compatible with existing Java code, you can easily migrate your existing projects. You can use both programming languages conveniently at the same time. This compatibility makes Kotlin an attractive choice for developers, as it allows them to continue working with their legacy code while taking advantage of the benefits of Kotlin.

3. Supports Cross-Platform Development

The fact that Kotlin facilitates both native and cross-platform app development is one of its most notable advantages. With the support of Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile, an SDK for creating iOS and Android apps, developers can now share the business logic of their apps across platforms while maintaining a native user experience.

Additionally, developers can create seven server-side applications and statically typed front-end web apps with the Kotlin to JavaScript compiler. Therefore, it is possible to swiftly develop apps for several platforms, which is advantageous for businesses.

4. Easily Maintainable 

Numerous IDEs, such as Android Studio and numerous other SDK softwares, are supported by Kotlin. Because it can support the toolkits that developers still use frequently, the language helps to increase the developer’s overall productivity.

5. Increases Team Efficiency

Because of its concise and easy-to-understand syntax, the Kotlin language promotes team productivity while remaining clear and concise. Writing and deploying working code with Kotlin requires fewer lines of code, which allows you to accomplish more work in less time. This can allow teams to complete projects more quickly and efficiently. Additionally, the language’s concise syntax makes it easier to collaborate with other team members.

Disadvantages You Should Know About

Now that you are done going through the advantages, you can read about the various disadvantages of Kotlin. It includes the following:

  • Limited Availability of Kotlin Developers
  • Limited Learning Opportunities
  • Small Community
  • Differences With Java
  • Compilation Takes Longer

1. Limited Availability of Kotlin Developers

As you know, Kotlin has grown in popularity over the years, and many developers are opting for the programming language. However, there are not enough programmers with language proficiency to go around. Tech giant Google even recommends the language for Android. Notably, there are significantly fewer Kotlin developers than Java developers.

Finding and hiring talented people may present some challenges for you. 

2. Limited Learning Opportunities

Kotlin is, of course, a beginner-friendly language that is easy to read and write. However, when it comes to resources, they are limited and offer limited learning opportunities. It only provides a few tools for learning programming languages and answering various questions during software development. So, it is very challenging for programmers to learn and master the programming language, especially for novice developers.   

3. Small Community

In contrast to Java, the Kotlin community is relatively small. And because of this, it could be challenging for novice developers to solve problems or develop fast fixes. Fortunately, though, the community and its resources have expanded over the last few years. In the upcoming years, this situation is anticipated to improve.

4. Differences With Java

Even though Kotlin and Java have similarities, there are still some significant differences between them. So, switching to Kotlin from Java could take time and require extensive training to get a hold of it, especially when it comes to beginner developers. It would be greatly appreciated if you had a basic understanding of Java.

5. Compilation Takes Longer

The compilation speed of Kotlin is yet another drawback. Although Kotlin apps are smaller and faster than Java apps, and the compiler itself is fantastic, compiling new or fresh builds takes far longer than Java. The rapid incremental builds, however, make up for this.

Kotlin is becoming a must in the world of Android development because it is preferred when writing new applications. For Android developers, the language undoubtedly has a number of benefits, including interoperability, cross-platform compatibility, concise code, a fantastic compiler, and many more. It becomes even more appealing when you consider that Google is supporting it. The drawbacks, or cons, of Kotlin, are more like difficulties that can be solved with ease. Hope the information in the article will help you make an informed decision.

Interesting Links:

Start Learning Kotlin

Develop Android Apps with Kotlin

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