If you’re a developer, you’ve probably heard of Kotlin. If you’re new to programming but interested in developing android applications, then keep reading to learn more about Kotlin. It’s been gaining popularity lately, and it’s starting to replace Java as a preferred programming language.
With millions of mobile apps being developed and thousands being published every year, knowing how to program applications has much value in the market.
In this article, we’ll answer some of your questions including what is Kotlin and how can I get started learning the Kotlin programming language?
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language developed by JetBrains in 2011 and is meant to be used with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
It was designed to be a statically typed, object-oriented programming language that can be compiled to JavaScript, but it can also be compiled to native code and has full interoperability with Java. In other words, it’s a standalone language that can be used to write Android apps and websites, as well as console applications and CLI tools.
It has gained popularity in recent years due to its ease of use and powerful features.
Who uses Kotlin?
The biggest companies that use Kotlin include Pinterest, Uber, Trello, Google and others. These companies use it because it enables them to write code faster than they could using Java and other languages. They also find it easier to write tests for their code using Kotlin. According to Square CEO Jack Dorsey, “We found that teams who were using Kotlin had higher productivity, quality and velocity than those who were not.”
What are the pros and cons of Kotlin?
The pros of Kotlin include:
- The language is easy to learn and read
- It’s compatible with Java, so it can be used in any environment that uses Java
- Kotlin is open source, which means it’s free to use and build upon (as well as contribute to)
- Kotlin has been around since 2010, so it has a large community of users who can help you out if you run into problems
The cons of Kotlin include:
- Kotlin isn’t as popular as some other languages like Java or Swift yet, so there aren’t as many resources out there for learning about it (though this may change soon). However, Google’s official documentation page on GitHub has lots of information about how the language works and what kinds of tools are available for using it.
Note: Kotlin is an open-source programming language, and it’s quickly becoming the go-to language for Android development. It’s easy to learn, it’s concise, and it can save you plenty of time and money during development. But there are some drawbacks to Kotlin that you should be aware of before jumping into the technology.
How is it different from Java?
What makes Kotlin different from Java? Both are object-oriented languages with garbage collection and support for multiple inheritance, but Kotlin also supports functional programming features such as lambda expressions (in short, these allow you to write code that can be executed at runtime).
Java is an object-oriented language that also runs on the JVM and was first released in 1995 by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle). It is still widely used and one of the most popular programming languages in use today. Java is also a statically typed programming language and has been used in thousands of applications since its beginning. Java’s syntax is similar to C++ but its design is simpler, making it easier to learn than other languages like C++ or C#.
And what about performance? While both will perform well on a wide range of devices, Kotlin tends to run faster than Java when compiled into bytecode. This is because it has been designed from the ground up to avoid certain issues that can lead to performance problems in Java, such as type erasure (when types are erased during compilation), nullability errors (where null values can cause unexpected results), and unnecessary memory allocations.
Which programming language is better?
The biggest factor when choosing between these two languages is whether or not they’re compatible with your existing codebase. If you have lots of Java code that needs to be rewritten before it can work with Kotlin, then switching over won’t make sense right now. However, if all your code is written in Kotlin already or if you’re starting fresh with a new project then this shouldn’t be an issue at all.
Kotlin is also safer than Java because it uses type inference, which means the compiler can check your code for you and make sure it’s correct before running it. Type inference also makes Kotlin easier to learn than Java because there are fewer rules you have to remember; this means less time spent writing classes and more time spent doing other things.
Kotlin is faster than Java because it compiles down into bytecode that runs directly on the JVM (Java Virtual Machine). This means that Kotlin doesn’t require any kind of special runtime environment like other languages like Python do—it can run directly in Android Studio or IntelliJ IDEA as if it were Java code. It also means that Kotlin apps are compatible with all existing libraries written in Java without any changes needed on either side of the equation.
Where can I get started learning Kotlin?
There are a number of places you can get started learning Kotlin.
The Kotlin website is one of the most useful, as it contains links to all the documentation and tutorials you need to get started on your journey. You’ll also find a list of tools and resources, so if you want to learn more about something specific or just see what’s available, this is the place to go.
You can check out websites that offer courses on learning programming.
The most popular options are:
- Coursera – This website offers a variety of courses covering Kotlin, including one designed specifically for beginners. You can also find a list of other resources at their website.
- Udemy – This site offers several Kotlin courses that cover the basics of the language.
- YouTube – There are many videos on this platform that teach you how to use Kotlin in various scenarios.
There are also many applications available for Android and IOS that teach you coding for free. You can play unique games that challenge your brain while providing a reward system that helps you learn faster. Test a few of them out. What resources do you use for programming in Kotlin? Let us know below in the comments.
