There’s been a boom in Android app development. Android has taken over as the world’s most popular smartphone operating system. Many businesses wonder what programming language to use to build a leading, impactful mobile app with this new surge in demand.
When it comes to Android app development, most experts mention Kotlin and Java. These two languages are both excellent for building great Android apps due to their superior functionality and features.
It’s really important to determine which language is better Kotlin or Java when developing a mobile app. Let’s take a look at the pros & cons of both languages and what makes them better for certain types of Android development projects.
Table of Contents
An Overview of the Kotlin Technology
The Kotlin programming language was developed by JetBrains in 2010 and is open-source. Kotlin can be used for Android, iOS, and desktop application development. With its interoperability with Java, you can reuse their existing Java skills and knowledge; they can also use Kotlin for Android application development.
Key Features of Kotlin
- Kotlin supports full Java interoperability
Interoperability with Java is one of the best features of Android Kotlin.
It runs on JVM and provides full Java interoperability by supporting Java libraries and tools.
Having both languages coexist makes it easier for developers to be productive. This feature – interoperability – allows Android developers to compile one Android project in both languages.
Instead of changing the code, the developer can switch the programming language. Developing more Android apps will also save them time.
Interoperability is 100% guaranteed. As a result, you can access Kotlin methods from Java classes without adding any extra parameters.
- Null safety
Kotlin provides a special security feature called null safety to protect code from data classes. Java app developers need to use null reference exceptions when accessing null references at various times. As a result of eliminating NullPointerException, Kotlin solves this issue. By doing so, you will be able to boost data consistency.
- Data classes in Kotlin
Designers/makers of programming languages always argue for the necessity of classes. Data classes in Java usually contain a lot of boilerplate code that developers must skip before discovering their real purpose.
Android developers can now write the same Java code in Kotlin in a simpler way, with less code. Kotlin’s data classes are also known to be useful features.
- Extension functions
Adding methods to classes without having to make any changes to the source code is very simple with extensions of this language.
Kotlin allows you to add methods to classes per user, just like Scala’s implicit methods.
- Kotlin is open-source
It is important to know that Kotlin is an open-source programming language. Additionally, Kotlin provides a one-click tool for converting existing Java code, in addition to being open-source.
An Overview of the Java Technology
Sun Microsystems created Java in 1995. It is object-oriented, imperative, and concurrent, and memory management is automatic. Java can be used to create Android and desktop apps, but it must import Java classes, which makes the code slightly more complex than Kotlin.
Key Features of JAVA
- Garbage Collector
Java programmers cannot delete objects. This memory can be deleted or recollected by a program called Garbage Collector in JVM. Objects that are not referenced can be recollected by garbage collectors. By handling memory management, Java simplifies the life of a programmer. When using objects that have been used for a long time, programmers should be cautious since garbage cannot recover the memory of objects being referenced.
- Supports multiple platforms
Due to Java’s multi-platform support, developers can start coding in Java and switch to Kotlin for Android app development.
- Memory has automatically taken care of
A garbage collector handles memory allocation and deallocation for developers automatically, so they don’t have to worry about it.
If you are looking forward to Android app development, then avail of Android app development services from the best and most reliable Android app development company.
Kotlin vs Java
Cross-Platform Development
Kotlin can cross-compile and run on multiple platforms, unlike Java which uses bytecode that can only be compiled for a single platform at a time. When developing mobile applications, developers often have to create versions for Android, iOS, and Windows.
Scalability
The downside of languages like Java or C++ is that they are not scalable. Consequently, the application can sometimes become bloated and slow down, especially on older devices like Android phones. Kotlin’s design emphasizes scalability, which reduces bloat and improves app performance. You should focus on Kotlin app development if you are looking for a scalable solution.
Mature Libraries
A wide variety of libraries, frameworks, and tools are available for Android development in Java. Although Kotlin is catching up with the introduction of newer libraries like KTX and Coroutines, there is still some catching up to be done.
Performance
Java provides excellent performance. The advantages of Kotlin over Java are its immutability, properties, and interoperability with Java in Android development.
Easy-to-use
The Kotlin language is much simpler to learn and use than Java. Additionally, it has a good collection of tools, IDEs, and tutorials that make mobile application development easier. Kotlin developers, on the other hand, are pros at developing Android apps using Kotlin, so they can deliver your project quickly.
Popularity
In recent years, Kotlin has grown to become one of the most popular languages for developing Android apps. Moreover, Kotlin is backed by Google, so it will continue to see improvement and support as time goes on. Kotlin is now used by 7.8% of industry experts in just three years.
What does HashStudioz think?
Based on our experience developing Android apps in both Java and Kotlin, we believe Kotlin has several advantages over Java that place it several points ahead. But it’s too early to say that Kotlin will replace Java since Java comes with undisputed community support.
Rather than choosing Java or Kotlin Android development companies, businesses should choose Android app development services with expertise in both languages.
FAQs
Q: Which language should I learn, Java or Kotlin?
A: The best language for you to learn depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you are looking for a concise and expressive language that is easy to learn, then Kotlin is a good choice. If you are already familiar with Java and you need to be able to work with existing Java code, then Java is a good choice.
Q: What is the future of Kotlin?
A: The future of Kotlin looks bright. Kotlin is a popular language among developers, and it is being adopted by more and more companies. Kotlin is also being used in a wider range of projects, including Android development, server-side development, and web development.
Q: What are the most popular Kotlin frameworks?
A: The most popular Kotlin frameworks include:
- Spring Boot: Spring Boot is a popular framework for building Java-based applications. Kotlin is a good choice for building Spring Boot applications, as it can help to make the code more concise and expressive.
- Kotlinx.coroutines: Kotlinx.coroutines is a library for writing asynchronous code in Kotlin. It provides a lightweight and easy-to-use way to run concurrent code.
- Anko: Anko is a library for building Android UIs in Kotlin. It provides a number of features that make it easier to build Android UIs, such as DSLs and data binding.
Q: What is the difference between Java and Kotlin?
A: Java and Kotlin are both object-oriented programming languages that run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). However, there are some key differences between the two languages.
- Kotlin is more concise and expressive than Java. Kotlin code is often shorter and easier to read than Java code. This is because Kotlin uses type inference, which means that you don’t have to explicitly specify the types of variables and expressions.
- Kotlin has a more modern syntax. Kotlin’s syntax is more modern than Java’s. This makes it easier to learn and use Kotlin, especially for developers who are already familiar with other modern programming languages.
- Kotlin is interoperable with Java. Kotlin code can be called from Java code, and Java code can be called from Kotlin code. This makes it easy to migrate existing Java code to Kotlin, or to use Kotlin and Java together in the same project.