7 reasons why Kotlin is better for android app development

 

For the past several years, Android developers have been using Java. But due to its drawbacks, like verbosity, error-proneness, and slower modernization, Java is becoming a less popular choice for Android app developers.

 

Google announced in May 2017 that it would now support Kotlin for Android development, a brand-new programming language. It completely changed the landscape of the Android market and ushered in a new era of Kotlin app development. But, what is it? Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language created by JetBrains that translates to byte code for the Java Virtual Machine.

 

So, when it comes to Kotlin vs Java for android app development, Kotlin is the winner. But why? Let’s look at the 7 reasons why you should choose it as an alternative to Java for app development!

 

7 reasons: why Kotlin is better for android apps

 

With older languages like Java, developers often confront difficulties that Kotlin aims to solve. As an essential Android programming language, Kotlin is becoming more and more well-liked among those who create android apps. Here are 7 reasons why:

 

• Kotlin language has concise code:

 

Older programming languages like Java might produce repetitive code. Java frequently needs to write numerous lines of code in a specific order to accomplish any task. Kotlin is more succinct; it uses fewer lines of code to accomplish the same goals.

 

Kotlin-written code has clear syntax and is expressive and simple to read. It enhances the code’s capacity to be maintained. All this makes Kotlin a dependable choice for complicated and large-scale app development projects.

 

• It is an enterprise language:

 

Kotlin was created in 2011 with an emphasis on the enterprise sector of the market. In addition, unlike other Java virtual machine or JVM languages, it lacks an academic or scientific foundation.

 

Its goal was to offer businesses who desired Android app development cost-effective alternatives. It was largely created to address relevant, current development issues.

 

• It produces safe code:

 

Older programming languages like Java can have a high error rate. The majority of crashes in Android applications are caused by the Java NullPointerException (NPE). It takes time and money to fix these problems and keep them from happening again.

 

However, this is no longer a problem when using Kotlin. Common mistakes like NullPointer Exceptions are avoided with Kotlin. Additionally, the Kotlin compiler runs more tests, enabling the app to fail quickly so that bugs may be found and fixed. Kotlin allows for the development of secure, dependable, and error-free Android apps.

 

• It is interoperable with Java:

 

Did you know that you can use all your old Java code & Kotlin functions in a Java project? Or you can do the opposite and call your Java code from a Kotlin app.

 

Kotlin is made to be entirely backward compatible with Java, which makes developing Android apps with it incredibly simple and convenient. As a result, you don’t need to completely rewrite your Java application in Kotlin; you may mix and match code as necessary without having your app break. Later, you can decide whether to translate the Java code into the Kotlin programming language.

 

• It is easy to use:

 

JetBrains made it relatively simple for Java users to migrate to Kotlin when creating the language. Because Kotlin is simple and resembles Java in many aspects, Java developers can learn it in a short amount of time.

 

As a result, a significant adoption barrier is lowered, & it is relatively simple for mobile app developers to begin creating native Android apps using Kotlin. Additionally, it lowers the expense of moving enterprise applications to Kotlin.

 

• It has multiplatform development support:

 

Kotlin Multiplatform includes all the tools you need to create cross-platform apps. To cut down on development time and work, you can reuse & share code between platforms. There is no requirement to add a second language for developing platform-specific code thanks to a single codebase and Kotlin’s simple syntax and principles.

 

Moreover, the process of application maintenance is greatly simplified. Kotlin has a growing multiplatform library ecosystem with libraries like Ktor, SQLDelight, Apollo, and Koin adopting Kotlin Multiplatform. Kotlin allows development for JavaScript, Android, Linux, Mac, Windows, and numerous other platforms.

 

• Kotlin language lowers development costs:

 

Android apps created using Kotlin language have a higher level of code quality and a quicker development cycle due to its concision and increased code safety. Developers can more readily change the code because it is easier to read.

 

As a result, defects are discovered earlier in the development process, where crashes & failures can be reduced. Similarly, Kotlin-based Android app development enables businesses to speed up project timelines and reduce development and maintenance expenses.

Choose Kotlin language for your android app development:

You may have already been aware of how Kotlin has inspired and helped Android developers to create applications with simple touch and development.

In conclusion, the demand for Kotlin app developers is likely to rise in the future; since numerous Android app development companies have begun using the language.

Thus, it’s time for Java developers to embrace new prospects in Android mobile app development and move by learning Kotlin!

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