What Is the Best Way to Get Started with Kotlin?

October 29, 2024

5 min read

Kotlin is statically typed📝, it was developed by JetBrains and gained huge popularity because of the novelty of the approach to development. It was only finally unveiled in 2016 but soon became preferable for Android development📱. However, it has a very concise syntax. It incorporates safety features🛡️ also and has full interoperability with Java.

But other than Android, it is widely used in back-end services, web development🌐, and cross-platform applications. It was announced 📢as the official language for Android development by Google in 2019 was a further impetus for its popularity. It blends object-oriented and functional programming paradigms⚙️, eliminating Java’s verbosity and enhancing productivity for developers.

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is the new open-source, multi-paradigm programming language released and running on the JVM🖥️; it can also be compiled into JavaScript or native code. Its key aim was to enhance productivity 📈without reducing efforts to lessen common pitfalls associated with traditional Java development.

In essence, it emphasizes concise syntax✍️ and strong type safety, which avoids verbose codes and possible errors. Since it is interoperable with Java, the developers can use all existing Java libraries 📚and frameworks without modification. It supports both functional and object-oriented programming paradigms⚙️, which allows for flexibility in various use cases.

With a focus on conciseness and safety, it will have fewer bugs 🐞and improved maintainability. Thus, this language is a good fit not only for Android development but also for backend services and web applications.

Features of Kotlin Programming language:

Here are some features of this language that will help you understand the basic concepts of it:

1. Interoperability with Java:

This programming language allows for smooth integration with Java codebases, allowing developers to use existing Java libraries 📚and frameworks without rewriting code. This makes it ideal for projects transitioning from Java to Kotlin.

2. Null Safety:

It prevents NullPointerExceptions ❌ by requiring developers to explicitly declare nullable types. This reduces runtime crashes and improves code stability.

3. Brief Syntax:

The language reduces boilerplate code✍️, and developers can hence write more functionality with fewer lines. For example, data class formation requires a lot fewer lines than in Java.

4. Coroutines for Asynchronous Programming:

The coroutines in this programming language simplify the managing of asynchronous tasks such as network 🌐calls, keeping non-blocking code readable and easy to maintain.

5. Multiple-Platform Support:

It may run on multiple platforms, ranging from Android📱, and iOS, to JavaScript and native systems💻, enabling efficient cross-platform application building and ensuring code reusability.

Also Read: Discover the Breakthrough Features of Java for New Developers

Applications that Use Kotlin Programming:

Here are some well-known applications that have used this programming language in their development process:

1. Pinterest:

Migration from Java to Kotlin to enhance readability, developer productivity, and app performance. It has helped avoid crashes 🚀and sped up the development of new features.

2. Trello

Trello has adopted this language for its Android version. The concise syntax✍️ and null safety of Kotlin make it easier to deal with complex workflows.

3. Coursera:

The learning platform uses this language, which has optimized all its Android apps for the best user experience 🌟and quick updates.

4. Uber:

In its Android modules, Uber 🚗uses this programming language in some places to maintain code complexity and maintainability🔧 by consistency in all services.

5. Unity Games:

As Unity is developed in C#, so in Android games🎮, portions of the features are mobile-based, it is used for making the gameplay even smoother and better performance in Android devices.

Key Concepts in Kotlin:

Let’s have a look at some of the basic key concepts of this programming language that will help in clearing your basic concepts:

1. Null Safety:

The differences in nullable and non-nullable types-for example, String vs. String?-require explicit handling of potential null values. This will prevent ❌most runtime exceptions from happening.

2. Data Classes:

Data storage classes with a minimal amount of code✍️. The compiler will auto-generate the equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods for you, thus removing the boilerplate.

3. Extension Functions:

Adding new functionality 🔧to existing classes without modifying their source code. This promotes code reusability and keeps the code base clean.

4. Lambdas and Higher-Order Functions:

It treats functions⚙️ as first-class citizens, meaning developers can use lambda expressions and pass functions as parameters. This simplifies functional programming tasks.

5. Coroutines:

It provides coroutines 🔄for easy and lightweight concurrency management and enables running long-running tasks like API calls without blocking the main thread.

Projects for Kotlin for Beginners:

Here is a list of some beginner projects that will help you understand this language in a better way:

1. To-Do List App:

A simple to-do list ✅app that teaches beginners the basic syntax of this language and how the UI components of Android, including RecyclerView and ListView, function. It also introduces some state management concepts🛠️.

2. Weather Application:

Including a weather☁️ API, developers come to understand network calls and parsing JSON data, not to mention permissions. One of the projects is more hands-on with RESTful APIs🌐.

3. Calculator App:

Building a calculator 🧮will help you learn its functions, event handling, and data binding. It’s another good starting point on the way to learning how to deal with input🔢.

4. Chat App with Firebase:

This project involves building a real-time chat application💬 using Kotlin and Firebase. It teaches essential backend integration and real-time database synchronization🔄.

5. Note-taking App with a Room Database:

Develop your very first note-taking🗒️ app and learn how to use it for persistent storage, database operations, and local data caching.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Kotlin:

Have a look at the list of advantages and disadvantages given below:

Advantages

Has much less boilerplate code than Java. ✂️
Works well with Java libraries. ☕
It reduces the chances of runtime crashes. 🛡️
Simplifies asynchronous programming. 🔄
Backed by Google and widely used. 🌍

Disadvantages

Potentially challenging for developers who only know Java. ❗
Marginally slower than Java on large projects. ⏳
Java has far fewer native libraries. 📚
Many tools do not thoroughly support Kotlin. 🛠️
Kotlin Multiplatform still faces adoption challenges. 📉

Conclusion

Kotlin is one of those programming languages 👨‍💻that changed the perspective of developing software, specifically in the environment of the Android platform. Many developers👩‍💻 became interested in this language primarily for its succinct syntax✍️, good ability to support a safe static type system, and good integration with Java.

Some negatives are simply limited experience and very significant sizes of libraries. As the language continues to unfold, there is a promise of its being a prime mover of mobile and server-side development🛠️ in the future.