Kotlin is a programming language that has been an officially supported Android language since Google I/O 2017. About 63% of developers use Kotlin to develop android apps, the top use case of the language. Kotlin has several features that make it the ideal language for Android app development. More than eighty percent of top Android apps are developed using Kotlin because of its efficiency, safety, and scalability. But why do developers prefer Kotlin exactly? Let’s have a look at some of the top features that make Kotlin a go-to language for Android app development:
Interoperability
If you are a developer, then you are very well aware of the importance of interoperability. Kotlin provides excellent interoperability with existing languages, such as Java. As a result of this, developers can easily use existing libraries and frameworks in their code. This makes the development process smoother and also enables developers to migrate from Java to Kotlin gradually. Kotlin’s interoperability with Java is also one of the primary reasons that propelled Android app developers to learn Kotlin in the first place. It has eliminated the requirement of learning a new language altogether and has made the development process faster.
Easy Learning Curve
Kotlin is relatively easy to learn as compared to other programming languages. This makes it easier for developers who are familiar with Java to learn Kotlin. Also, Kotlin’s concise syntax makes it easier for developers to write code and debug with fewer errors. Furthermore, Kotlin has a vast online learning resource. This makes learning Kotlin more approachable, even for those who are not familiar with Java. Thus, new developers can also learn this language quickly.
Less Code – Less Complexity
One of the most attractive advantages of Kotlin is its concise code. Kotlin allows developers to write lesser lines of code as compared to Java. This significantly reduces the complexity of the code, making it easier to maintain and debug. As a result, developers can focus on creating new features that can help enhance the user experience. For example, with Kotlin, a developer can use operator overloading to define an operation on custom classes. This makes it easier and faster for developers to write code and debug it.
Null-Safety Feature
Kotlin also has a null safety feature that helps developers detect potential issues related to the null reference. This feature reduces the chances of potential issues and helps developers detect potential null references in their code much more quickly. In addition, Kotlin’s type inference feature allows developers to easily determine the type of a variable. This makes it easier for developers to detect and debug potential issues in the code, which in turn helps to avoid potential bugs.
Also Read: How Mobile App Development Can Help Your Business Grow?
Highly Scalable
Kotlin is easily scalable as compared to Java or other programming languages. This makes it an ideal language for developing complex applications, as developers can easily add more features and functionalities to their code. Furthermore, Kotlin is very extensible and can be used to create applications that connect with different parts of the same system. This makes it highly scalable and makes it easier for developers to add more features and functionalities to their existing code.
Smart Casts
Kotlin provides a feature known as ‘smart casts’ that enables developers to cast their variables without explicitly specifying the type. This advanced feature reduces the development time and also helps developers write concise code. For instance, when a variable is casted to an object, Kotlin automatically identifies the type of that object and casts it accordingly. This makes the development process much more efficient and reduces the risk of errors. This is one of the best features of Kotlin to enhance Android app development from a developer’s perspective, as it makes the development process smoother and error-free.
Safety and Reliability
Kotlin is also a very safe language as compared to other languages. It offers strong safety features such as type inference, null safety, and immutability. These features help developers to write reliable code that is free of errors. In addition, due to its strong safety features, Kotlin can be used to create highly secure applications. This is especially important for developers creating applications that involve sensitive data, such as banking and financial applications.
Compilation Time
Kotlin helps developers to compile their code faster as compared to other programming languages. This significantly reduces the development time and enables developers to deploy their applications quickly. In addition, Kotlin provides several features like live templates and refactoring that help to accelerate the development process. This makes it easier for developers to quickly deploy their applications without having to spend a lot of time on debugging and testing.
Extension Functions
Kotlin also provides extension functions that help developers to add new functionality to their existing code. This enables developers to extend the functionality of an existing code without having to rewrite the entire code. For example, if a developer wants to add a new method to an existing class, they can use an extension function to do so without having to recreate the entire class. This makes it easier for developers to add new features and functionalities to their existing code without having to rewrite the entire code.
Low Cost
Finally, Kotlin is a low-cost language that helps developers to save money on development. It is an open-source language and can be easily used by developers to create powerful applications without having to invest a lot of money in development. Moreover, if we factor in the learning cost and time, Kotlin helps developers to reduce the overall cost and time of development significantly. This makes it an ideal language for developing high-end applications with minimal effort and cost.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, Kotlin is an excellent language for developing Android applications as it provides numerous features that help to enhance the development process. Developers are already using it across the world for developing high-end applications, and with its advanced features, it is likely to become a popular language in the years to come. We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the advantages of using Kotlin to enhance the Android app development process. We believe that now you will be able to choose Kotlin for developing your next Android application with ease. So, go ahead and give it a try!
Author Bio:
Piyush Jain is the founder and CEO of Simpalm, Android app development company in the USA. Piyush founded Simpalm in 2009 and has grown it to be a leading mobile and web development company in the DMV area. With a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins and a strong background in technology and entrepreneurship, he understands how to solve problems using technology. Under his leadership, Simpalm has delivered 300+ mobile apps and web solutions to clients in startups, enterprises and the federal sector. He leads the business and engineering team to build the mobile and web product solution for clients.