Why use Kotlin
In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we will explore the reasons why Kotlin has grown in popularity and why it's a great language to learn and use for programming. We'll look at its background, its strengths, and the reasons why developers and companies are increasingly choosing it over other languages.
Background of Kotlin
Kotlin is a statically typed programming language developed by JetBrains. It's designed to be fully interoperable with Java, and its syntax is more expressive and concise. It's used by many popular organizations like Google, Pinterest, and Uber. Most notably, Google announced Kotlin as a first-class language for writing Android apps in 2017.
Interoperability with Java
One of the main reasons why Kotlin has become so popular is its seamless interoperability with Java. You can have both Java and Kotlin code coexist in the same project, and everything will still compile perfectly. This feature allows developers to gradually migrate from Java to Kotlin, if they wish to do so.
More Expressive and Concise Syntax
Kotlin has a more expressive syntax than Java, which makes your code more readable and understandable. This syntax helps in reducing the boilerplate code, which is a common issue in Java. It has null safety built into its type system, so you can avoid the dreaded NullPointerExceptions that often crash your Java apps.
Functional and Procedural Programming
Kotlin supports both functional and procedural programming, which makes it a very flexible language. It has many built-in functional programming features like lambda expressions, higher-order functions, extension functions, and more. These features can make your code more concise, readable, and testable.
Built-in Coroutines
Kotlin has built-in support for coroutines, which are light-weight threads. Coroutines simplify asynchronous programming and make your code more readable and easier to understand. They are very useful for tasks that require non-blocking or concurrent execution, like network calls or database transactions.
Scripting
Besides being a statically typed language, Kotlin also supports scripting. You can write scripts in Kotlin just like you would in Python or Shell script. This feature is particularly useful for tasks like data analysis, prototyping, or just experimenting with the language.
Adoption by Google
Google's announcement of Kotlin as a first-class language for Android development has given it a significant boost. It's recommended by Google as the language to write Android apps. This means that Kotlin has a great community and support, and it's a safe choice for Android development.
Conclusion
Kotlin is a modern, expressive, and versatile language that offers many benefits over traditional languages like Java. Its strong support for functional programming, built-in coroutines, and scripting, coupled with its interoperability with Java make it a strong contender for your next programming language to learn. Whether you're a beginner just starting out or an experienced developer looking to broaden your skills, Kotlin is a fantastic choice.