Kotlin - A Beginner’s Guide__________________

Kotlin - A Beginner’s Guide
Published on: March 1, 2024
Kotlin, one of the most popular new programming languages, is being
prioritized by some of the world's top corporations. Since its inception in
2016, this open-source language has swiftly established itself as a major
pillar in the future of development.
Kotlin, used by over 60% of Android developers, has swiftly established
itself as a popular mobile programming language. So, what exactly is
Kotlin?
In this MarsDevs article, let’s dig into what Kotlin is all about and why
developers love it!
So, let’s get started!
Content Highlights
Kotlin: A Definition
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Kotlin vs Java
Why is Kotlin preferred?
Why Learn Kotlin?
Where is Kotlin Used?
What’s new with Kotlin?
Conclusion
Kotlin: A Definition
Like a spiced-up Java, Kotlin is intended to strike the same notes as the
traditional programming language while resolving all of the problems and
restrictions that render it unfit for the future. At a time when efficiency is
becoming increasingly crucial to global entrepreneurs, Kotlin elevates the
coding experience.
Kotlin is an open-source, statistically typed programming language that
can run on any platform, including Android, JVM, JavaScript, and Native. Its

unique selling point, derived from Java, is its simplicity and safety. It is also
completely interoperable with Java; all Java frameworks and libraries are
compatible with Kotlin, allowing the two to coexist.
Kotlin supports both object-oriented and functional techniques, making it
extremely versatile. Functional programming capabilities include higher-
order functions, function types, and lambdas.
As the official site puts it, “Kotlin has always been and continues to be a
modern language in the industry, addressing the real needs of real
developers. It is increasingly adopted in many trending fields, including
mobile, web, server-side and cloud development, data science, and
education.”
Kotlin vs Java
Kotlin accomplishes almost everything Java does, but better. It is
lightweight, clearer, and simpler than Java, especially when creating data
classes and callbacks. It's also safer, having inherent null safety as a key
feature.

The one evident advantage of Java over Kotlin is that it is more extensively
used, with most Android documentation examples written in Java. So, for
total novices, learning Java may be a smoother path. However, that is not
dependent on Java being superior and hence is not a strong rationale in
the long term.
Despite the desire to put them against one another, Kotlin and Java
compile to bytecode, allowing them to be used together in the same
project. It is why many experts feel they can coexist, at least for now.
Why is Kotlin preferred?
Lead Developer Dmitry Jemerov created Kotlin when he needed help
locating the features he needed in Java. Scala, another language that
runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), came close to his ideal, but it took
too long to compile.
Jemerov envisioned a language that included all the characteristics of
more recent programming languages, ran on the JVM, and compiled as
quickly as Java. So, he developed his language, Kotlin.
Kotlin was created as an alternative to Java for the Android operating
system. In 2019, eight years after its debut, Google agreed with Jemerov
and most Android developers and proclaimed that Kotlin was the ideal
language for Android app development.
Here are a few reasons why developers choose Kotlin over Java:
Kotlin is brief, which saves you time from creating boilerplate code in
Java.
A script is required to convert a Java file to a Kotlin one.
Kotlin has no runtime overhead. Adding features to a language might
result in increased overhead, which reduces efficiency. Not so for

Kotlin.
Kotlin has a sizable community. If you need help, you may locate
other developers to assist you on coding forums and social media
platforms.
Kotlin simplifies asynchronous programming. Making network and
database calls asynchronously in Java is cumbersome and
uncomfortable. Kotlin's coroutines make asynchronous programming
simple and fast.
Kotlin handles null values. A null in Java can break a program if you
haven’t prepared for it. To avoid these issues, Kotlin allows you to add
a simple operator to variables that may be null.
Kotlin is cross-platform. Kotlin can run anywhere Java runs, so you
can use it to develop cross-platform programs.
It's simple to transition to Kotlin. Kotlin is entirely compatible with
Java, so you don't have to update all your code simultaneously. You
may gradually transition from an app to Kotlin.
Why Learn Kotlin?

Some will argue that Kotlin is yet to be an essential programming
language. Thus, learning it today is unnecessary. Still, the direction in
which progress is headed is correct. Kotlin will take precedence over Java.
The good news is that if you already know Java, you'll find learning Kotlin
easy.
But why should you learn it?
Modern Language
Kotlin is a new programming language that combines the finest features
of imperative, object-oriented, and functional programming. It is general-
purpose and multi-paradigm, with conciseness and safety among its
fundamental qualities.
As developers say, “I love Kotlin because it is clean, logical, safe, fast,
modern, flexible, intuitive, versatile, and sits on the shoulder of the Java
giant.”
Easy to Learn
Kotlin's syntax is simple for novices but provides deep, powerful
capabilities for expert programmers. It allows students to build on their
existing programming knowledge. It is straightforward to understand for
individuals with a Java or Python background. Kotlin's syntax is very simple
to learn for iOS developers because it is built on current principles that
they are already familiar with.
Great Materials
The official blog site writes, ”There is a lot of up-to-date material available
to help you learn Kotlin. One of our favorite resources for learning Kotlin
from scratch is “Atomic Kotlin.” Readers can see their progress while
solving the tasks checked automatically within IntelliJ IDEA.”

Multiplatform
Because Kotlin is a multiplatform language, it can now be executed on
almost any device, including PCs and Macs, as well as native code. You
may also save time creating and maintaining the same code for those
platforms by sharing Kotlin code between them.
In addition to being the official language for Android development, Kotlin is
a well-established technology for developing cross-platform mobile
applications. It overcomes the drawbacks of previous popular techniques,
allowing you to construct mobile apps with native performance and UIs
while fully sharing the business logic.
Where is Kotlin Used?
Kotlin is widely used in the IT industry these days. It is an excellent choice
for professionals in the following fields:
Android Development - Kotlin is currently the recommended
language for Android development, and it is completely integrated

into Android Studio.
Develop Server-Side Apps - You can use Kotlin to create server-side
apps, web services, and microservices with frameworks like Spring
Boot and Ktor.
Multiplatform Apps - Kotlin supports JVM, Android, JavaScript, and
Native, allowing you to construct multiplatform programs.
Highly Scalable Systems - Kotlin's qualities, such as null safety,
immutability, and conciseness, make it an excellent candidate for
highly scalable applications.
Reactive Applications - Kotlin strongly supports reactive
programming using libraries such as RxKotlin and flow.
Polyglot Projects - Kotlin integrates easily with Java, allowing you to
add Kotlin files to Java projects and vice versa. So, it's ideal for
multilingual projects.
What’s new with Kotlin?
The Kotlin 2.0.0-Beta3 release is out! It focuses on the stability of the new
Kotlin K2 compiler, which has been in Beta for all targets since v 1.9.20.
There are additional changes to the Gradle build tool.
The most recent versions of IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio provide Kotlin
plugins that support 2.0.0-Beta 3. You do not need to update the Kotlin
plugin in your IDE. All you need to do is update your build scripts to use
Kotlin 2.0.0-Beta3.
The JetBrains team is continuing to work on stabilizing the new Kotlin K2
compiler. The new Kotlin K2 compiler will significantly enhance
performance, accelerate the development of new language features, unify
all platforms supported by Kotlin, and provide a better architecture for
multiplatform applications.

Conclusion
Kotlin is on track to become even more important in software
development. As more developers and businesses use Kotlin, the
ecosystem surrounding this strong language continues to improve and
expand, giving up new possibilities and opportunities.
Understanding how Kotlin works and the skills required to use it will allow
you to maximize the potential of this flexible language and set your
projects up for success. Are you looking to learn more about Kotlin? We
can help! Contact us at MarsDevs, and we would be happy to help you.
FAQ
1. What is Kotlin & why use it?
Kotlin is a contemporary statically typed programming language utilized
by more than 60% of professional Android developers. It improves
productivity, developer happiness, and code safety.
2. Is Kotlin the same as Java?
Java and Kotlin are two different languages. They have certain
commonalities, such as common use cases (e.g., Android development),
but they have distinct features and syntaxes.
3. Why use Kotlin in Android?
Kotlin allows developers to write fewer lines of code, making Android
application development faster and easier. Additionally, Kotlin's syntax is
clearer, making it easier for developers to comprehend their code and
what others write.

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