Java vs Kotlin: Which one is ideal for developers?

Java and Kotlin are two major platforms to app development. If you are confused between the platforms, we will help you in finding the platform. So, let’s begin:

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Why Google Declared Kotlin As The Preferred Language For Android?

Thanks to software developers like James Gosling, Patrick Naughton, and Mike Sheridan, Java language came into existence about 25 years ago. Since then it has proved its competence in the computing world by adjusting to the technological changes that arose with time. In a world of close competition by languages such as C and C++, JAVA was always able to stay at the zenith of its game. It thrived in ruling both the tech and the non-tech world of computers. Thanks to its noteworthy features such as flexibility and interoperability, Java has been the go-to language for every leading enterprise in the world. Slowly and gradually with the introduction of Android in the technical world, Java was able to stand its grounds alongside Groovy and Scala. However, in 2017 Kotlin was announced as the official Android development language, which has changed the game ever since. Today we’ll discuss why this happened thereby trying to put an end to the java vs kotlin discussion once and for all.

Let us understand how Kotlin has been able to earn the tag of the best programming language for Android in recent years. The name ‘Kotlin’ was derived from the Kotlin Island. Kotlin is a programming language that runs on Java Virtual Machine (or JVM). The language is compatible with Java 6 and 8 versions. Since Android is written in C, C++, and Java, many developers prefer using Java instead of Kotlin, even though that isn’t the case for all. The biggest reason behind this preference to Java is its write once, run anywhere policy which the developers find easy to work with. There are many advantages of Java in Android Apps, a few of which are enlisted down below.

  • 1. Java is effortless to learn.
  • 2. Java is much easier to execute than most other languages. The codes can be run either in a virtual machine or in a browser.
  • 3. It is an open-source, non-obsolete and feature-rich Android language.
  • 4. Java language is proficient in executing huge projects easily.
  • 5. Java has earned the community support of many.
  • 6. The language is flexible when it comes to cross-platform application development.
  • 7. Efficient memory management which makes it feasible to be used on varying devices
  • 8. Last but not least android depends on the Java language

Disadvantages of Java Which Kotlin

Needless to say, there surely must be some disadvantages of java which Kotlin has been able to overcome with its better features. After all, Kotlin wasn’t declared as the preferred language for Android for no reason. To begin with, Java is loquacious while Kotlin is reticent. You will be required to write lengthy codes even for an easy ‘Hello World’ program in Java whereas Kotlin can do the same job requiring lesser codes. This makes Kotlin far more efficient and time-saving than its adversary language. The basic coding structure of Kotlin is extremely developer-friendly, which is why it is considered ideal for developers in today’s world. Furthermore, there are lesser chances of bugs and errors occurring in Kotlin as compared to Java. The list of advantages of Kotlin in Android does not end here. This language has an edge over Java due to the fact that it is endorsed by ‘JetBrains’, which is an organization dedicated to smoothen and fasten android app development. Since Java was released years ago when there was no sign of Android, it doesn’t have a mobile phone approach in the technical scenario. Talking of features alone, here are three reasons why Kotlin leads the java vs kotlin debate.

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Kotlin is highly compatible

Kotlin is compatible with Java language, which implies that one can leverage all the frameworks, JVM and Java libraries.

 

 

Ease in learning

Developers who are already well versed in Java won’t face any difficulty learning Kotlin. Making a switch from Java to Kotlin is as easy as it gets.

 

Resembles Swift language

Kotlin resembles Apple’s Swift language to a huge degree when it comes to flexibility and features.

 

The Pros & Cons of Both Kotlin & Java

Having thoroughly discussed the pros and cons of both Kotlin and Java, it’s time for us to throw some light on which is the ideal Android programming language. Here are a few instances when you should opt for Kotlin

  • 1. When you are trying to give a fresh and modern look in your application.
  • 2. When you have a team that has studied Kotlin.
  • 3. When your team is aware of Kotlin’s tools and frameworks.
  • 4. When you want to fulfill a quicker time to market for application.

The java vs kotlin performance

The java vs kotlin performance can be judged based on which of the leading organizations are making use of Kotlin today. To name a few, Pinterest, Corda, Uber, Evernote, Pivotal, Gradle, Atlassian and Coursera are Kotlin’s most notable customers. Long story short, there are a number of variables that go into deciding which programming language is better, such as tools, languages, and frameworks. Since Kotlin is based on Java language, it is difficult to simply compare both and declare one as the winner. Nonetheless, the reason why more developers are getting inclined towards Kotlin is the fact that it is newer, flexible and faster. Even though many developers are still using Java today, it is an undeniable fact that Kotlin has huge potential to take over the Android app market in the coming future. Thus, the argument over Java and Kotlin has sparked a debate in recent years and it is clear that Kotlin is the winner. One can make use of Kotlin for android apps or Java for android apps but at the end of the day, it has become clear why Google has declared Kotlin as its preferred official language. Thus, Kotlin wins the java vs kotlin 2020 debate.