Kotlin and Java are the most used Android app development programming languages. Both of them bring some advantages and disadvantages to the table. This makes it a confusing choice for startups regarding which technology to choose for their Android app.
In this blog, WDI will explain the differences between Kotlin and Java, highlighting their use cases to allow you to make an informed decision. Let’s start with understanding what they are in the first place.
Kotlin Explained
Kotlin is a statically typed coding language developed by JetBrains and introduced in 2011. In 2019, Google officially announced that Kotlin is its preferred language for developing Android apps.
Kotlin is a very concise and expressive language that is fully compatible with Java.
Java Explained
Java is a high-level programming language developed by Oracle Corporation and introduced in 1995. It is one of the most popular programming languages in the world for its versatility and platform independence.
As Java is quite old, it has received many updates that have added features and improvements.
Comparing Kotlin and Java
Let’s have an in-depth look into the differences between Kotlin and Java and how they will affect your Android app.
Performance
While both Kotlin and Java offer good performance, Kotlin has a slight edge as it’s a more modern language designed with performance in mind. It comes with a more efficient handling of null values and a more functional programming style.
Java, on the other hand, has had years of optimizations, resulting in exceptional performance. The performance difference between Kotlin and Java is negligible, and you can go with any of them without concern. Both languages are compiled to bytecode and executed on the same JVM.
Code Readability
Kotlin simply shines in its readability. An expressive language with compact sentence structure makes the code simpler to peruse and keep up with. By utilizing the language, engineers can compose code that is obvious. It decreases the possibilities of mistakes happening during the advancement stage.
Java, although a proven language, has more verbose code due to its older design. Although not a major concern, Java can be slightly harder to work with.
Interoperability
This is a major consideration if you plan to switch from one language to another. Kotlin is designed to be fully interoperable with Java. You can easily migrate your code base from Java to Kotlin without any issues. Yes, you can leverage existing Java libraries and code while taking advantage of Kotlin’s features.
The same level of interoperability is found with Java as well, allowing you to use both languages for a project.
IDE Support
Both Kotlin and Java enjoy excellent support in popular integrated development environments (IDEs), such as Android Studio. JetBrains, the company behind Kotlin, is also responsible for Android Studio. This benefits robust integration and support for Kotlin.
As Java has been present in the space for decades, it has extensive support and integrations in Android Studio and other IDEs.
Community and Ecosystem
Java takes the lead here, as it’s well-established and has a vast community of developers and libraries. Your developers can easily find solutions to any problems they face and receive support whenever needed with the wide range of resources available.
Kotlin’s community has been growing rapidly, but it’s not as extensive as Java’s. Still, it has a very vibrant and supportive environment.
Develop an Android App Today!
Ultimately, both Kotlin and Java are excellent languages for Android app development. As they are interoperable, you won’t go wrong with any of them. However, if you’re still confused, then WDI’s experts are right here to guide you.
Just give us a call, and we will guide you on how to approach your mobile app development endeavour.