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Last updated on May 15, 2024
Last updated on May 15, 2024
Hello, professional Android developers, and those aspiring to join the ranks!
If you've been developing Android apps, you're surely familiar with the Java programming language. But have you ventured into Kotlin for Android yet?
Brought to us by JetBrains and officially supported by Google, Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that runs on the Java virtual machine (JVM) with a modern, pragmatic approach.
Today, we're delving into how Kotlin is skipping ahead on the popularity chart for Android development.
In contrast with Java, Kotlin offers more powerful features, making it the go-to language for many developers.
It's not just about writing the same code with less effort; Kotlin opens a new world of possibilities in Android development.
So why are we talking about Kotlin on Android? Why not continue the journey with Java?
While Java has been a backbone for Android applications, Kotlin brings more expressive, concise, and powerful coding. Result? Better apps in less time, and consequently, happier developers and clients.
Kotlin language features include null safety, extension functions, and default arguments, among others, enabling you to write less code without sacrificing readability or maintainability. It also offers seamless interoperability with existing Java code, meaning you can migrate to Kotlin at your pace while keeping your Java code.
The Kotlin course for Android has also been endorsed by Google's Android team officially. They recognized Kotlin for Android as an effective alternative to traditional Java-based app development, encouraging developers to use this cutting-edge technology for upcoming projects.
Before stepping into the world of Kotlin Android development, you need to set up your development environment. In essence, you need to install the latest version of Android Studio, which comes with support for Kotlin.
Once you install Android Studio and create a new project, you're automatically directed to create a new activity where you have two language options - Java and Kotlin. Choose Kotlin and you're on board the Kotlin ship!
One of the brilliant advantages of using Kotlin for Android is that you don't have to learn a new environment or ditch your existing Java code. Boasting 100% interoperability with Java, you can write more effective and efficient code in Kotlin while still using your Java classes.
In contrast with Java, one can build more robust applications with Kotlin. Kotlin language features like null safety support, lambda expressions, extension functions, and Coroutines for asynchronous programming contribute to more stable applications and fewer app crashes.
Moreover, the Android team has built amazing Jetpack libraries that have first-class support for Kotlin. Libraries like Room, LiveData, and ViewModel leverage Kotlin's language features to their advantage. With Android Studio, you have all the tools necessary to start your journey in developing Android apps with Kotlin.
Tools like Lint checks, runtime annotation, autocomplete, and the APK Analyzer, can help adorn your Android apps with flawless Kotlin code.
You've got the Android Studio set up down, and you're ready to dive in – it's time to create your first app with Kotlin for Android! Starting a new project is easy; just choose an empty activity template and select Kotlin as your language.
You'll notice that your project structure remains largely the same but with .kt (Kotlin) files instead of .java. Reading the Kotlin code for your MainActivity, you'll see that it's quite similar to Java but more concise. Let's take a look:
1import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity 2import android.os.Bundle 3 4class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() { 5 override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) { 6 super.onCreate(savedInstanceState) 7 setContentView(R.layout.activity_main) 8 } 9}
This code is very similar to how you'd do it in Java, but notice the absence of semicolons at the end of the lines, which is one of the Kotlin language features.
Look around, and you'll find an interface named OnClickListener – again, similar to Java but less verbose. Kotlin's brevity is one of its standout features, allowing you to do more with less code.
As you progress, you'll find more Kotlin language features enabling you to develop innovative and intuitive Android apps. The goal is not just a swell-looking app, but leveraging Kotlin for Android for effective, hassle-free coding. No more null pointers, MVP boilerplates, or thread handling complications – just pure coding with improved functionality!
Now that we have experienced creating an app using Kotlin for Android, it's time to delve into the syntax and conventions that make Kotlin shine above other languages. The Kotlin programming language prioritizes succinctness and understands the need for less verbose and more expressive code.
Consider a class representing a model in your application:
1data class Model(val title: String, val detail: String)
The data keyword tells Kotlin to generate useful methods like equals(), hashCode(), and toString(), saving you time and effort. This feature of the Kotlin language is an example of how built-in functions optimize code writing for Android developers.
The Kotlin code for handling null values is another feature that helps prevent runtime NullPointerExceptions (the billion-dollar mistake!). Kotlin differentiates nullable and non-nullable types at compile-time.
1var a: String = "abc" 2a = null // compilation error 3 4var b: String? = "abc" 5b = null // allowed
In Kotlin, a variable can't hold a null value unless declared nullable (var b: String?). This feature makes your Android apps safer and more robust.
Transitioning from Java to Kotlin for Android brings many benefits to developers. For one, Kotlin is a modern language that incorporates many improvements over Java. It is expressive yet concise, reducing the amount of boilerplate code you need to write.
Another significant advantage of Kotlin is its seamless interoperability with Java. You can call Kotlin code from Java and Java code from Kotlin, smoothly. Java frameworks and libraries can be utilized in Kotlin, proving its flexibility. Kotlin is byte-code compatible with Java, meaning you can keep existing Java code and progressively migrate to Kotlin.
Not only does Kotlin make coding easier, but it also improves the app's performance. It provides support for inline functions, lambda expressions, and higher-order functions. These features, in combination with Android Studio's powerful tools, enhance the performance of your application and reduce the APK file size.
Moreover, Kotlin has first-class support for Android Jetpack and is the recommended language for developing Android apps by Google. So, being an Android developer, gaining expertise in Kotlin adds significant value to your skillset and opens new opportunities in your Android development career.
Every Android developer knows the importance of understanding the activity lifecycle while developing Android Apps. With Kotlin, dealing with lifecycle events becomes more intuitive and user-friendly.
In Java, we have to override methods like onCreate(), onStart(), onResume(), etc., to manage our application's behavior when it enters a new state. In Kotlin, you can use lifecycle-aware components called LiveData, provided by Jetpack libraries.
With Kotlin, you can observe LiveData objects for changes, and these updates are lifecycle-aware. This means you don't need to worry about memory leaks or crashes due to stopped activities. Developers appreciate this feature because it simplifies the code and makes apps more robust.
As you observe, the benefits of Kotlin for Android do not stop at concise code or ease of use. Equally important is the robustness and stability Kotlin brings to Android apps, providing users with a seamless, hassle-free experience.
While Kotlin is a powerhouse of features that simplify Android development, some advanced capabilities take your Android apps to the next level. Kotlin on Android is not just about writing a concise, more readable code; the power of Kotlin lies in the modern programming paradigms it supports.
One such feature is 'Coroutines.' Coroutines simplify asynchronous programming; they permit you to write asynchronous code sequentially, making concurrency operations such as network calls, database transactions, and file system access much easier and error-free.
1fun main() = runBlocking { 2 launch { 3 delay(1000L) 4 println("World!") 5 } 6 println("Hello,") 7 delay(2000L) 8}
The example above is a simple demonstration of how Coroutines works. Coroutines make your tasks non-blocking, increase efficiency, and improve your app's performance.
Another exciting feature the Kotlin programming language brought is the introduction of the flow API, composed of the 'Flow' and 'Channel' concepts. The Flow API allows seamless transformation of data, including asynchronous data.
Kotlin's advanced features coupled with its interoperability with Java and first-class support from Android Jetpack lays an innovative platform for building next-gen Android applications.
The power of Kotlin in Android apps can truly be understood by looking at some real-world Android applications that leverage Kotlin for their codebases. Professional Android developers globally have started to prefer Kotlin over other languages because of the speed, reliability, and coding comfort that this language provides.
One of the best examples is the American Express (AmEx) mobile app. AmEx migrated its entire mobile application's codebase to Kotlin due to its safe, concise, and expressive syntax, reporting improvements in developer happiness and productivity.
Pinterest is another big name that transitioned to Kotlin and immensely benefited from Kotlin's null-safety and concurrency handling features. The Kotlin-based Pinterest app has seen a significant drop in the number of Null Pointer Exceptions (NPEs), improving the app's stability and performance.
Trello, a well-known project management app, also uses Kotlin. The developers at Trello have specifically praised the advantages that come from Kotlin's integrated coroutines in making readable and efficient asynchronous code.
These examples show that Kotlin is not simply the future of Android development but is already at the forefront, centrally involved in developing intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly applications.
The rise of Kotlin for Android development in the last few years has been meteoric, and there's no sign of that slowing down. Google put its weight firmly behind Kotlin and declared it the preferred language for Android apps. This alone speaks volumes about Kotlin's future in the Android industry.
With Google's backing and the constant improvement and introduction of new features by JetBrains, Kotlin is poised to quickly become the de facto language for Android app development. For instance, the introduction of Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) allows you to write the shared codebase for different operating systems. This is a game-changer and will significantly speed up the software development process across platforms.
The growing popularity of Jetpack Compose, a modern toolkit for building native Android UI, further cements Kotlin's place in the Android ecosystem. Future developments to these libraries and language upgrades ensure that Kotlin has a bright future in Android development.
Diving into Kotlin and Android development isn't a herculean journey if done strategically. Here are a few tips to become a proficient Kotlin Android developer:
• Understanding the Basics: Before jumping straight into Android development with Kotlin, ensure that you are comfortable with Kotlin's basic features. There are handy resources available on the internet for learning Kotlin.
• Experiment with Code: Don't just understand the concepts but also write a lot of Kotlin code. Practice by coding small programs and gradually shift to more complex projects.
• Learn from Open Source: Many developers and organizations share their Kotlin Android projects online. These projects can provide a wealth of knowledge. Observing how experts structure and write their code can help you improve your Kotlin skills.
• Follow Kotlin Development News: Kotlin is a rapidly evolving language. Staying updated with the recent changes and enhancements can keep you at the top of your game.
• Join Communities: Kotlin has a growing community of developers. Engaging with this community can provide enormous learning opportunities. Use platforms like Kotlinlang Slack and StackOverflow to connect with your peers.
Embrace these ways, and the journey to becoming a skilled Kotlin Android developer will be an enlightening one!
The world of Android development is experiencing a significant shift with the introduction and rise of Kotlin. As an expressive, concise, and powerful language, Kotlin is enhancing the speed of app development and improving app performance. Embrace Kotlin for Android and step forward into the future of Android app development.
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