What Is Kotlin?

Kotlin is one of the most widely-used programming languages that helps developers enhance code safety and optimize productivity. This programming language allows developers to reuse code between platforms, enabling productive programming. It integrates with various languages including Java and is easy to learn, especially if you have previous knowledge of Java. Expand your understanding of Kotlin, discover its key features, and learn how to leverage the tool for your own projects. 

What is Kotlin used for?

Developers use Kotlin for various purposes, including server-side, multiplatform, and full-stack development as well as a variety of data science tasks. You can use Kotlin with Java to develop web applications on servers. Kotlin also enables you to use various platforms, including AppleiOS, Android, and a variety of other mobile platforms. Additionally, Kotlin can integrate with JavaScript to translate code and implement front and back-end development. Finally, you can implement data science tasks such as building data pipelines and deploying machine learning (ML) models using Kotlin. 

Core concepts in Kotlin

Key concepts within Kotlin include asynchronous programming techniques, null safety features, and Android application development. You can take a look at these in more detail below.

Asynchronous programming 

Asynchronous programming refers to applications within the same system that run independently of each other. Developers use asynchronous programming techniques to prevent applications from blocking, preventing bottlenecks, and ensuring systems are scalable. Some common asynchronous techniques include: 

• Threading: Threads are the most popular approach to prevent blocking. To stop the system from blocking, you can launch a process in a separate thread if the code you’re running is too long. 

• Reactive extensions (Rx): Rx enables you to analyze and operate on data streams as well as deal with errors. 

• Coroutines: You can use coroutines to suspend computations and resume them later. Also, if you’re a developer, another benefit of coroutines is that the programming model doesn’t change much whether you’re writing blocking code or non-blocking code. 

Null safety features

Null safety prevents systems from accepting null references, which are variables that do not refer to a specific object or array. Kotlin’s null safety enables developers to implement safer code by identifying null issues in the development stage rather than after deployment. Null safety features enhance code readability, resilience, and sustainability, ensuring the code is easily interpretable. 

Kotlin for Android development

You can utilize Kotlin to develop and write Android applications. You can learn how to build an Android app, write Kotlin programs, and deploy and run the application with Android Basics tutorial. Android Basics with Compose is an online course that provides tutorials and learning materials for applying best practices when developing Android apps. 

Advanced Kotlin features

Some advanced features within Kotlin include its ability to integrate with Google Cloud and implement multiplatform programming. Take a more in-depth look at these advanced features.

Kotlin on Google Cloud 

Google Cloud services allow you to build applications in Kotlin using Google Cloud APIs. You can learn how to build and deploy a web application using Kotlin with Google Cloud’s quickstart tutorial. Google Cloud Observability implements high-quality monitoring and diagnostics, which enables you to find and fix problems within your Kotlin applications quickly and efficiently. 

Leveraging Kotlin Multiplatform

You can implement multiplatform programming using Kotlin. This feature saves you time on writing and maintaining code while retaining code flexibility. Kotlin Multiplatform enables you to share code across various platforms, including mobile, web, and desktop. You can learn how to leverage the Kotlin Multiplatform tool for your own projects and publish multiplatform libraries with information and examples on both Kotlin and Android’s websites. 

Who uses Kotlin?

Because of Kotlin’s compatibility with Java, scalability, security performance, and user experience, a number of organizations, such as Doordash and Expedia, use Kotlin. Here, you can review these in more detail: 

• Doordash: Utilizes Kotlin for backend services and infrastructure, enabling scalability 

• Novatec: IT company that uses Kotlin to implement null safety and coroutines 

• Intuit: Uses Kotlin for coding group exercises to increase their engineers’ expertise

• Expedia: Uses Kotlin for null safety, concise language, and Java interoperability 

Pros and cons of using Kotlin

Kotlin has several advantages including improvement of code readability and functionality, interoperability with Java, and reliability. 

• Code readability: Kotlin provides services to make code more readable and concise, improving code quality and functionality. 

• Integration with Java: Kotlin is interoperable with Java which enables you to ensure the code is embedded properly and runs seamlessly.

• Reliability: Kotlin requires less code, making it less prone to errors and bugs. It also provides null-safe functions, which help developers prevent errors. 

Some disadvantages of utilizing Kotlin include challenges in recruiting Kotlin experts and potential performance issues. 

• Recruiting talent: Finding developers with extensive knowledge on Kotlin can be difficult due to the fact that it’s a relatively new programming language. 

• Performance issues: Kotlin requires Java to run smoothly, so it may perform slower during application development. 

Getting started with Kotlin

Kotlin’s website, as well as Android’s, provides various tutorials and references to learn more about the fundamentals of Kotlin and how to write and develop various programs and applications. 

Setting up a Kotlin development environment

You can learn how to install and set up Kotlin with their tutorial on their website. Kotlin’s site also provides a tour that gives an overview for you to learn the fundamentals of Kotlin. You can explore how to implement tasks with this programming language by reviewing examples, books, tips, tutorials, videos, and more, all on its website. 

Writing your first Kotlin application

Kotlin’s website provides a tutorial in which you can create applications with Kotlin. You can learn how to build various programs, including chat applications, web applications, HTTP APIs, reactive spring boot applications, and more. If you’re interested in using Kotlin to implement networking and data storage, you can do so using Kotlin Multiplatform. 

Mastering Kotlin syntax and structure

To master Kotlin syntax and structure, Kotlin’s site provides you with examples of basic syntax and Kotlin essentials. Kotlin offers straightforward and precise syntax, which enables the writing of observable functions in a reactive manner. 

Learning Kotlin with Coursera

Kotlin is a multi-faceted programming language, popular for its interoperability with Java along with its ability to increase productivity and code safety. Expand your understanding of the fundamentals of Kotlin and explore how to solve coding challenges, apply programming techniques, and practice building functions with Meta’s Programming Fundamentals in Kotlin, part of the Meta Android Developer Professional Certificate available on Coursera.