Since 2017 Kotlin starts getting more and more popular, if you don’t what is Kotlin then in this post we are going to talk about What is Kotlin? What is Kotlin used for? is Kotlin worth learning? and why you should use Kotlin over Java?
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a programming language developed by programmers from IDE Jet Brains which handles some modern features to it. It has first appeared in the year 2011 and the official release in 2016.
Kotlin is an open-source statically typed programming language that targets the JVM, Android, JavaScript, and Native.
What can I use Kotlin for?
According to kotlinlang.org :
Kotlin can be used for any kind of development, be it server-side, client-side web, and Android. With Kotlin/Native currently in the works, support for other platforms such as embedded systems, macOS, and iOS is coming. People are using Kotlin for mobile and server-side applications, client-side with JavaScript or JavaFX, and data science, just to name a few possibilities.
as you can see Kotlin can be used for any kind of development from android development to server-side to client-side, you can use it for web development and desktop development.
Most likely Kotlin used on Mobile app development and Web Back-end.
Benefits of Kotlin over Java in Android Development ( Kotlin vs Java )
We all know that Java is a very popular programming language but now Kotlin has taken the place of Java in developing Android applications, and that’s because:
- Fewer lines fewer mistakes, Kotlin makes thing simple and clear
- Your code will be more readable.
- You still can use Java libraries with Kotlin, and you can convert your Java code to Kotlin easily. For more visit this link.
- The continued support and updates from JetBrains help you to build better mobile apps and better code and make the language more secure.
- If you got stuck you will find a supportive community to help you.
- If you used Java, C#, JavaScript, Scala, or Groovy then Kotlin will be easier for you.
96% of developers are using Kotlin for New Projects, and the rest use Kotlin for Old Projects
Is Kotlin Worth learning and your Time?
If you want to build an android app then you should learn Kotlin, as you can see Kotlin makes the work much easier, and Google itself starts supporting this language.
So the answer is YES.
Kotlin didn’t get that interest between 2011–2015 but we can see that the interest in Kotlin starts increasing especially after the I/O event.
Top Apps that are built with Kotlin
Because Google starts supporting Kotlin, developers start using Kotlin to build android apps, there are so many good apps let’s share some of them:
500,000,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.6 from 7,219,575 reviews (this results for 2020).
Coursera
10,000,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.3 from 119,369 reviews (this results for 2020).
Trello
10,000,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.4 from 97,574 reviews (this results for 2020).
Evernote
100,000,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.2 from 1,575,501 reviews (this results for 2020).
Basecamp 3
500,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.2 from 4,323 reviews (this results for 2020).
Twidere for Twitter
500,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.0 from 13,579 reviews (this results for 2020).
Simple Calendar
1,000,000+ downloads from Google Play, an average rating of 4.5 from 16,254 reviews (this results for 2020).
Conclusion
Kotlin’s future looks promising, it’s getting more and more popular. Kotlin makes your job easier and cleaner and has a lot of features to help you develop your app much faster. if you want to ask me, Yes I am using Kotlin for Android Development.
References
- Java vs Kotlin
- FAQ-Kotlin Programming Language
- Why Kotlin language use is skyrocketing
- Kotlin (programming_language)
- Kotlin Programming The State of Developer -The State of Developer Ecosystem in 2020 Infographic | JetBrains: Developer Tools for Professionals and Teams
- Converting to Kotlin|Google Codelabs
- Top 7 Benefits of Kotlin For Android App Development
- 10 Android Apps Written in Kotlin — Examples of Successful Applications
