So, do you use Java or Kotlin for your software development? Most probably you do. Both of them have their own pros and cons, but which one should you choose? Should it be Kotlin or should it be Java? In this article,  Kotlin vs java we will focus on the major aspects of both the languages so that we can come to the conclusion of the best because, in the end, you should choose the best.

What is Kotlin all about?

Kotlin is a new programming language targeting the Java platform. Kotlin is concise, safe, pragmatic, and focused on interoperability with Java code. It can be used almost everywhere Java is used today: for server-side development, Android apps, and much more. Kotlin works great with all existing Java libraries, and frameworks.
and runs with the same level of performance, as Java.

Quick Introduction to Java

Java is the world’s most widely used programming language.
Java is the preferred language for enterprise programming needs.  Java has also become the language of choice for implementing Internet-based applications and software for devices that communicate over a network.  As a Java developer, you already know what can be done using Java Programming language, so I will not dig deeper explaining Java. instead, we will focus more on explaining Kotlin Programming language.

Kotlin in Detail

Kotlin is a JVM language, and so the compiler will emit Java bytecode. Because of this, of course, Kotlin code can call Java code and vice versa.

kotlin vs Java

Why use kotlin Programming language?

  • Google just announced that it will officially support Kotlin on Android as a first-class language.
  • Kotlin is a statically typed programming language.
  • Kotlin can be compiled to JavaScript, allowing you to run Kotlin code in the browser.
  • kotlin solves problems faced by working programmers today.
  • Kotlin programs can use all existing Java frameworks and libraries.
  • Kotlin is statically typed and supports type inference, allowing it to maintain correctness and performance while keeping the source code concise.
  • Kotlin supports both object-oriented and functional programming styles, enabling higher-level abstractions through first-class functions and simplifying testing and multithreaded development through the support of immutable values.
  • It works well for server-side applications, fully supporting all existing Java frameworks and providing new tools for common tasks such as HTML generation and persistence.
  • It works for Android as well, thanks to a compact runtime, special compiler support for Android APIs, and a rich library providing Kotlin-friendly functions for common Android development tasks.

Kotlin vs Java Key differences

  • Kotlin has two keywords for declaring variables, val and var. The var is a mutable variable, which is, a variable that can be changed to another value by reassigning it. This is equivalent to declaring a variable in Java.
  • kotlin uses a mechanism called type inference which reduces boilerplate whilst keeping the type safety we expect of a modern language.
  • Kotlin everything is an object whereas in Java there are special primitive types which are treated differently from objects.
  • Kotlin does not support the automatic widening of numbers, so conversion must be invoked explicitly.
  • In Kotlin, we can create an array by using the library function arrayOf().Unlike Java, arrays are not treated as special by the language.

 

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Kotlin the new era

Kotlin is the free and open source, with full support for the major IDE and build systems.Kotlin is pragmatic, safe, concise, and interoperable, meaning it focuses on using proven solutions for common tasks, preventing common errors such as NullPointerExceptions, supporting compact and easy-to-read code, and providing unrestricted integration with Java.

Wrapping up

There are a ton of new things to learn and many more things on the horizon. To understand how Kotlin works, first, you need to understand a few key features of Kotlin that make it well suited for software development.  Today more than a billion general-purpose computers smartphones use Java, Java is one of the most preferred programming languages, both Kotlin and Java are strong choices for developers expecting enterprise level applications and a vast ecosystem. but at last, the choice is yours because you should choose the best.