Kotlin vs Java – Why Kotlin is better than java (10 Reasons)

Are you an Android developer looking for a better way to write code and build your apps? If so, then you should consider using “Kotlin”.

Kotlin is a modern programming language that become popular for Android development. It offers several advantages over Java, including conciseness, expressiveness, null safety, and interoperability.

In this article, we will discuss 10 reasons why Kotlin is the better choice for Android development. We will also provide a brief overview of Kotlin so that you can get started with it right away.

By the end of this article, you will know:

• What is Kotlin and Why it is a good choice for Android Development?
• Kotlin vs Java: Which programming language is best for Android Developers?
• The 10 reasons why Kotlin is better than Java for Android development.
• What is special about Kotlin and why it is gaining popularity for Android development?

So what are you waiting for? Read on to learn more about Kotlin and get your answer for why it is the better choice for Android development!

Features of Kotlin over Java

Kotlin Is More Concise & Expressive

Kotlin code is typically shorter and easier to read than Java code. This is due to features such as type inference, smart casts, and extension functions. For example, The following Java code…

String name = "John Doe";
if (name != null) {
  System.out.println(name.length());
 // This code will display Length of String
}

Now, This code can be written in Kotlin as follows.

val name = "John Doe"
println(name.length)
// This code will display Length of String

As you can see, the Kotlin code is simple, shorter and easier to read and understand. This is because Kotlin uses type inference to automatically determine the type of variables and expressions.

This means that you don’t have to explicitly specify the type of every variable, which can make your code more concise.

Kotlin also has several other features that make it more expressive, such as smart casts and extension functions. 

Smart casts allow you to cast a variable to a different type without explicitly checking if the cast is valid. This can make Kotlin code more concise and easier to read and manage.

Extension functions allow you to add new functionality to existing classes without having to modify the original class.

It gives you the freedom to customize your code to make it more concise and easier to maintain. 

Overall, Kotlin is a more concise and expressive language than Java. This can make your code shorter, easier to read, and easier to maintain.

Kotlin Has Better Null Safety

“NullPointerExceptions” (NPEs) are common problems in Java, and they can be difficult to debug. However, Null safety is a feature of Kotlin that helps prevent null pointer exceptions.

Kotlin’s strict null safety system reduces the chances of encountering NPEs significantly.

Kotlin’s null safety helps to prevent these exceptions by making it explicit when a variable can be null. For example, the following Java code…

String name = null;
System.out.println(name.length());

This code will throw a NullPointerException at runtime because the variable name is null.

val name: String? = null
println(name?.length)

Now, This Kotlin code will not throw a NullPointerException, because the compiler will check if the variable name is null before trying to access its length.

If the name is null, the expression “name?.length” will simply return null. This makes Kotlin code more reliable and easier to debug.

Here are one more examples of how Kotlin null safety can help you to write more reliable code:

You can use the “let function” to safely operate on nullable values. Let’s assume the following code will only print the length of the string if the string is not null:

val name: String? = "John Doe"
name?.let { println(it.length) }

You can use the Elvis operator to provide a default value if a nullable value is null. For example, the following code will print “Unknown” if the string is null:

val name: String? = null
val length = name?.length ?: "Unknown"
println(length)

There are some facts about Kotlin null safety:

Kotlin’s null safety is enforced by the compiler. This means that you cannot accidentally assign a null value to a variable that cannot be null.

Kotlin’s null safety is type-safe. This means that you can be sure that the type of a variable will not change at runtime.

Kotlin’s null safety is concise. You can express null safety with a few simple keywords, such as ‘?’ and ‘??’.

If you are looking for a language with better null safety, then Kotlin is the clear choice.

Kotlin Is More Idiomatic For Android Development

Kotlin’s syntax and features are more closely aligned with the Android platform than Java’s. This makes it easier to write code that is both idiomatic and efficient.

For example, Kotlin has several features that are specifically designed for Android development, such as:

Extensions:

Kotlin extensions allow you to add new functionality to existing classes without having to modify the original class.  This can be very useful for Android development, where you often need to extend the functionality of existing classes.

Lambdas:

Kotlin lambdas allow you to write concise and expressive code that is well-suited for Android development.

Coroutines:

Kotlin Coroutines allows you to write asynchronous code that is easy to read and maintain. This is very important for Android development, where you often need to handle asynchronous events.

Here are some additional examples of how Kotlin can be more idiomatic for Android development:

• Kotlin’s onBackPressed function makes it easy to handle the back button in your Android app.
• Kotlin’s lifecycle library makes it easy to manage the lifecycle of your Android app’s components.
• Kotlin’s live data library makes it easy to observe changes in your Android app’s data.
• Kotlin is the clear choice for idiomatic Android development. Its syntax and features are more closely aligned with the Android platform, making it easier to write code that is both idiomatic and efficient.

Overall, Kotlin is a more idiomatic language for Android development than Java. This can make your code shorter, easier to read, and easier to maintain.

Kotlin Is Interoperable With JAVA

Kotlin is completely interoperable with Java, so you can use Kotlin code in existing Java projects and Java code in existing Kotlin Projects without any complication.

This makes it easy to migrate from Java to Kotlin without having to rewrite your entire codebase.

For example, you can use Kotlin code in your Android project by simply adding the Kotlin compiler plugin to your project’s “build.gradle” file.

Once you have done this, you can start writing Kotlin code for your project. Kotlin’s interoperability with Java also makes it easy to use Kotlin libraries in your Java projects.

For example, if you want to use the Kotlin Coroutines: “https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/coroutines-overview.html” library in your Java project, you can simply add the library to your project’s dependencies.

Here are some more examples of how Kotlin’s interoperability with Java can be useful:

• You can use Kotlin code in your Android project’s unit tests even if the rest of your project is written in Java.
• You can use Kotlin libraries in your Java projects without having to modify the libraries themselves.
• You can easily migrate your existing Java projects to Kotlin without having to rewrite your entire codebase. 

Overall, Kotlin’s interoperability with Java makes it a very easy language to learn and use. If you are already familiar with Java, then you will be able to pick up Kotlin very quickly.

Kotlin Coroutines For Asynchronous Programming

Kotlin coroutines are the most popular tool for asynchronous programming. 

Coroutines allow you to write code that can run concurrently with other code, without having to worry about threads or locks. This can make your code more efficient and responsive. 

For example, the following Kotlin code:

fun main(args: Array<String>) {
    val coroutine1 = launch {
        // Do something in the background
    }

    val coroutine2 = launch {
        // Do something else in the background
    }

    // Wait for both coroutines to finish
    coroutine1.join()
    coroutine2.join()
}

Will start two coroutines in the background, and then wait for them to finish before continuing. 

This code is much simpler and easier to understand than the equivalent Java code, which would require the use of threads and locks. 

Kotlin’s coroutines are also very efficient. They use a technique called “coroutine suspension” to allow coroutines to run concurrently without having to use threads or locks.

This can make your code much more efficient, especially on devices with limited resources.

So it’s clear, That Kotlin’s coroutine is a powerful tool for asynchronous programming to increase performance and time-saving.

They can make your code more efficient, responsive, and easier to understand. If you are looking for a language that can help you write asynchronous code, then Kotlin is a great choice. 

Kotlin Is More Future-Proof

Kotlin is a newer language than Java, and it is still under active development. This means that Kotlin is more likely to be supported for many years to come.

Java, on the other hand, is a mature language that has been around for many years. However, Java is also a complex language, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest changes.

Kotlin is designed to be interoperable with Java, which means that you can easily migrate your existing Java projects to Kotlin.

Kotlin is backed by Google, which means that it is likely to be supported for many years to come. Kotlin is a growing language with a large and active community of developers.

This means that Kotlin is a better choice for Android development if you are looking for a future-proof language.

Kotlin Is More Popular

Kotlin is becoming increasingly popular, and it is now the official language for Android development.

This means that there is a large and growing community of Kotlin developers, and there are several Kotlin libraries and tools available. 

For example, the “JetBrains Kotlin IDE” is a powerful IDE that is specifically designed for Kotlin development. It includes several features that make it easy to write, debug, and test Kotlin code.

The popularity of Kotlin can also make it easier to find Kotlin jobs. Several companies are now hiring Kotlin developers, and the demand for Kotlin developers is expected to grow in the future.

Overall, Kotlin’s popularity can make it a more attractive choice for Android development. It is a language that is supported by a large and growing community, and there are several Kotlin libraries and tools available.

Kotlin Is More Secure

Kotlin has many features that can help improve the security of your code. For example, Kotlin’s type system can help prevent errors such as null pointer exceptions.

Another security feature of Kotlin is its built-in support for data classes. Data classes are a type of class that automatically generates getters, setters, equals, hashCode, and toString methods.

This can help improve the security of your code by making it more difficult for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities.

Kotlin also has many other security features, such as:

Safe casts:

Kotlin’s safe casts can help prevent errors caused by type casts.

Type aliases:

Kotlin’s type aliases can help make your code more readable and secure.

Extension functions:

Kotlin’s extension functions can help improve the security of your code by making it easier to reuse code.

Overall, Kotlin’s security features can help improve the security of your code and make it more resistant to attack.

Kotlin Is More Efficient

Kotlin code can be compiled into bytecode, which is more efficient than Java bytecode. This means that Kotlin apps can run faster and use less memory.

There are some reasons why Kotlin code is more efficient than Java code.

First, Kotlin’s type system is more precise, which means that the compiler can generate a more efficient bytecode.

For example, Kotlin’s type system can distinguish between nullable and non-nullable types, which allows the compiler to generate more efficient code for null-safe operations.

Second, Kotlin’s syntax is more concise, which means that there is less code to be executed.

For example, Kotlin’s let expression can be used to simplify code that would otherwise require the use of multiple lines of Java code.

Third, Kotlin’s libraries are more efficient, which means that they use less memory and CPU resources. 

For example, Kotlin’s standard library includes many efficient data structures, such as List and Map, which can be used to store and manipulate data more efficiently than their Java counterparts. 

One study conducted by JetBrains found that Kotlin apps can run up to 20% faster than Java apps. The study also found that Kotlin apps can use up to 30% less memory than Java apps.

Overall, Kotlin’s efficiency can make it a more attractive choice for Android development. It is a language that can help you write apps that run faster and use less memory.

Kotlin Is The Future Of Android Development

Kotlin is a modern programming language that is rapidly growing and gaining popularity in the Android development community.

There are many reasons why Kotlin is considered the future of Android development, including:

RxJava:

Kotlin has excellent support for RxJava, a popular library for asynchronous programming. This makes it easy to build responsive and performant Android apps.

Cross-platform support:

Kotlin can be used to develop Android, iOS, and even desktop applications. This makes it a great choice for developers who want to build apps that can run on multiple platforms.

iOS development in Kotlin:

Kotlin can be used to develop iOS apps using the Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile framework. This makes it possible to share code between Android and iOS apps, which can save developers a lot of time and effort.

Language updates:

Kotlin is a rapidly evolving language, and new features are being added all the time. This means that Kotlin developers always have access to the latest and greatest features.

Overall, Kotlin is a powerful, expressive, and reliable language that is well-suited for Android development. It is the future of Android development, and it is a language that all Android developers should learn.

Conclusion

Kotlin emerges as the future of Android development, offering many advantages over Java. With its concise and expressive syntax, Kotlin enables developers to write cleaner and more maintainable code.

Its robust null safety system minimizes the risk of null pointer exceptions, enhancing app stability and reliability. Moreover, Kotlin’s seamless interoperability with Java facilitates easy migration of existing projects.

The language’s support for idiomatic Android development, powerful coroutines for asynchronous programming, and growing popularity among developers further solidify its position.

Embracing Kotlin empowers Android developers with a secure, efficient, and forward-looking language, paving the way for a brighter and more productive future in app development. 

Now, Take your Android development to the next level with Kotlin’s power and efficiency. Entering the future of app development and start using Kotlin today!

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