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As software developers, we are often faced with a tough decision when it comes to choosing the right language for our projects. Java and Kotlin are two of the most popular languages used in the development world today. It’s important to make sure the language is well-suited to the needs of the project, and that it will be able to handle the complexity and workload. In recent years, two popular programming languages have gained a lot of attention: Kotlin vs Java. Both have their pros and cons, but which one is the right choice for you? In this article, we will explore the differences between Kotlin and Java to help you make an informed decision.
What we’ll cover?
Here, we will compare Java and Kotlin in three different parameters: individual opinion, Java official source and Kotlin official source. In terms of individual opinion, Java is a well-established language that has been around for many years and is widely used in the tech world. It also has a large community of developers and is a good choice for those who are just starting out in programming. On the other hand, Kotlin is a relatively new language, but it has quickly gained popularity among developers due to its ease of use, and the fact that it is interoperable with Java.
Origins and History of Kotlin vs Java
Kotlin
Kotlin is a programming language that was initially released in 2011 by JetBrains, a renowned software development agency that is noted for its well-regarded IntelliJ IDEA Java IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Kotlin was created to make Java programming more efficient, concise, and understandable. It is compatible with Java, allowing the two to be used together, and has recently become popular with major companies like Google, Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter.
Java
Java is a powerful, Object-Oriented, high-level coding language with plenty of functions that make it an appealing selection for developers. It was first developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which was then taken over by Oracle) in the early 1990s.
Java was created to have a structure similar to C so that it would be simple for coders to learn and employ. Despite this, Java is more potent and varied than C++, which is another well-known programming language.
Java swiftly achieved global acclaim as one of the most utilized programming languages and is still employed today. This is due to being easier to use than a more challenging language such as C++.
Kotlin vs Java: A Quick Comparison
What is Kotlin vs java? Creating Android apps is a smart way to aid the success of your business, but the challenge lies in selecting the right programming languages. For many, the obvious choice is to go with the most popular language, which is praised by many. However, since the introduction of a new language, this assumption is being questioned, and developers are looking for answers to various questions.
- For Android?
- For Android Development?
- Which is better for Android Development?
- Which language is ideal for Android App Development?
To provide a clear understanding and address any issues, we have created this document. Here, we will examine which Android Development is best. Let us begin!
| Parameter | Java | Kotlin |
|---|---|---|
| Compilation | Bytecodes | Virtual Machine |
| Null Safety | x | ✓ |
| Lambda Expression | x | ✓ |
| Invariant Array | x | ✓ |
| Non-private Fields | ✓ | x |
| Smart Casts | x | ✓ |
| Static Members | ✓ | x |
| Wildcard Types | ✓ | x |
| Singletons Objects | ✓ | ✓ |
Feature Showdown With Syntax
Kotlin has been officially supported as a language to develop Android Apps, but you may not be convinced to make the switch. However, it has been proven to be effective for all of your needs, so what are the benefits of using it? Here are a few reasons why making the transition to Kotlin is one of the best decisions you can make.
Kotlin vs Java: What are the Benefits?
Listed below are the benefits of Java:
1. It is compatible with a wide range of devices, servers, and operating systems.
2. Its code is reliable, and it is impossible for it to damage memory or disrupt data from other OS X applications.
3. It is object-oriented, making it easy to assemble applications from individual parts and maximize robustness.
4. It is user-friendly and provides a large selection of ready-made third-party code.
5. When compared to other languages, it is straightforward to use, compile and makes debugging and deployment even easier.
6. It is an open source language that offers security as many of its libraries are managed by reputable companies such as Google, Apache and others.
Listed below are the benefits of Kotlin:
1. Compiling and deploying Kotlin applications is faster, takes up less space, and prevents applications from increasing in size.
2. Code written in it is much shorter compared to other languages since it is less wordy, leading to fewer bugs.
3. The code is converted to bytecode that can be run in the JVM, allowing all libraries and frameworks built in it to be transferred and used in a project.
4. Kotlin scripting helps to set up projects in Android Studio for auto-completion aids, as well as reducing compile-time error detection.
5. It is also safe against NullPointerException, known as the “Billion Dollar Mistake”.
6. Additionally, it has coroutines and is interoperable with JavaScript for web development.
Kotlin vs Java: What are the Challenges?
The below are the challenges of Java:
1. Its syntax can be complicated to use when compared to other languages such as C++ or Python.
2. It makes it difficult to access content which is not compatible with the device or equipment being used.
3. It is not simple to benefit from the new IT improvements for mobile development.
4. Occasionally, it can cause problems with Android API design.
5. Test-Driven Development with it necessitates writing more code and carries a higher risk of programming mistakes and errors.
6. It is slightly slower compared to other programming languages and consumes a lot of system memory.
Below are the challenges of Kotlin:
1. Its lack of popularity has led to a limited developer community compared to more established languages.
2. Its patterns are not as strong, making it hard to initially read and comprehend the code.
3. Being relatively new, its support community is smaller than others, with fewer libraries, blog posts and tutorials.
4. Due to its concise syntax, it can be difficult to switch teams to it, as the learning curve is quite steep.
5. There are limited developers available, making it difficult to find an experienced mentor.
Kotlin vs Java: What are their applications?
The applications of java are listed below:
1. Spotify
2. Twitter
3. Cash App
4. Signal
5. Amaze File Manager
The applications of Kotlin are listed below
1. Pinterest
2. Trello
3. Evernote
4. Twidere for Twitter
5. Shadowsocks
Difference Between Java and Kotlin
In the table below, we have conducted a comparison between Java and Kotlin. Let’s find out which programming language has come out on top.
| Features | Kotlin | Java |
|---|---|---|
| Primitive Type | Primitive types in Kotlin are objects. | Primitive data types in Java are not treated as objects. |
| Product | This is something created by JetBrains. | This is an offering from Oracle Corporation. |
| Used For | It is employed for creating server-side programs and Android app creation. | It is employed to create individual programs and business applications. |
| Compilation Time | It takes longer to compile than Java does. | Compiling Java is relatively quick. |
| File Extensions | Kotlin has three types of file extensions: .kt (for Kotlin source code), .kts (for Kotlin script), and .ktm (for Kotlin module). | Java employs the file extensions .java (for source code), .class (for class file), and .jar (for archived file). |
| Checked Exceptions | It is not necessary to capture or announce any exceptions. | In Java programming, the try-catch block is used to handle checked exceptions. |
| Concise | It decreases the amount of repetitive code. | The code is not as succinct as Kotlin. |
| Extension Function | We can add new features to a class by using the extension feature. | In order to expand the features of an existing class, we need to develop a new class which will inherit the parent class. Unfortunately, Java does not provide support for this type of extension. |
| Widening Conversion | Kotlin does not enable implicit conversion; therefore, it is not possible to change a smaller data type to a larger one. | Java allows for automatic type conversion, so we can change a data type of lesser size to one of larger size. |
| Code Comparison | It cuts the amount of code in half. | The amount of code is twice as much as in Kotlin. |
| Community Support | Its user base is not as large as Java’s. | Java has a vast support network. |
| Casting | Kotlin is equipped with smart casting, allowing it to recognize immutable types and perform implicit type conversions automatically. | In Java programming, we must recognize and apply type conversion. |
| Type interface | It is not required to explicitly state the kind of variable. | It is essential to explicitly declare the data type. |
| Null Values | It is not possible to assign null values to any variables or objects. | We can give a null value to variables but it is not possible to do the same with an object. |
| Ternary Operator | It does not have the capability to utilize the ternary operator. | It can be accessed using Java. |
| Coroutines Support | In Kotlin, we can also make multiple threads like Java, but with the use of coroutines, it is possible to pause a thread at a specific point without affecting the other threads. | Java’s multithreading feature makes it more complex due to the difficulty of managing multiple threads. If a long-running task such as network I/O or CPU operations is initiated, Java will block the thread. |
| Functional Programming | It is a programming language that combines elements of both functional and procedural programming. | Java is not a functional programming language. |
| Data Classes | If we want to achieve the same result in Kotlin, we must declare a class using the Data keyword. The compiler will then take care of creating a constructor, getter, and setter methods for the fields. | If we require a class which can only store data, we will need to create getter and setter methods, constructors, and other associated functions. |
Ultimately, if we’re looking to create an Android app or do server-side coding, Kotlin is the way to go. On the other hand, if we’re looking to develop an enterprise, desktop or web application, Java is the language to choose.
Comparison to Java
1. Certain problems in Java are solved by Kotlin.
2. Kotlin resolves a range of issues that Java confronts:
3. Null references are regulated by the type system.
4. There are no raw types.
5. Arrays in Kotlin are not alterable.
6. Kotlin has appropriate function types unlike Java’s SAM-conversions.
7. Variance is used without wildcards.
8. Kotlin does not have checked exceptions.
What Java has that Kotlin does not?
1. Exceptions that must be declared in the method signature.
2. Data types that are not objects – the byte-code uses them when appropriate, but they are not overtly accessible.
3. Static elements are replaced with associated objects, functions at the top-level, extension functions, or @JvmStatic.
4. Wildcard types are substituted with declaration-site variance and type projections.
5. The ternary operator a ? b : c is replaced with an if expression.
What Kotlin has that Java does not?
1. Lambda expressions and inline functions can be used to create efficient custom control systems.
2. Extension functions provide additional functionality.
3. Null-safety eliminates potential errors.
4. Smart casts detect the type of information and perform type-safe casts.
5. String templates provide a quick and efficient way to concatenate strings.
6. Properties allow for easy access to fields and methods.
7. Primary constructors provide a concise way to initialize classes.
8. First-class delegation enables the delegation of responsibility to other classes.
9. Type inference automatically infers the type of variables and properties.
10. Singletons are a special type of class that has only one instance.
11. Declaration-site variance and type projections allow for creating flexible data structures.
12. Range expressions provide a concise way to create a range of values.
13. Operator overloading allows operators to be redefined for different types of objects.
14. Companion objects provide a place to define utility functions and properties associated with a class.
15. Data classes are convenient ways to store data in a class.
16. Separate interfaces are available for read-only and mutable collections.
17. Coroutines provide a way to write asynchronous, non-blocking code.
Also Read: Kotlin vs React Native: Which is best for Cross-Platform App Development?
Kotlin vs Java: Which is Better for Android Development?
When it comes to deciding whether Kotlin vs Java is preferable for Android development, there is no definite answer. Both offer certain advantages and disadvantages, but certain elements may make one more suited to your requirements than the other.
Kotlin offers a variety of features that Java does not have, such as null safety which prevents NullPointerException errors, and data classes and lambdas which can make your code more efficient and readable.
Kotlin does have some drawbacks though, such as not having as much support from the Android community as Java does. Furthermore, since it is a new language, there are still a few issues that require attention if you plan on coding with Kotlin.
When deciding between Kotlin vs Java, if you’re creating a new project from the ground up, Kotlin could be the better option especially if you’re an Android developer. On the other hand, if you are working on a project that is already written in Java, it might be best to remain with that language, even though you can still use Kotlin to call the code.
FAQs
1. Is Kotlin Better than Java?
It depends on who you ask. Kotlin is a modern, feature-rich language that offers many improvements over Java. It’s more concise and expressive, so it’s easier to read and write code. It also supports features such as higher-order functions, lambdas, and coroutines that make it easier to write complex programs. On the other hand, Java is a mature language that has been around for decades and enjoys widespread support in the industry.
In the end, it depends on the needs of the project and the preferences of the developers. Both languages have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best language for any given project is the one that best suits the project’s needs and the developers’ preferences.
2. Is Kotlin Easier than Java?
Again, it depends on who you ask. Kotlin is a more concise language than Java, so it’s easier to read and write code. It also has a more modern syntax and more powerful features, so it can be easier to write complex programs. On the other hand, Java is an old language that is widely used and supported, so it can be easier to find help and resources.
In the end, it depends on the needs of the project and the preferences of the developers. Both languages have their strengths and weaknesses, and the best language for any given project is the one that best suits the project’s needs and the developers’ preferences.
3. Is Kotlin Replacing Java?
No, Kotlin is not replacing Java. Java is still a widely used and supported language, and it will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. However, Kotlin is gaining in popularity, especially among Android developers, and more and more developers are using Kotlin for their projects.
4. Can I Learn Kotlin Without Java?
Yes, you can learn Kotlin without knowing Java. Kotlin is a modern language with a more concise syntax and more powerful features, so it can be easier to learn than Java. However, it’s also helpful to know some Java, as Java is still widely used and supported, and knowledge of Java can make it easier to understand some of the more complex concepts in Kotlin.
Conclusion
Java is a reliable and established language which has been present for many years, is simple to learn, and has a large group of developers who can give assistance. Despite not having the same level of support as Java, Kotlin has multiple advantages which is causing more programmers to use it for coding.
Making a decision between Kotlin vs java is not simple, but it all depends on the project at hand.
Kotlin vs Java are both widely utilized programming languages for Android app development, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, the decision of which one to use comes down to the individual, and this article has provided an overview of the differences between the two to aid in the selection.
