People, unfamiliar with the area of mobile application development, find it concerning the language to pick for development. In spite of the inevitable name of Java, Kotlin managed to fill that after its inception. So, does it make a better choice than Java? The answer might be a No. Surely, we need to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of Kotlin vs Java in detail. Now let’s quickly know the positives and negatives of both programming languages. And then we can see which technology is optimal to adapt.
Kotlin
The introduction of Kotlin has triggered a lot of questions about its origin. Kotlin is a statically-scripted open-source programming language. It generates code that can be built and run on the Java virtual machine JVM. JetBrains and technologically advanced Kotlin. It uses forceful implication to identify the types of values and expressions. Hence, they have to be referenced explicitly. Developers officially accepted it only after using it to develop Android apps.
Pros of Kotlin:
Kotlin gained massive popularity after Google has announced support for it. Developers have adopted Kotlin as one of the development languages for Android. Though Java-based, Kotlin, conversely, disregards the uselessness and ungainliness of its precursor. The concise and in-built syntax makes it compact and clear; thus enabling better team efficiency. One can deliver more work in less time thus saving time and cost. This also allows better code maintenance when scaled up. Kotlin is interoperable with java language. You can rewrite your code by following step by step procedures. The codes work fine with Java. All the associated resources and frameworks, which offer a rich environment, are also compatible. Furthermore, this makes it easy to move to Kotlin steadily, or to use both the codes within one single project effectively.
The codes are easy to maintain and receives better support from the community. This leads to developer’s satisfaction and increased productivity. With a simple codebase, programs written in Kotlin permits minor bugs and errors. This makes it reliable and safe for app development. By using Kotlin Android Extensions, you can have a view into your activity file by adding Kotlin plugins. Kotlin also helps in creating clean APIs. The language has provisions for accommodating all existing Java frameworks.
Cons of Kotlin
Though having many positives, Kotlin has some pitfalls as well. A mobile app developer, who seeks to shift languages, requires a definitive learning curve. Hence, further cost investment in training and time will be necessary if you are planning to migrate your Android app development team to Kotlin. The small developer community Kotlin possesses is seen as a significant drawback. Due to inadequate resources for knowing the language better makes it even tougher. Finding out solutions for any questions that arise during the development process is also an additional disadvantage. As the learning resources are less, the talent pool gap for this language is high. Kotlin does not have any catch blocks to identify and declare exceptions.
Java
Developed by Sun Microsystems, Java is an Object-oriented language. Java has its wings spread across many applications than just mobile app development. Java is very simple thus making it easy to learn and comprehend. It is compatible across platforms and hence fits well with native and multi-platform apps. Java follows a functional programming paradigm where we try to encapsulate elements in functions style. Being an open-source language, Java possesses multiple libraries which can be utilized in building Android apps. It’s the most commonly used programing language. It is the preferred coding language due to its features like object-oriented, and class library based.
Pros of Java:
Java apps are agiler and more compressed, thus offering a fast app experience. Capability to shift simply from one platform to another one makes it more preferred. Java delivers a quicker build process consuming less coding time. With the usage of Gradle, bringing together big projects has turned out to be stress-free in Java. This language is intended to enable distributed computing open along with the networking ability that is integrally incorporated into it. The predominant focus of the language is on safety thus making the runtime surroundings extremely secure. A Java Class can compile side-by-side along with Kotlin code in the same project.
Cons of Java:
The codes are written in Java generally consume space than the native codes. Hence they tend to be slower while processing. Most of the code written is tedious to compile and build for new programmers. Few coders feel that class libraries are poorly designed. Java offers a default look and feel of the UI. So users might feel monotonous and bored. The unavailability of extension functions in Java is yet another major setback. Data classes that hold a set of data with little functionalities turn the code heavy.
Conclusion
Most of the software development firms have people who are trained in Java. Converting the whole team to Kotlin at once can create some chaos, so it is vital to carry on this changeover gradually. It is essential for the team to undergo the learning curve consistently. Switching from Java to Kotlin may take some time but needs some in-depth analysis and expertise. Probably this war of Kotlin vs Java will continue forever.
So, are you thinking to make a switch or still considering Java? Drop your queries in the comment section! We, at Vardhaman Infotech, are ready to solve your problems. You may feel free to Contact Us for Java or Kotlin development.
