When building Android applications, Kotlin and Java are two of the most popular languages used in the development world today. While Java has traditionally been the language of choice for Android development, Kotlin has emerged as a concise alternative. But which should you choose?
In this article, we will compare whether Kotlin is the preferred choice for Android development, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each language, and determine which one is a better fit for your next Android project. Let’s delve into these languages and start with their basic definitions. ⤵️
What is Java?
Java has been a powerful and versatile object-oriented programming language, renowned for its robustness. It is widely regarded as one of the easiest languages to learn and was initially developed by Sun Microsystems, later acquired by Oracle. Java is commonly used for developing a wide range of applications, including mobile apps, web applications, and enterprise software.
The main objective for Android apps has been to ensure their compatibility across different platforms. This is why Java has been a popular choice, as it is a platform-independent language. It has allowed many developers to write code once and run it on various operating systems without any modifications.
Key Features of Java:
✅ The Java virtual machine (JVM) forms the fundamental foundation for achieving platform independence.
✅ Networking Capabilities: Java includes built-in networking capabilities, allowing developers to create networked applications easily.
✅ Object-Oriented: Java is an object-oriented programming language that focuses on creating modular and reusable code.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and can be used in the same places where Java is used, including client, server, web, and Android development. It is a modern and cross-platform programming language with type inference, meaning its syntax to be more concise.
Essentially, Kotlin differs from Java by its simplicity, clean code, and faster compilation. For example, Kotlin will quickly compile code to bytecode and run on JVM, making it a platform-independent language.
Key Features of Kotlin:
✅ Kotlin seamless integration with existing Java projects has made it popular among developers. Its compatibility allows developers to effectively utilize Kotlin while maintaining their current Java codebase.
✅ Kotlin is not limited to Android development and can be utilized to build backend applications, APIs, and microservices with frameworks such as Spring Boot. Its expressive syntax and null safety features contribute to the creation of more reliable and maintainable server-side code.
✅ Kotlin offers exceptional safety features that enable developers to write more secure and robust code. This reduces the occurrence of runtime errors and enhances the overall reliability of the program.
Java Vs Kotlin: Advantages
Advantages of Kotlin:
- Cost efficient: Kotlin is a cost-efficient language due to its open-source nature, eliminating the need for licensing expenses. Additionally, the low cost of adoption and the language’s ease of learning make it budget-friendly for developers, as there are minimal costs associated with acquiring Kotlin skills.
- Convenient & Concise: Kotlin standard library is highly valued by developers as it provides a wide range of useful functions. This includes the ability to implement higher-order functions using idiomatic patterns. Developers appreciate the convenience and flexibility offered by these standard library functions.
- Safe Memory Management: Kotlin promotes safe memory management through immutability, which helps prevent bugs caused by memory corruption. By reducing the need for mutable state, Kotlin minimises the potential for writing insecure code, resulting in a more secure application with fewer vulnerabilities.
Advantages of Java:
- Dynamic: Java is designed to be highly adaptable, allowing for improved performance speed and reduced memory waste. Its dynamic nature empowers the Java programming language, making error detection and prevention easier. This adaptability and dynamic nature contribute to the strength and reliability of Java.
- Multithreaded: Java is a multithreaded language that provides its own objects, simplifying the management of multiple threads. This allows developers to work in a more manageable and efficient environment, resulting in improved performance. Java’s built-in support for multithreading enhances the development experience and enables developers to leverage the benefits of concurrent programming more easily.
- Efficient Memory Allocation: In Java, memory is divided into the stack and heap. Variables are assigned to these sections, and the JVM handles memory allocation and retrieval automatically, making it convenient for developers.
Java Vs Kotlin: Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Kotlin:
- The compilation speed of Kotlin can be considered a drawback. While Kotlin apps are generally smaller and faster than Java apps, the process of compiling new or fresh builds in Kotlin takes longer compared to Java. However, the advantage of rapid incremental builds in Kotlin helps compensate for this drawback.
- There is indeed a steep learning curve for Kotlin, making it less straightforward and requiring a more substantial upfront learning process. This is primarily due to Kotlin’s concise syntax, which, while a great advantage, does require some upfront learning.
Disadvantages of Java:
- Java’s performance can be affected by its complex JVM, resulting in slower execution compared to native languages. As a result, Java tends to consume more memory compared to other native languages, which can impact its overall efficiency.
- Java often requires more code compared to Kotlin and other programming languages due to its verbosity. This verbosity can introduce a higher risk of bugs and errors in Java programs.
Kotlin vs Java: Which Is Better?
As we see, both Java and Kotlin can be compiled to bytecode and run on the Java Virtual Machine, making them compatible within the same project. However, the big advantage of Kotlin in Android development is its ability to leverage the latest language features and advancements, setting it apart from Java.
Moreover, null safety is another big talking point. Kotlin has a clever built-in system that handles null values, making it less prone to such errors. On the other hand, Java follows a more traditional approach, which can be more cumbersome when dealing with null values.
Lastly, while Kotlin and Java can often be used interchangeably in legacy projects, Kotlin is generally considered easier to write and work with. On the other hand, Java tends to have quicker deployment times, requiring less time and bytecode compared to its younger counterpart.
Conclusion
Making a decision between Kotlin vs Java is not simple. While both languages are similar, they are best suited for different purposes.
On one side, Java is a versatile language that was initially used for developing Android applications. However, it has expanded its reach and become an excellent choice for big data, ecommerce, and enterprise systems. Many renowned companies like Netflix, Hybris, and ATG have adopted Java as their preferred technology.
On the other hand, Kotlin is a rapidly emerging language that offers developers the flexibility to explore modern programming paradigms in Android development. As a result, Kotlin is considered a superior choice for building contemporary Android applications.
Ultimately, the choice of the language depends upon the developer and the project:
Go with Kotlin:
- Well-suited for small projects without complex architecture
- For increased productivity with less code and high quality
- Android development as the main focus
- App security taking precedence
Go with Java:
- For larger, complex projects or backend development
- With the presence of proficient Java developers
- Considering a limited budget
If you are looking to develop an Android app for your business then you should contact us at se@seoptimizes.com with your requirements. We hope you enjoyed this blog on Kotlin vs Java. Do check our other blogs! 🚀✨😁
