All About Kotlin

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is an open-source programming language developed by the JetBrains team that is statically typed and used to build applications. It can run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and be utilized in all contexts where Java is currently used. Its flexibility enables the development of diverse software, such as Android apps and server-side apps, among others.

Kotlin is relatively a modern programming language designed for multiplatform applications. Despite its recent emergence, Kotlin has become a popular alternative to Java for Android development due to its readability, reduced code, and safety. It offers an efficient writing and reading experience of the codebase.

History

Kotlin was developed by JetBrains, a software development company based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The project began in 2010, and the first public release of Kotlin was in February 2016. Since then, Kotlin's popularity for Android development has surged as it offers many advantages over Java.

In May 2017, Google said they would support using Kotlin for Android app development. This made Kotlin even more popular. After that, lots of big companies like Uber, Netflix, and Pinterest started using Kotlin in their software projects. In 2019, the team who made Kotlin made a new thing called Kotlin Multiplatform. This lets developers use Kotlin code on different platforms, like Android, IOS, and the web, without having a different codebase.

Why do we use Kotlin to build apps? Some main features

Kotlin offers some unique features that make the development process convenient and faster. Some of the main features include:

• Null safety: By default, Kotlin enforces non-null types, which means that variables cannot be assigned a null value unless they are explicitly declared as nullable. This helps catch null pointer exceptions at compile-time rather than run-time, reducing bugs in software and enabling null handling. This feature also includes a set of operators and functions that allow developers to safely handle null values without crashes or errors in their Kotlin file.
• Kotlin Coroutines: Kotlin Coroutines allow developers asynchronous programming in an intuitive way. Coroutines work by allowing a program to suspend the execution of a task and resume it later, without blocking the entire thread or process. This can help reduce resource usage and improve performance.
• Interoperability: Kotlin can be used with Java code, Java files and other programming languages, making it easier to integrate with existing projects. Converting existing Java code to Kotlin is a common practice for developers who are looking to utilise Kotlin language features. Kotlin programming language offers cross-platform support that makes it possible to develop Android apps and IOS apps from a single codebase.
• Hybrid language: Kotlin is an object-oriented programming language. It allows developers to apply concepts such as classes, objects, inheritance, derived classes, and polymorphism to create applications. In addition, Kotlin also supports functional programming concepts, such as higher-order functions and lambda expressions. This makes Kotlin a hybrid language that supports both object-oriented and functional programming paradigm.
• Extension Function: An extension function in Kotlin is a function that is defined externally but can be called a part of a class. It enables you to augment the capabilities of existing classes without modifying their source code or inheriting from them. To declare an extension function in Kotlin, you must specify the receiver type, which is the class that the function is being extended to. Extension functions are a valuable feature in Kotlin as they can enhance the functionality of classes, make code more modular, and simplify maintenance.

What Does a Kotlin Developer Do?

A Kotlin developer is a Software developers who specializes in using the Kotlin programming language to create software applications. Kotlin developers typically work on projects that involve Android app development, server-side development, or cross-platform development using Kotlin Multiplatform.

The main responsibility of Android Kotlin developers is to build Android apps that have a strong integration with the backend. They are in charge of the entire process of creating and maintaining Android apps, from initial requirements to final release, and ongoing product development.

To summarise, in general, these are the duties performed by a Kotlin Developer:

• Designing and developing software applications using Kotlin.
• Writing clean and efficient code.
• Collaborating with others to make the Software development cycle successful.
• Debugging and troubleshooting.
• Implement security measures that align with overall security principles.
• Optimizing the apps and systems.

How to Become a Kotlin Developer

To become a successful Kotlin developer, you need to learn the basics that will help you master it. Developers are increasingly using Kotlin to develop Android apps and the demand is increasing year by year. Learning Kotlin will enable you to have vast job opportunities. It will not only help you develop Android apps, but will also help you to develop server-side apps, and even cross-platform apps with Kotlin Multiplatform.

You need to learn these skills to master Kotlin:

Learn the basics of programming

Before learning a tech stack, it is essential to first learn the basics of programming. It is important to have a good understanding of concepts such as data types, algorithms, control statements, functions, and loops. Programming languages that are considered beginner-friendly include Python, Java, and Javascript. It is crucial to develop your logic, which will serve as a foundation for development.

Learn Kotlin

Once you've got a basic understanding of programming, you can start learning Kotlin. There are many resources available on the net to help you learn Kotlin, including official documentation, courses, videos, and books. Understand the architecture, and learn Kotlin features such as external functions, data class and null safety. Practise and revise the concepts regularly to get a good grasp.

Build Projects

To gain expertise in Kotlin, it is recommended to start building projects and engaging in project-based learning. Developing clones of your favourite applications and learning about APIs and their integration with the backend is highly recommended. This will provide you with insights into the software development process and how it operates.

Join Communities

The Kotlin community comprises enthusiastic developers who are eager to collaborate, help and work together as a team. You can ask questions, contribute to open-source projects, and keep yourself informed about the latest events and opportunities to remain up-to-date.

Learning Kotlin will take time but in the end, it will be rewarding. Practising and building projects will take you to great heights! Contributing to Open-Source projects will give you an edge and give you experience in how software development works.

Advantages of Kotlin

Concise Syntax

The syntax of Kotlin is compact, which means it requires fewer lines of code to provide the same functionality as Java. This reduces development time and expense by making the code easier to read, write, and maintain.

Performance

Kotlin is a high-performance language that provides many features that can help developers write efficient and optimized code. By using these features, developers can create applications that are fast, responsive, and performant.

Data class

Kotlin's data classes have been created to be efficient and not consume too many resources. They come with built-in, optimised versions of frequently used functions like equals(), hashCode(), and toString(), which can enhance the speed of the program.

Better Tooling

Kotlin is well-equipped with tools that allow developers to use modern development platforms like Android Studio, IntelliJ IDEA, and Eclipse to build Kotlin applications. The Kotlin plugin offers features such as code completion, debugging, and refactoring support, which simplifies the development process and enhances its efficiency.

Huge Community and Support

The Kotlin community is large and very engaging, and supportive. It is rapidly growing and has a strong presence on social media platforms such as Twitter, Reddit, and StackOverflow. Additionally, Kotlin has a strong presence in the Android community, with many Android developers adopting the language for their applications.

Installation of Kotlin

1. Go to the Kotlin releases page on GitHub.
2. Locate the Assets section on the Kotlin releases page, and download the Kotlin compiler as a zip file.
3. Unzip the downloaded file (kotlin-compiler-x.x.x.zip) and save the unzipped folder in a location where you can write files.
4. Add the path to the unzipped folder's /bin directory to your PATH variable.
5. Check that the installation was successful by typing "kotlinc" into the command line.

   $ kotlinc

   You will get the version as the output. If you don't get the desired Output, then reinstall after deleting it.

   Run your first Kotlin Code:

   Let's create a very simple Kotlin project. Open your favourite code editor such as Android Studio and create a new file called 'first.kt' with the following code:

   fun main (args: Array<String>) {
   	println("hello world")
   } 

   Save the file and type the following commands to compile and run the program

   $ kotlinc first.kt
   $ kotlin FirstKt

   The output: hello world

   The program starts with the declaration of a function named "main". In Kotlin, "main" is a special function that serves as the entry point of the program. The function takes a single argument named "args", which is an array of strings.

   The body of the function contains a single statement, which uses the "println" function to print the string "hello world" to the console. The program execution starts from the "main" function, which is called automatically when the program is run. The "hello world" message is printed to the console, and then the program terminates.

Kotlin and Java

Kotlin and Java are both object-oriented programming languages that run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). While Kotlin and Java share many similarities, there are also many differences between them.

One of the main advantages of Kotlin is that its syntax is much more compact and expressive than Java's. This can make code easier to read and write, as well as less likely to cause faults and errors. Null safety, extension functions, and coroutines are also supported in Kotlin, which are not available in Java.

Despite these distinctions, Kotlin is entirely compatible with Java. This means that Kotlin code can interact with Java code and vice versa. Java libraries and frameworks can be used in Kotlin projects, and Kotlin code may be used in Java projects without any problems.

Another advantage of using Kotlin with Java is that it allows developers to leverage the strengths of both languages. Kotlin, for example, can be used to produce compact and expressive code, but Java is best suited for performance-critical components or when working with a legacy codebase.

Ultimately, Kotlin and Java are both strong programming languages that may be used to produce high-quality, efficient, and maintainable code. Developers can build complex and scalable apps that fulfill the needs of their consumers by harnessing the benefits of both languages.

Development Best Practices

Some of the key points that a Kotlin developer must keep in mind are:

Utilize functional programming features

Kotlin provides various functional programming features that can help in simplifying your code and structure. It is recommended to utilize these features, including higher-order functions, lambdas, and extension functions, to their full potential.

Use coroutines for asynchronous programming

Kotlin has support for coroutines, which can help write your asynchronous code simpler and easier to read. Kotlin coroutines include features that enable them to handle cancellations and errors internally, which simplifies the task of writing scalable and fault-tolerant asynchronous code.

Use data classes efficiently

Using data class efficiently will make your development quick and easy! To make the most of data classes in Kotlin, it's best to use the "data" keyword when declaring the class, ensure that the properties are immutable and defined using "val", provide default values for properties, and utilize the methods that are automatically generated. Adhering to these guidelines can help you produce code that is brief, legible, and simple to modify. Data classes are especially beneficial when working with significant amounts of data since they can streamline the process of constructing and altering objects.

Write unit tests

Testing is a crucial aspect of software development as it helps ensure that your code works as intended and doesn't have any errors. With Kotlin, you have access to a variety of testing tools. These testing tools are designed to help you verify that your code is functioning correctly and to catch any potential bugs before they become a problem.

Collaborate, Contribute

Collaboration with others will teach you how to work in a team. It will give you an opportunity to network with like-minded people and know what's trending in the Kotlin world. Help others, seek guidance and contribute, and you will grow!