<p dir="ltr">Kotlin and Java are popular development languages. They are similar to each other. Both are used for server-side development of Android applications and other areas that utilize a virtual machine. This unique environment supports Java code on any platform where it is present. Second, they are compatible with each other. This allows you to use libraries and frameworks written for Java in Kotlin projects and vice versa. </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/1_9bff0de76c.jpg" alt="1.jpg"></p> <p dir="ltr">Today, we will explore the “Kotlin vs. Java” dilemma. First, we will compare the technical characteristics, and at the end of the article, you will find an algorithm that will help you decide which language is preferable for your project. </p> <pre class="language-contactus"><code>{{ "title": "Write ChilliCode", "description": "To help you acknowledge your business needs and decide whether IT services will work for you, I’ve sorted out a list of cases.", "buttonText": "Contact us" }}</code></pre> <h2 dir="ltr">Object-oriented and functional programming</h2> <p dir="ltr">There are several differences between Kotlin and Java that you should consider when choosing a programming language for your project. The main one is that Java is an object-oriented programming language that allows you to reuse already created blocks of code. This is convenient, but it imposes its limitations. For example, storing and processing these blocks is demanding on device resources. A large amount of template code can confuse the developer, and the language will take longer to learn.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Kotlin programming language also supports object orientation, it combines it with the “functional programming paradigm.” Kotlin is more suited for complex mathematical calculations and specific tasks. Pieces of code already made in a particular task in Java may not fit the new task, but functional programming in Kotlin will avoid this problem.</p> <p dir="ltr">If your project involves many “single-type” tasks, Java is a reasonable choice. Multiple uses of previously written code will reduce development time. </p> <p dir="ltr">If your project requires complex functionality for a specific purpose, then functional programming in Kotlin will be preferable.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Syntax</h2> <p dir="ltr">Kotlin syntax is simple and similar to intuitive languages such as JavaScript and Python. Unlike Java, it does not require detailed descriptions of methods and frequent use of semicolons. Java, on the other hand, will need more lines of code to accomplish the same tasks as Kotlin. Also, the latter does not require frequent use of the “new” keyword, which makes the code more readable. </p> <h2 dir="ltr">Security</h2> <p dir="ltr">In Java, variables can have a null value. If you don't check the code for their presence before running it, it can lead to an error, which developers often encounter. Kotlin code, on the other hand, has a built-in type safety system. It“highlights” null values by compilation, which allows you to detect errors at an early stage. The fewer errors there are, the more reliable the code is.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Compatibility and ecosystem </h2> <p dir="ltr">Java has a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that have been around for years. Java code can easily integrate with other Java code, making it easy to develop large projects. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kotlin is fully compatible with Java, allowing you to utilize existing Java libraries and migrate code incrementally. Kotlin support in integrated development environments (IDEs) makes it easy to convert Java code to Kotlin. Usually, you can simply copy and paste Java code into a .kt file to get a Kotlin analog. For any Java features that don't have a direct analog in Kotlin, there is a Kotlin IDE plugin.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kotlin's 100 percent compatibility with Java ensures that Kotlin can be implemented in Java projects. Developers can start working with Kotlin incrementally, making it easy to collaborate within the same project without breaking existing Java code.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Java's Tools and Integrations</h2> <p dir="ltr">Java has existed for more than 25 years, during which time a large number of tools and frameworks for different development tasks have appeared. Let's examine some of them.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/2_b8e2f2576e.png" alt="2.png"></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)</h3> <p dir="ltr">An integrated development environment (IDE) is where a developer writes, tests, and runs code. Each IDE offers its own advantages, so you should choose the right one based on the needs of your project and team.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eclipse is one of the most popular Java IDEs. It offers powerful code editing, debugging, profiling, and project management tools. Its advantage is wide extensibility through plugins and excellent community support.</p> <p dir="ltr">IntelliJ IDEA, developed by JetBrains, offers advanced features to increase developer productivity. Its advantages are that it is an intelligent code editor, automatic code completion, and supports multiple languages and frameworks.</p> <p dir="ltr">NetBeans is another popular IDE that provides tools for developing, debugging, and deploying Java applications. It easily integrates Integration with Maven and Gradle projects and has built-in database tools.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Build systems</h3> <p dir="ltr">In a build system, you can set rules to rebuild the code automatically, which helps automate processes and reduce development time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maven is a powerful project management and build tool that helps automate application building, testing, and deployment. It is good for dependency management, standardized project structure, and integration with CI/CD systems.</p> <p dir="ltr">Gradle is a modern build system that offers flexibility and performance. Its advantages are Groovy or Kotlin DSL-based build scripts, high performance, and support for incremental builds.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Frameworks</h3> <p dir="ltr">Spring is an enterprise application development framework that offers Inversion of Control (IoC) support, annotation-based configuration, and many other tools. This modular framework supports microservice architecture and integrates with various technologies.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hibernate is an ORM (object-relational mapping) framework. It helps to manage databases at the object level. It is characterized by automatic data conversion between objects and relational databases and supports caching.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Testing tools</h3> <p dir="ltr">JUnit is a standard framework for unit testing in Java. Its ease of use and integration with IDEs and build systems are in its favor.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mockito is a library for creating mock objects for testing. It simplifies test writing and allows you to simulate dependency behavior.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite Kotlin being a newer language, it has many tools and integrations. </p> <h2 dir="ltr">Kotlin's Tools and Integrations</h2> <h3 dir="ltr">Integrated Development Environments (IDEs)</h3> <p dir="ltr">IntelliJ IDEA is the native IDE for Kotlin. It provides full language support, including automatic code completion, refactoring, and debugging. This environment is ideal for Kotlin support as it has many productivity tools and integration with Android Studio.</p> <p dir="ltr">Android Studio is the official IDE for Android application development with full Kotlin support. Among its advantages are a large number of tools for Android development, integration with Gradle, and support for modern libraries and frameworks.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Build Systems</h3> <p dir="ltr">Gradle offers built-in support for Kotlin DSL, which allows you to write scripts in Kotlin. It also features improved readability and support for build scripts.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maven also supports projects created in Kotlin. Gg advantages: widespread use and compatibility with existing Java projects.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Frameworks</h3> <p dir="ltr">Ktor is a framework for building asynchronous server-side applications in Kotlin. It is highly performant, easy to use, and integrates with Kotlin coroutines.</p> <p dir="ltr">Spring. The main advantage of this framework is its concise syntax and null safety.</p> <p dir="ltr">Exposed is an ORM framework for easy and convenient work with databases. </p> <h3 dir="ltr">Testing tools</h3> <p dir="ltr">Kotlin Test. A standard framework for unit testing in Kotlin that offers advanced features compared to JUnit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Java has the advantage if you choose a language based on the available tools and integrations. It offers more valuable tools for development, which will give the project flexibility at the creation stage. However, with the further development of Kotlin, this gap will be reduced, and this language will also “acquire” many valuable tools.</p> <p dir="ltr">MockK is a library for creating mock objects in Kotlin, similar to Mockito. It supports all Kotlin features and is distinguished by simplified texturing and support for coroutines.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Community and support</h2> <p dir="ltr">Communities are the lifeblood of any programming language. They provide support, share knowledge, promote language and tool development, train new developers, offer networking opportunities, and inspire new achievements. </p> <p dir="ltr">Java has existed since 1995. The community built around this programming language is one of the largest and most experienced. There are pluses to this: extensive documentation and tutorials have been accumulated, there are a large number of online venues and active users, and many thematic events and conferences are held. But there is a disadvantage—it is difficult to search for the necessary information in such a large “base.” </p> <h3 dir="ltr">Why developers switch from Java to Kotlin</h3> <p dir="ltr">Each project may have reasons for switching from Java to Kotlin, but trends show the undeniable truth: more and more devs are migrating to Kotlin. The reasons for Kotlin replacing Java are as follows:</p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Platform consistency;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Code security;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Preference for functional programming;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Advanced features;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">More modern language features;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Multiplatform;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ability to integrate between Java and Kotlin; </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The desire for educational growth and development;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Limitations of Java;</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Alignment with Google's strategy;</p> </li> </ol> <h2 dir="ltr">Application areas </h2> <p dir="ltr">Java is widely used to build large enterprise systems such as business process management (BPM) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The reason for this is its stability, maturity, and rich set of tools, such as Java EE and Spring.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://chillicode.dev/uploads/3_6c1fb597ff.jpg" alt="3.jpg"></p> <p dir="ltr">This programming language is also often used for research projects due to its performance and wide range of computing libraries. Working with big data, analytics, and embedded systems is not without Java. </p> <p dir="ltr">Of course, Java is still used to create games, mobile applications, and web applications. However, research shows that Kotlin's influence has grown in recent years, especially after Google announced it as the official language for Android development. Kotlin is gaining popularity in cross-platform development due to its modern features and official support from Google.</p> <p dir="ltr">In finance, for example, Kotlin is considered an alternative for app development. Due to Android security and performance issues associated with Java, companies are gradually moving away from using this language. Kotlin, with its focus on security and performance, can be a prioritized choice for Android app development in the finance sector and beyond.</p> <h2 dir="ltr">Selecting a language for your project</h2> <p dir="ltr">To select a programming language for your greenfield project, you need to consider the following:</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Type of project</h3> <p dir="ltr">If you are developing an Android mobile app, Kotlin would be a great choice due to Google's official support and modern syntax.</p> <p dir="ltr">Because of its maturity and stability, Java may be preferable for server-side and enterprise applications.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Team experience</h3> <p dir="ltr">If your team already has experience with Java, it may be better to use this language to reduce training time.</p> <p dir="ltr">If your team is ready to learn a new language and wants to utilize modern features, Kotlin will have significant advantages for you.</p> <pre class="language-subscription"><code>sub</code></pre> <h3 dir="ltr">Future Development</h3> <p dir="ltr">Java provides long-term stability and support, essential for large enterprise projects.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kotlin is actively developed and maintained, making it attractive for new projects and mobile applications.</p> <p dir="ltr">Choose the programming language that best suits your specific requirements, your team's experience, and your business's long-term goals.</p> <p dir="ltr">If you are considering a move from Java to Kotlin, you need to think about the following questions:</p> <p dir="ltr">- What kind of performance improvement do you expect, and how important is it compared to other factors? </p> <p dir="ltr">- Migrating from one language to another can take several years, especially if you have a large development team. Are you prepared for this? </p> <p dir="ltr">- Do you have enough resources for team training and support? </p> <p dir="ltr">- Will switching to another language be beneficial in the long run?</p> <p dir="ltr">If you know the answers to all these questions but still need help choosing which programming language to use for your project or whether you should switch from Java, our team is ready to advise you and help you decide. </p>
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