The Battle of the Programming Languages: Java vs Kotlin

The following are some of the advantages of the Java programming language.
• Java is a cross-platform programming language that runs on virtually any available device, server, or OS out there.
• Java coding is quite strong, and Java instructions cannot corrupt memory or compromise data from other OS X apps .
• Java is an object-oriented programming language that enables the creation of modular programs and the reuse of components that add to the robustness of the application.
• It is ready to use, and with Java, you will receive a large amount of ready-made third-party code.

When comparing Java vs Kotlin performance to that of other languages, Java is easier to use, compile, debug, and deploy.
Java is an open-source language that ensures security because many of its libraries are controlled by reputable businesses such as Google, Apache, and others.

The following are the Java challenges:

• Compared to other programming languages such as C + or Python, Java’s syntax can be a little difficult or cumbersome.
• With Java, certain content is inaccessible because it is incompatible with the device or equipment being utilized.
• It’s not straightforward to gain access to the latest Java improvements for mobile development.
• At times, Java causes issues with the architecture of the Android API .
• Test-Driven Development for Java involves more code and significantly increases the likelihood of programming errors and defects.
• When you do Java vs Kotlin, java is slightly slower and consumes a large amount of system memory.

You’re probably wondering why Java is so popular and how it’s employed.

The following is a list of Java applications:

• Desktop graphical user interface  applications
• Applications for Mobile Devices
• Applications in Business Scientific Applications
• Applications that Run on the Web
• Systems Embedded
• Technologies for Big Data
• Applications That Are Distributed
• Applications on the Cloud
• Servers for web content and application servers
• Software Instruments
• Applications for Gaming

Kotlin is an open-source programming language that supports cross-platform development  and inference with statically typed variables. Kotlin was introduced  in 2011 but received little attention throughout its first five years. JetBrains developed it.

Dmitry Jemerov, JetBrains’ Development Lead, noted  that Kotlin was created since none of the current JVM languages, except Scala, has the necessary capabilities. However, as Jemerov pointed out, Scala has some drawbacks, including an extremely poor compilation speed.

If you appreciate interesting information, here’s one: the name Kotlin originates on Kotlin Island, near St. Petersburg. Andrey Breslav, Kotlin’s lead language designer, explained that the team chose to name the language after an island, similar to Java (even though Java was named after Java coffee from the Indonesian island of the same name).

Kotlin gained widespread attention in 2017 after Google declared its support.

Since then, the adoption of Kotlin has been steadily increasing. According to the most recent StackOverflow survey , 72% of devs simply adore Kotlin. Now, let us look at the reasons why.

In the Java vs Kotlin debate, Kotlin is a newly designed language inspired by Java. However, it is an enhanced version with numerous new features. It is straightforward and uncomplicated, with fewer formalities and rules than Java and other programming languages. To design Android apps in this language, developers must first grasp fundamental programming principles and structures.

• Kotlin Application Deployment is lightweight, faster to compile, and stops apps from growing in size.
• Kotlin code is significantly smaller than Java code, as it is less verbose, and less code implies fewer bugs.
• When you do Java vs Kotlin, the kotlin compiles the code to bytecode that the JVM can run. Due to that, all Java libraries  and frameworks  are portable and execute in a Kotlin project.
• Kotlin scripts assist in configuring Android Studio projects for auto-completion assistance and in reducing compile-time error detection.
• It is not susceptible to NullPointerException.
• Coroutines are included in Kotlin, as is interoperability with Javascript for web programming.

• Because Kotlin is not widely used, the developer community is small compared to more established languages such as Java.
• Kotlin matches weak patterns, and the first readability of the code becomes a little challenging at first.
• Because Kotlin is a younger language than Java, it has a limited support community. Additionally, it lacks libraries, blog posts, and tutorials.
• Kotlin has a steep learning curve, and transitioning teams to it can be challenging due to the language’s concise syntax..
• There are a fairly limited number of Kotlin developers on the market. As a result, locating an experienced mentor is rather challenging.

The following is a list of the mobile applications developed by large corporations using the Kotlin programming language. These mobile applications created in Kotlin should convince you to give it a try as well.

• Google
• Pinterest
• Tinder
• Netflix
• Airbnb

While rewriting substantial chunks of a project in a new programming language is a significant decision, Kotlin provides two critical business benefits that influence the decision.

For businesses, Kotlin’s concise coding style is a huge value. It reduces development time, code modification time, code review time, and problem fixes time.

This enables them to cut both the duration and expense of the project, giving them a major competitive advantage.

This is critical in today’s competitive market to outperform competitors.

For developers, app crashes are a source of frustration. It implies more than the presence of an error in Java’s vast coding.

This also entails devoting considerable time to parsing the code to locate the error. The larger the code, the more obfuscated the coding error.

With Kotlin, this exact code makes bug fixes and long-term support easy.

Additionally, it offers a substantially cleaner application interface than Java programmes, as a result of the programmers’ greater sense of control and clarity throughout the development process.

While Java is well-known for various characteristics, one of them is the conciseness of its code. This is a significant stumbling block for engineers.

Kotlin provides them the best here. Not only is Kotlin significantly more concise, but its readability is also significantly improved.

The less text-heavy The text limitation of Kotlin comes with the benefit of reading and understanding the code more easily.

Compared to Java, this enables developers to modify, alter, or extend a product very easily.

This simplification of boilerplate code resolves a significant issue for developers, who find it exceedingly difficult to check for errors. It takes a long time to find and correct problems and errors. This becomes significantly easier using Kotlin.

The extent to which Kotlin aids in reducing coding and thus saving time is self-explanatory via the image above. Consider how even a cursory examination of the two sides reveals a significant difference.

This distinction is likely one of Kotlin’s most significant accomplishments in terms of its objectives. Here, scanning and identifying flaws and making necessary adjustments is simplified, as both scripts produce the same functional result.

One of them is simply more straightforward, simpler, and intuitive than the other.

At its heart, Kotlin has prioritized interoperability. Making all libraries available to Kotlin programmers enables them to leverage their existing knowledge to create superior solutions.

Developers can easily create Kotlin modules that integrate neatly with existing Java code. A Kotlin compiler enables the two languages to work together in the same project by producing the Bytecode.

This is critical for developers who are moving from Java to Kotlin. Without it, the changeover would be a sea change.

Kotlin includes a built-in Null safety feature. The NullPointerException is mostly to blame for errors made throughout the application development  process. While a null value denotes a missing value in Android, a null can easily throw all of an application’s hard work out the window.

This issue is resolved in Kotlin by incorporating intrinsic null safety. This eliminates the need for additional code for workarounds. This is likely the most infuriating aspect of coders’ labor, which is now automated.

For the layman, one could argue that Kotlin is simply smarter than Java regarding issue solving and process optimization.

By 2021, the rivalry between programming languages will become even more fierce. When it comes to Java and Kotlin, both have their share of pros and downsides.

However, the timing is premature to think that Kotlin will supplant Java in 2021. Java has a sizable user population in comparison to Java, which is unlikely to be replaced shortly.

Businesses should choose an Android App Development company proficient in both Java and Kotlin, rather than focusing just on a Java or Kotlin Android software development firm.

If you’re looking for a long-term, dependable web development partner to help you reach fresh, inventive ideas that will offer value to your clients and help you differentiate your business in a competitive atmosphere. In that case, Hombolt  is the company for you.

Our experience as a leading web development company in the United States is unsurpassed. Our custom web applications  offer superior usability, scalability, and cross-platform  compatibility across web -based and mobile  browser platforms.