Java or Kotlin for Android App Development: Key Factors to Consider

Mobile app development industry is rising at an enormous rate and with the growing require for apps, a large number of mobile app developers are coming up with very scalable apps that can satisfy your business requirements. However, while it comes to developing a mobile app, choosing the appropriate programming language is of utmost significance. Talking about android app development, Java is considered as the most excellent choice.

However, next to Google I/O 2017, Google made an announcement about Kotlin as an official language for Android app development. Before moving added, it is important to have some knowledge about Kotlin.

A Brief Insight Into Kotlin

The language uses less code to write and this resources that it improves productivity by minimizing the effort required to write the code. Its code syntax is easy to understand and hence, code review becomes very simple. In addition, it paves the way for easy code conversion between Java as well as Kotlin, complete debugging, easy IDE integration and full debugging to name a few. Hence, there is no exaggeration in saying that it can help in minimizing the pain points of Java developers. Run time overhead is also low and this is because the standard library is small and compact. There is no denying that NullPointerExceptions (NPEs) have been one of the most common reasons for crashes in mobile applications and fixing all NPEs is a tedious task. However, with Kotlin, there is no need to worry about NPEs because Kotlin’s type system is expected to prevent NPEs from the code.

With the coming of Kotlin, there are a lot of mobile app developers who are belligerent with the question of learning either Kotlin or Java for developing apps based on android. If you are also the one who is not sure about learning this language, then this blog is just for you as it will help you in making the wise decision.

Who should learn Kotlin for android app development?

If you have just started your career as a mobile app developer or you are on your way of learning java or just complete learning this language, then it will be better to stick to Java. This is because there are not sufficient learning resources for Kotlin, whereas plenty of resources are obtainable for Java. After gaining some experience in developing apps based on android you will be able to become more confident in android app development and then you can start developing apps with Kotlin.

On the otherside, If you are a confident developer who knows all about Java and is always ready to take challenges, then you should begin learning Kotlin. You may want to use this language in your current project, but it is good quality to use Kotlin for your next project. It is believed that once you start with this language, you will get to see that this new language is very easy and amazing. The main reason behind this is the obligation of writing less code in comparison to Java.

Furthermore, when it comes to using any new language for your project then you have to consider several important factors such as team members, decision of project manager and many more. After having complete knowledge of these factors, you will be able to make the best choice for qualitative mobile app development.

In conclusion, Kotlin will give a more concise as well as a smarter way of coding for android apps, but the language may take some time to touch the horizons of sky. When it comes to learning Kotlin for android app development, don’t forget to consider some important factors.