May 30, 2019
And you cannot deny the fact that Kotlin is giving a tough competition to Java. It’s not been long after the inception of Kotlin, that now it is deemed as the second official language of app development.
To make things clear, we drive a comparison between the two and see which emerges to be better?
Java: An Overview
A programming language created by James Gosling, Java is written once, run everywhere kind of language. Being an object-oriented language, Java offers a lot more than just app development. It is seen that Java can work on all domains, whether Android or iOS or maybe windows, Java is compatible with all. Currently, Java has a huge user base that accounts for Java being the universally accepted language for mobile app development.
Kotlin: An Overview
Statically typed and open source, Kotlin is the new language for Android app development. It is developed by Jet Brains and can effectively run on JVM. Also, Kotlin has been supported officially by Google. A survey done by Jexenter revealed that Kotlin today ranks 6th among the top technology trends. Another research suggests that the current market share of Kotlin sums up to 25.30%. That’s impressive and when you are competing with Java that’s huge!
So, let’s cut to the point and see what differentiates Java from Kotlin and which is the best?
Why Kotlin?
- Enhanced Efficiency
Having a precise and intuitive syntax, Kotlin is seen to leverage the efficiency of the development team. Also, the fact that developers need not write lines of code instead only a few cuts down on the time taken to develop an app.
- Easy Maintenance
Kotlin has the support of a range of IDEs and so the developers find it easy to maintain. It includes multiple SDKs and Android Studio along with a developers’ tool kit that eases the process of mobile app development.
- 100 Percent Interoperable
It is seen that Kotlin can call Java methods, so the Java developers do not find it hard to gel with Kotlin. Additionally, the app development companies having a huge Java codebase can integrate Kotlin language for efficient apps.
- Reliable
One of the major concerns of app developers is integrating the older version with the new ones. But to your surprise, Kotlin is totally reliable. Different versions of Kotlin are inter-compatible.
Disadvantages Of Kotlin?
Nothing strikes perfection and so does our trending language . It also has a few loopholes which you should be aware of being an app developer.
- Fluctuating Speed Of Compilation
Many times it is noted that the compilation speed of the language varied and significantly. For some projects, it’s incredibly high and for some, it shrinks drastically. Hence, before you start with the process of app development, be ready to face such issues.
- Lack Of Community Support
Owing to the fact that Kotlin is now much more popular, it has a smaller community. Hence, developers find it hard to solve queries and suffer from limited resources.
- Absence Of Developers
Similar to community scarcity, Kotlin also faces a lack of skilled developers.
Why Java?
After seeing the pros and cons of Kotlin, it’s now time to see what all Java has to offer.
- Portable
Being able to run on the platform-independent Java Virtual Machine, Java has the advantage of being highly portable. As a result, Java can run on almost every platform.
- Higher Community Base
Java has been the official language of app development for a long and due to this, it has a huge community. No matter what the type of error is, you would not find it tough to be answered. There are many experts in Java ready to help and solve your issues.
- Can Build Hybrid Apps
Java is not restricted to native apps, instead one can develop cross-platform apps using Java.
- Highly Resourceful
Since Java is the one that created Android, it has built-in libraries and SDKs that ease the developmental process.
Disadvantages of Java
- Speed
Java occupies the greater place and also runs slower as compared to other languages.
- Type – Heavy
Java needs a lot of codes to be written and hence results in consuming more time and likewise increases the cost of app development.
Comparison
So, we see that the major difference lies in the speed, syntax, and operation type. Where one is type-heavy, the other does not require the developers to type a bundle of codes. One lacks resources but the other has an array of the same and many more.
Which language to choose depends solely on your requirements. Based on the type of project you are about to build, you can prioritize which language would be beneficial and which would only add overheads. Lay an assessment on both the language and see which one emerges out to be better irrespective of its drawbacks. Once, you are done with that, you can then proceed with the process of mobile app development.
Mahabir
Mahabir is the founder and CEO of iWebServices. He specializes in guiding startups, enterprises, and Fortune 500 companies through their digital transformation journeys. Under his leadership, the company has developed over 1300 digital products, including mobile apps, SaaS platforms, and advanced AI and blockchain solutions. Mahabir's passion for technology, adaptability to emerging tech trends, and visionary leadership qualities have positioned him as an influential figure in the pursuit of digital product investment.
