Introduction
There was a time when Java was the go-to for creating Android mobile apps. However, it has been steadily losing ground to Kotlin, a more modern and speedy alternative.
In May of thilanguage s year, Google said that Kotlin is now its preferred language for developing Android apps.
Kotlin is a programming language that is widely used in the Android ecosystem and is also gaining traction in other software development domains.
Early in 2019, Statista said that Kotlin had influenced market share by 6.1%, while Java was at the highest with 41.1%. Kotlin’s popularity, however, has unexpectedly increased by a factor of two in the previous two years.
According to a poll taken by developers on Stack Overflow, Kotlin is the fourth most-liked programming language.
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To move forward, let’s discuss the relative merits and demerits of Kotlin and Java.
Kotlin: What Is It?
JetBrains created Kotlin, and Google has since endorsed it as an official programming language. An open-source programming language that runs on the Java Platform (JVM).
Consequently, it is compatible with both object-oriented programming (OOP) and functional programming languages.
There was a point when Kotlin’s creators said that Java had many bad ideas that couldn’t be undone. Therefore, a completely new language with more user-friendly syntax is required to fully allow the development of an Android video chat application. The birth of the new language Kotlin may be traced back to this very moment.
It’s time to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of Kotlin.
Benefits of the Kotlin Framework
Although at the present time Kotlin is the most popular all-purpose language. It has an easier-to-use syntax than Java and is hence more popular.
Let’s highlight some benefits so you may learn more about them.
Kotlin Enables Writing Less Code
Readability is crucial for any language, and it’s much better when it’s supplied with fewer lines of code. Bugs are reduced in programming languages when the correct syntax is executed with fewer lines of code. Kotlin’s regular-less, high-readability code is what ultimately facilitates the development of the greatest chat software for websites and mobile devices.
Supports Developers in Overcoming Challenges
At one point, JetBrains sought out an alternative to Java for use with their flagship product, IntelliJ IDEA. After exhausting all possible avenues of inquiry, the crew came up empty. This made room for Kotlin to step in. It has overcome every problem programmers had when trying to use the Kotlin Chat Software Development Kit to create a real-time chat application.
For example, it aids in preventing null pointer exceptions, which can have repercussions across extensive codebases and APIs.
Exceptionally high level of compatibility with Java
In this case, the compiler outputs bytecodes that are very compatible with Java, making Kotlin an excellent choice for developing chat app solutions. Java can also run on any platform that supports bytecodes. Since the Kotlin compiler offers a wide variety of possibilities for code generation, in theory, it should run more quickly when large values are used. The bytecode versions 2.0 and later are not supported by any features in Kotlin at this time.
Getting started with Kotlin is simple
If you have more than two or three developers working on the project, you can convert the codebase in tiny increments to Kotlin, which will facilitate product maintenance and streamline the creation of unique chat apps for Android.
Kotlin Supports a Wide Variety of Operating Systems
Kotlin follows the trend of any development that is cross-platform. Support for JavaScript and interoperability are two of the benefits that developers reap when they switch to Kotlin for their front ends right from the start of a project.
An Active Community of Kotlin Developers
JetBrains is dedicated to the Kotlin language even after its release, and their team is always working to make it better. Consequently, kotlin now has a reliable economic model that facilitates the adoption of the language in their own flagship goods.
Limitations of the Kotlin Framework
Just like any other programming language, Kotlin is not without its drawbacks.
Relatively Distinctive from Java
Whatever the case may be, Kotlin and Java may share superficial similarities, but they are fundamentally different languages. When it comes to making an android chat app, app developers who aren’t familiar with kotlin just can’t make the jump.
Compilation Speed However With Unmatched Clean Building
When using incremental builds, Kotlin consistently outperforms Java.
Java’s unmatched reputation for squeaky-clean code remains unrivaled even after this event has passed.
Minimal Source For Learning
While the daily number of developers making the conversion to Kotlin is growing, there is still a small pool of developers that are fluent enough in Kotlin to answer questions that arise while building an Android chat app.
After we’ve gone over the benefits and drawbacks, you may be curious about where exactly all this Kotlin has been put to use.
The Kotlin Language and Its Applications
There are numerous applications for the Kotlin programming language. Some of these, like Pinterest, an innovative and widely used photo-sharing site, have the most widespread Android app-based notification systems. Kotlin is also used by Google, Square, N26, Tinder, Netflix, and many more popular apps.
What exactly is Java?
Java is a class-based, all-terrain, object-oriented programming language that was designed to have less implementation dependencies over specific hardware or software.
It was first developed by Sun Microsystems and is now maintained by Oracle. Java apps are now available for desktop computers, mobile devices, and the web.
It is believed to be the greatest computing platform since it is stable, fast, and safe; therefore, it may be used to construct a chat platform for Android and online applications.
Nevertheless, each and every one of it’s functionalities may be found included within the aforementioned three Java platform components. That encompasses all of these
- Java Development Kit (JDK)
Applets and Java programs can both be developed with the help of the JDK, which is a software development environment.
They include the JRE, which is required in order to run Java programs, as well as the necessary tools for writing Java programs.
Additionally consists of a compiler, a Java application launcher, an applet viewer, and many other features.
- Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
The Java Virtual Machine, or JVM, is an engine that enables a runtime environment that may drive applications or Java code.
In addition to being a component of the Java Run Environment, it is responsible for translating Java bytecode into machine language (JRE).
To be more specific, the compiler for other programming languages generated machine code for a specific system, but the compiler for JVM generates code for a virtual machine.
- Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
The Java Runtime Environment, also known as JRE, is a component of software that is used to run other types of software.
It is composed of the JVM, loader class, and class libraries for the JVM.
To put it another way, if you ever want to run a Java program, you are going to need Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
A Java application can be executed by a user who is not a programmer because it is a comprehensive package that does not require the separate installation of JDK.
Now, let’s take a look at some of Java’s benefits and drawbacks, shall we?
Benefits of the Java Platform
As we are all aware, Java is the most fundamental language, which is why practically every developer takes it into consideration when creating their android chat app.
However, the fact that it has both positive and negative aspects has caused it to remain hidden.
Take a look at the benefits it offers.
A Language That Is Universally Understood
It is a programming language that is simple to pick up and straightforward to comprehend.
In addition to this, its codes are simple to debug and may be easily maintained over extended periods of time.
Even when compared to other languages that are somewhat comparable, such as C and C++, the complexity of Java is significantly lower.
Extremely Trustworthy
It is a programming language that is well-known for being both powerful and highly trustworthy.
In addition, as a result of its scalability and solidity attributes, it has become the one that is most favored for use in mobile, desktop, and web applications.
The programming language with the highest level of security
Avoiding the usage of explicit references is one of the primary ways that it lowers the risks and threats to system security.
Since the pointer typically stores the memory address of other values, it can, on occasion, result in illegal access to the memory locations of other variables.
However, the wonderful thing about Java is that it does not have the idea of pointers, which means that this issue is not a concern at all.
The Language That Is Most Common
In general, Java offers a technique for sharing data across multiple computers as a support system for enhancing both efficiency and performance.
This mechanism may be found in Java’s programming language.
All of this is achieved through the use of a single network, which enables any chat app development to benefit from a contribution to the functionality as well as the application.
Capable Of Supporting Multiple Threads
This makes it possible for a program to carry out multiple threads or tasks simultaneously within the same program.
owing to the fact that the threads all share the same memory space, which allows data to be freely transferred between them.
Eventually making it possible for developers to create a powerful interactive messaging chat application for android devices.
The Drawbacks Of The Java Platform
Even while it offers many benefits, Java is not without its drawbacks, just like any other programming language. Let’s have a look at some of the problems that Java has, shall we?
Require Special Memory Space
When compared to other native languages, it is noticeably slower and requires a significant amount of memory than the others.
Because it is a high-level language, each line of its code must be translated into machine-level instructions before it can be executed.
Because of the additional level of abstraction and compilation that this causes, the performance may suffer as a result.
The Code Requirements Have Been Increased
It has a far higher barrier to entry in terms of the amount of code that must be written before one can proceed with the execution process.
This significantly increases the likelihood that there will be bugs.
Extremely Limited Native Look
Since Java’s presentation is lacking, the desktop user interface experience it provides is not very satisfying.
Therefore, in order to construct the graphical user interface of a program, the developers will need to make use of a variety of tools that are language-specific (GUI).
On the other hand, this is not the case with android chat apps because they are typically compatible with one another.
Application Areas For The Java Programming Language
When it comes to the construction of an Android application, it is by far the most common and well-known programming language to use.
It has been implemented in virtually every kind of application imaginable, including mobile apps, scientific apps, gaming apps, apps for use with big data technologies, business apps, web-based apps, desktop GUI apps, and so on. And among its services, you’ll find Signal and Twitter, amongst others.
Conclusion
While it is necessary to keep an eye on what’s happening in the IT and software industries, it does not appear that Kotlin or Java will soon be obsolete.
According to purely technical metrics, Kotlin is likely more often than not the superior choice when it comes to developing quick, high-performance apps.
And the code written in Kotlin is often simpler to maintain.
To be sure, Java remains a compelling alternative. One might make a compelling case for utilizing Kotlin for developing lightweight, efficient apps.
However, it’s internal storage can help close the performance gap, so it’s still a good option for large, sophisticated programs.
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The availability of development resources is also a factor in deciding between Java and Kotlin.
If your software development team is well-versed in Java but unfamiliar with Kotlin, they will likely do a better job developing your app in Java.
In addition, Java will continue to be used for a long time, so there is no need to be too concerned about the longevity of Java-based apps.
