Same as Java, Kotlin has become a top language for developing Android applications. This is from the Android Studio comes with support for Kotlin like Java.
Kotlin vs. Java
Whether one should switch to Kotlin from Java or not? It depends on preferences. Whatever, before making the switch it’s need to understand the difference between the two programming languages.
Checked Exceptions
A major difference between Java and Kotlin is the latter has no provision. Therefore, there is no need to catch any exceptions.
If a programmer working in Java finds blocks in the code then by Kotlin can be considered a welcome change. Whatever, it’s the opposite if the developer believes that the creation of robust code.
Code Conciseness
Comparing Java class with a kotlin class denotes the conciseness of Kotlin code. For performing the operation that the java class , a kotlin class necessitates for less code.
For example, Kotlin can reduce the total amount of boiler plate code. Kotlin android extensions allow importing a reference to activity file. This allows working with that view as if it was part of the function.
CPU work and network are long running operations. The calling thread is blocked up to the whole operation completes. Android is single threaded, an user interface gets completely frozen as soon as the main thread will be blocked.
The solution for the problem in Java is to make a thread for the long-running work. Whatever, managing multiple threads makes to an increase in the complexity.
Kotlin also permits the creation of additional threads. Whatever, there is a way of managing intensive operations in Kotlin, known as coroutines. They are stackless means they demand lower memory usage compared to threads.
Data Classes in java and kotlin
Full size projects have classes that are meant to hold data. These classes have little to functions, a developer wants to write a boiler plate code in Java.
A developer needs to define a constructor and several fields to store the data getter and setter functions for the fields, and equals() and to string functions.
Kotlin has a simple way of creating such classes. The developer wants to only include the data keyword in the class definition, The compiler will take care of the entire task.
Inline Functions in java and kotlin
Variables are accessed in the body of the function are closures. Creating of higher order functions can make several runtime penalties. All function in Kotlin is an object and closure.
Classes and function objects call for memory allocations. These virtual calls introduce runtime overhead. An additional overhead can be avoided by the lambda expressions in Kotlin.
Java doesn’t provide support for inline functions. The Java compiler is performing inlining using the final method. This final methods cannot be overridden by sub classes.
Null Safety
Most important issues concerning Java for developers is the Null pointer exceptions. Java allows developers assign a null value to any variable. If they use an object that has a null value, there comes the Null pointer exceptions.
All types are non nullable in Kotlin. If developers assign or return null in the Kotlin code, it will fail at compile time. Whatever, there is a way around. In order to assign a null value to a variable in Kotlin, it is required to mark that variable as nullable.
If encounter such an exception in Kotlin then it is either you explicitly assigned a null value or some external Java code.
Still Confused? Here’s the Solution!
Some features are better in Kotlin while Java is having advantageous. Irrespective of all the dissimilarities between Java and kotlin, they are fully interoperable. Java and Kotlin compile to bytecode. It is possible to call Java code from Kotlin.
This flexibility has two advantages. It getting started with Kotlin by introducing the Kotlin code in a Java project. And both languages can be used simultaneously in any Android application development project. For best software development company, contact Adhoc softwares
