Why Kotlin is the Future of Cross-Platform Development

 What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is an entirely free and open-source statically typed programming language. Because Kotlin code can compile to Java bytecode, it can execute on Android and the Java virtual machine (JVM). In addition, it can run on iOs 3 and embedded systems and can be compiled down to JavaScript 2. The main goal is to be able to use a single language to target all of these platforms and share some of your code base throughout them.


Because Kotlin and Java were intended to be fully compatible, Kotlin code may utilize any Java class or library and vice versa.


Some key advantages of Kotlin over Java

  • Similar JVM Performance: Kotlin runs on the JVM with similar runtime performance to Java.
  • Compilation Time: Java typically has faster compilation times than Kotlin, though the gap is closing.
  • Smaller Codebase: Kotlin's concise syntax can result in a smaller, potentially more efficient codebase.
  • Coroutines vs Java Threads: Kotlin coroutines offer a more lightweight solution for asynchronous programming than Java threads.
  • Kotlin Native: Kotlin can compile to native code, offering performance benefits in non-JVM environments, which Java doesn't support.


How to Provide Support for All of the Market's Available Android Devices with JAVA

In order to support at least 96% of Android devices today, you have to target Android 4.4 (API level 19). To reach at least 98% support, Android 4.2 (API level 17) must be targeted; and to support 100% of devices, it is necessary to target Android 2.3.3 (API level 10) from 2010.


Kotlin Supports all API Levels

Kotlin offers Java 8 features and more, without being tied to any specific Java version. It natively supports higher-order functions, lambdas, and default interface methods, with improved syntax and powerful APIs for collections and I/O, surpassing Java 8's Streams.


The language has three compilation targets that list the operating systems that support Kotlin:


  1. Kotlin/JVM, which compiles Kotlin code to Java bytecode and targets the JVM and Android. Because of this, Kotlin may be utilized anywhere Java is used, such as in desktop apps, Android, backend systems, and servers.
  2. Kotlin/JS, which targets web apps and other browser-based software by compiling Kotlin to JavaScript code. In this instance, Kotlin functions with JavaScript in a manner similar to that of Java on the JVM.
  3. Kotlin/Native enables Kotlin to compile to native binaries, which, in contrast to the JVM, do not require a virtual machine. This makes it possible to construct iOS apps and embedded systems in general with Kotlin, and it also makes it compatible with other native programs.


Can we create cross-platform application that works on Android and iOS with Kotlin?

Yes, With the help of Kotlin Multiplatform that uses the Compose Multiplatform UI framework for sharing business logic and UIs among the iOS, Android, and desktop platforms.


Conclusion

Kotlin is a versatile, modern language that supports cross-platform development, allowing code sharing across Android, iOS, desktop, and the web. Its interoperability with Java, combined with features like coroutines and Kotlin Native, makes it a powerful tool for developers looking to build efficient and scalable applications across multiple platforms.

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