We live in a world where programming has become a hot topic. It didn’t take long to be among the aspirants’ greatest career options. In this dynamic realm of software development, the selection of the programming language has a massive impact on the success of a project.
Speaking of programming languages, Java and Kotlin are two of the leading horses.
While on the surface, they might appear to be the same, there are many distinctions between them.
For instance, both of them seem to be open-source and cross-platform. However, those make the difference in what they do and how they accomplish.
Understanding the difference between these two and choosing the right alternative is massively important in software development. In this blog, we will take a look at Java as well as Kotlin, which is one of the few Java alternatives.
What is Java?
Java is more of a versatile and object-centered programming language with various features that make it a great choice among developers. It was primarily developed by James Gosling back in the 1990s.
The focus behind the language was to have ‘C-like’ syntax, which would make it effortless for programmers to learn and use. However, Java is a stronger and more flexible language than C++, which is one of the oldest and most popular programming languages out there.
Java rapidly stood out as one of the most used programming languages, even to this day. And the biggest reason behind this is the ease of use, which is something that cannot be said for C++.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is more of a new sheriff in town! It was first introduced around 2011 by a software company that is famous for IntelliJ IDEA Java IDE. The Kotlin programming language was designed to be a more efficient, concise, and readable alternative to Java, which makes it perfectly possible and possibly possible to use it side-by-side with Java code that already exists. Kotlin has gained popularity in the last few years especially. Organizations such as Google, Amazon, and Twitter use this platform.
The pros of Java
Let us take a look at some of the advantages of Java:
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Strong documentation
With over a 28-year lifespan, there are decades of community-supported and official Java documentation for the programmers to read. It makes it efficient for them to troubleshoot the challenges promptly, which is something that accelerates the SDLC. Additionally, Oracle still supports Java. The latest version was released in September 2023.
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Multithreading support
Multithreading in Java enables the apps to perfectly execute multiple tasks at once. It increases the response times of user experience and performance. Additionally, it also results in better utilization of resources that potentially increases the compatibility of devices, especially for slower and older devices that come with limited computing powers.
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Programming that is object-oriented
Java is an object-centered programming language. Here, the programmers develop objects that carry methods and data. This kind of approach is considered to be easier and faster to work with than procedural languages, as programmers can develop modular programs and reuse the code.
The pros of Kotlin
Now, let us take a look at some of the advantages of Kotlin:
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Null safety
Behind the application crashes, the most common causes are null-point errors. The application attempts to access the data that is kept within an invalid memory location. In order to remedy this, Kotlin utilizes a feature known as null safety. It prevents the programmers from providing a null value to a variable. As a result, it is easier for them to maintain and repair the code.
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More concise than Java
If you think Java is easier to treat, you are in for a surprise, as Kotlin is even easier to read than Java! This is because programmers do not have to write so many codes to perform the same functions. By decreasing unnecessary code, programmers may accomplish even more tasks in a short amount of time. While simultaneously saving the client’s funds, it ensures faster SDLC.
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Functional programming
Kotlin enables programmers to incorporate the functional features of programming into their applications. This enables the programmers to switch from a certain programming style to the other. It provides them with further ways to overcome challenging issues.
Key differences between Kotlin and Java
Here are some of the key differences between Java and Kotlin that will help you make an informed decision regarding the selection between these two:
- Substantial work is needed to alter the existing methods in Java. On the other hand, Kotlin makes the extension procedures easy and simple. These quickly transform the classes and simplify them, bringing in a world of possibilities.
- One of the differences between Kotlin and Java that you least expect is Java could prove to be complex and wordy. However, Kotlin provides all the same functionality in a simple syntax.
- Multiple thread activities that are CPU-intensive in Java allow sophisticated computation to execute in background mode. However, operating various threads might be challenging if they are not tackled adequately.
- The Java developers ought to precisely identify the kind of variable they are developing, enabling them to have a more significant influence over how the source code is interpreted. On the other hand, typing the static value of Kotlin may identify the right kind of data based on the supplied value.
- Java is more popular because it is a versatile JVM programming platform. However, it did not take long for Kotlin to emerge as the favored option among developers for developing Android applications.
So these are some of the common differences new york times connections between them. The right selection of the programming language depends on the purpose and the task to be accomplished.
Wrapping up
While there are some similarities between these two, the ideal choice of the application is based on the task that needs to be accomplished. With the distinction between them, you will now be able to make an informed decision on which tool you need to choose.