Let's take a step back and consider learning the fundamentals of programming languages and their historical development before diving into the Kotlin vs Java argument.
In particular, programming languages are made to instruct a computer. Algorithms can be expressed in programming languages, and programs can be written to control how a machine behaves.
Java's and Kotlin's historical origins
With various characteristics that make it a desirable option for developers, Java is a flexible, Object-Oriented, high-level programming language. Early in the 1990s, James Gosling created it at Sun Microsystems.
In contrast to Java, which it is fully compatible with and can be used alongside existing Java code, the Kotlin programming language was created to be more concise, practical, and readable.
It depends, just like everything else, so let's look at the main variations here. Let's first examine the reasons why this question might ever be posed.
Why compare Java to Kotlin at all?
Kotlin is a relatively recent competitor to Java, one of the world's most widely used and well-known programming languages.
Although the latter is proven to be a strong choice for Android app development, it is still far from displacing the former.
Object-oriented
Kotlin's development has advanced significantly after it was named Google's preferred language for creating Android apps in 2019 and acknowledged as the company's second official language for creating Android apps in 2017. Because of this, someone working on Android development may be curious about which language is better for their needs: Java vs Kotlin.
Casting
While Kotlin's brilliant casts feature handles casting checks to manage unnecessary casts automatically, Java requires checking the variable type according to the operation before casting an object.
Exceptions
While Java programmers must catch and declare exceptions, Kotlin developers are not. This does guarantee robust code with appropriate error handling, though.
Which is better for developing Android: Kotlin or Java?
The answer is only sometimes obvious when deciding whether Java or Kotlin is superior for Android development. However, depending on several factors, one can be more appropriate for your needs than the other.
There are numerous functionalities accessible with Kotlin that Java does not offer. Kotlin, for instance, offers built-in null safety so that you can prevent those annoying NullPointerException problems. It also supports lambdas and data classes, which can help your code be more precise and expressive.
The Kotlin language does, however, have significant shortcomings. For instance, compared to Java, it gets a different level of support from the Android community.
Conclusion
It is simple to learn, has a large development community, and is a tried-and-true, stable language that has been around for many years. Despite being a more recent language with less support, Kotlin is gaining popularity among developers due to its many benefits.
The decision between Kotlin and Java is complex, but it ultimately comes down to your project.
With different advantages and disadvantages, Java vs Kotlin has a widely used programming language frequently utilized for Android development. The best one for your purposes ultimately depends on personal preference, and this article has compared some of the significant differences between Kotlin and Java to facilitate that decision.
