As the mobile app landscape continues to evolve, Google has made a significant announcement that will impact the way developers build Android apps. The tech giant has declared Kotlin as its preferred language for Android development, marking a shift in focus away from traditional languages like Java.
The move comes after Kotlin's popularity surged over the past two years, with more than 50% of professional Android developers now using the language to develop their apps. In fact, Kotlin ranked as the fourth-most loved programming language in the latest Stack Overflow developer survey. This newfound love has led Google to take a "Kotlin-first" approach, with many new Jetpack APIs and features being offered first in Kotlin.
In an effort to encourage developers to make the switch, Google is emphasizing that code written in Kotlin often results in less code overall – a significant benefit for app startups looking to streamline their development process. In fact, the company suggests that if you're starting a new project, you should write it in Kotlin.
The move isn't meant to alienate developers who are already familiar with Java or C++. Google understands that valid reasons exist for sticking with these languages, and they will continue to be supported. However, the tech giant is urging developers to make the transition to Kotlin, citing its ease of use, concise syntax, and increasing adoption rate.
As app startups look to gain a competitive edge in the market, leveraging the right technology stack can be key. With Google's support behind it, Kotlin is poised to become an essential tool for Android app development.