Both Kotlin and Flutter are amazing tools that you know about. The world is moving towards mobile computing at a faster pace than ever before. So, as a programming language and a framework, these tools are very effective at providing solutions to develop mobile applications. But, there are certain differences that you must know about. Read on!
On this blog, we will be checking out the following aspects:
Also, make sure to check out the Kotlin vs Flutter video on our YouTube channel:
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language that is built with keeping cross-platform capability in mind. Even though it is based on the working of the Java class library (JCL), it has a detailed syntax that is not only highly readable but also very concise.
When there is talk about the scope of Kotlin, it can be considered that it is very vast. Everything, from Uber’s internal tooling process to Gradle plugins, is written using Kotlin. Many of the social media companies are also seen moving to Kotlin from Java to provide a better user experience to customers.
Many companies such as Autodesk, VMware, Yandex, Chalk, and others make use of Kotlin on a daily basis for their requirements.
Following are some of the features that give Kotlin the higher hand when it comes to choosing a programming language for application development:
- Application porting: If an application is already developed using Java, Kotlin can still work well with all of its components. If adding more components to the existing application is a requirement, then instead of reworking the entire architecture of the native app, or even without a change in the development platform, Kotlin can very well handle all of the tasks required to add more features to the already existing application.
- High readability: The syntax that Kotlin offers is very intuitive and of a high level. This not only makes it readable but also easier to work with for both novice and intermediate developers. If there is a requirement to write a lot of code for an application, Kotlin can help ease the process with its simple syntax.
- Debuggability: Kotlin provides a built-in compiler that has the capability to hunt for bugs automatically and rapidly. This further ensures that bugs are prevented from hindering the application development. Moreover, Kotlin can resolve crashes and report them quickly, thereby, making it better than Java in this regard.
In this Flutter vs Kotlin blog, it is vital that you understand a bit about Flutter and its usage.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is a popular framework that is developed in-house by Google. It is programmed using a programming language called Dart, and it supports a wide variety of items in its architecture.
Simply put, the architecture of Flutter includes the following entities:
- Dart development platform
- Flutter engine
- Custom widgets
- Fundamental libraries
Flutter has gained immense popularity because the applications that are developed in Flutter work well both on Android and iOS.
Flutter is extremely powerful and offers an exclusive package that can be used for a variety of purposes in the end-to-end application development process while building a spectrum of applications.
So, it should come as no surprise that companies such as Google, Tencent, eBay, Groupon, The New York Times, and other big firms use Flutter extensively.
Following are some of the advantages of using Flutter:
- Hot reload: Hot reload is a very popular feature in Flutter that provides developers with the ability to see changes in real-time when they edit the code. This gives them the ability to rapidly understand the application better and do changes quickly and intuitively. If there is a requirement for developing an application that requires many changes, Flutter is the way to go.
- Minimum viable product (MVP) development: If there is a requirement to rapidly establish a foundation and build an application with time being the major constraint, Flutter offers developers a variety of tools and techniques to achieve a lot without having to invest much time in development. If there is a scenario involving the rapid development of prototypes, then Flutter is known to have a higher hand.
- Quick get-go: Flutter is extremely easy to set up and get going even on moderately spaced hardware. It does not require any sort of state-of-the-art system to run efficiently. With Flutter still being a new framework, it has a lot more things to offer for sure.
Next up on this Flutter vs Kotlin blog, I am sure you would wonder which is the better one. Kotlin or Flutter? Well, check out the following section and see if you can find the answer.
Kotlin vs Flutter
Now, coming to Kotlin vs Flutter, the following are some of the major points that set Kotlin and Flutter apart:
| Comparison Factor | Kotlin | Flutter |
| User Experience | Kotlin supports the usage of local libraries to create elegant looking applications in a rapid manner | Being an SDK, it provides a lot of in-house tools to build an elegant and well-rounded UI without much effort |
| Performance | It is built to achieve closeness in terms of expressing similar configurations needed as per the objective easily | Flutter supports hot reload that allows for rapid changes to the backend being reflected immediately in the frontend |
| Popularity | Having around 4,000 clients and 33,000 stars on GitHub, Kotlin is definitely popular among developers | Flutter has 13,000 clients and over 91,000 stars, making it one of the most rapidly growing app builder platforms |
| Support for Testing | It is known for its efficient usage in unit testing Android applications all over the world | It provides numerous tools and features, along with good documentation while being used with Firebase |
| Integration | Kotlin provides multi-platform to help clients work in their own local structures using local libraries and tools | Flutter provides developers with effective and rapid methodologies to help in both iOS and Android development |
| Platform Support | It can be used to develop use cases for Android, iOS, tvOS, Android Auto, smartwatch OS, etc. | It is cross-platform compatible but does not aim to offer provisions for tvOS, Android Auto, or CarOS |
| Programming Languages | It supports JVM, JavaScript, and native programming languages to help developers write code easily | Built around Dart, its functionality provides better compatibility and a rich set of testing features |
| Ease of Learning | Being a statically-typed language, Kotlin is easier for beginners to get started with and learn rapidly | Flutter uses Dart as the programming language and provides a good platform for Android and iOS development |
Conclusion
Which one between Kotlin and Flutter is the ultimate tool? Well, the answer is not as simple as it may seem.
Kotlin is seeing itself become the #1 programming language as giants like Google are becoming Kotlin-oriented altogether. Whereas, Flutter is flourishing in the marketplace as it is created by Google and, therefore, has lots of plans in store for the future.
Be it Kotlin vs Flutter performance, both of them are really efficient and effective at what they do.
As proven many times in the past, if there is a lot of interest from giants like Google, then it can be safely assumed that the future of both Kotlin and Flutter is bright!
What are your thoughts about this comparison between Kotlin and Flutter? Head to the comments section, and do let us know.