Mobile Games Developer with Kotlin Salary in 2024

Where is Kotlin used?

Kotlin Alternatives

Java

Java is a versatile and widely-used object-oriented programming language similar to Kotlin, especially for Android app development. It emphasizes portability, allowing code to run on any platform that supports Java without recompilation.

// Hello World in Java
public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

• Platform-independent

• Mature ecosystem with vast open-source libraries

• Strongly-typed language enhances reliability and performance

• Verbose syntax compared to Kotlin

• Slower iteration speed for modern Android development

• Does not support modern functional programming as well as Kotlin

Swift

Swift is an intuitive programming language for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS app development. It's designed to work with Apple's Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks and provides interactive features for a seamless coding experience.

// Hello World in Swift
import Swift
print("Hello, World!")

• Syntax is easy to read and write

• Interoperability with Objective-C

• Robust performance equivalent to Objective-C

• Limited to Apple's ecosystem

• Less mature compared to Java and Kotlin

• Community and resources are growing but not as extensive as for Java

Scala

Scala is a high-level language that combines object-oriented and functional programming paradigms. Particularly suited for concurrent and distributed systems, it runs on the JVM like Kotlin and has strong static type system features.

// Hello World in Scala
object HelloWorld extends App {
    println("Hello, World!")
}

• Supports both OOP and functional programming

• Highly expressive with concise syntax

• Interoperable with Java

• Steeper learning curve due to complex features

• Less popular for mobile development

• Compilation times can be slower

Quick Facts about Kotlin

Once Upon a Time in the Land of JetBrains...

Imagine a world where Java reigns supreme, sipping on its coffee cup, thinking it's the unchallenged ruler of the JVM kingdom. Then along comes Kotlin in 2011, strutting like a peacock, all decked out by the cool kids at JetBrains. Kotlin didn't come to start a fight; it came to be Java's buddy, intermingling with it smoothly, while secretly plotting to steal the show with its null safety antics and expressive code!

The Tale of Kotlin's Evolution

Flip the pages of Kotlin's diary, and you'll see its awkward teen years end when it hit version 1.0 in 2016, shouting "I'm ready for production - world, here I come!" Then it didn't just sit pretty; Kotlin did a glow-up for mobile app developers when Google gave it the nod in 2017, making it a favored language for Android. Cue the fireworks!

Sorcery of Inline Functions and Coroutines

Kotlin bewitched the development world with its inline functions, allowing you to pass functions around without holding up traffic in the runtime neighborhood. Then it cast a spell with coroutines, turning asynchronous programming from a frog into a prince. Behold the power of concurrency without the hair-pulling!

// Here's an inline function spell for you:
inline fun  T.performMagic(action: (T) -> Unit): T {
    action(this)
    return this
}

// And a coroutine enchantment:
suspend fun makeMagicHappen() {
    coroutineScope {
        launch {
            println("Abra-kotlin-dabra!")
        }
    }
}

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert Kotlin developer?

Top 10 Kotlin Related Tech

1. 
   

   Kotlin Language

   
   

   
   Imagine the love child of Java and a unicorn, and that's Kotlin. This statically-typed, JVM-based language has stolen hearts with its null-safety and coroutines. It’s the go-to for crafting concise, robust code and is officially embraced by Android, so it's basically mobile royalty.

   val love = "Kotlin"

   
   

    

1. 
   

   IntelliJ IDEA

   
   

   
   The Iron Man suit for Kotlin developers, IntelliJ IDEA is a jet-powered, full-featured IDE that makes coding in Kotlin feel like you’ve got Jarvis by your side. It’s like a Swiss Army knife for code with nifty refactoring tools, debugging prowess, and plugin galore.

1. 
   

   Gradle

   
   

   
   This build wizard specializes in spellcasting for automation, faster compilation, and dependency management. With gradle, you can conjure build scripts in Kotlin (the "Gradle Kotlin DSL") faster than Harry can say "Expecto Patronum!".

   tasks.register("unicorns") {
     doLast {
       println("Building with Kotlin and Gradle is magical!")
     }
   }

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Spring Boot + Kotlin

   
   

   
   Time to brew some robust coffee—oh wait, we mean code! Spring Boot’s opinionated approach to “drop-and-go” Kotlin applications makes creating RESTful services and microservices faster than a hipster barista.

   @RestController
   class CoffeeController {
     @GetMapping("/coffee")
     fun getCoffee(): String = "Here's your Kotlin Brew!"
   }

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Ktor

   
   

   
   Ktor is the Robin to Kotlin's Batman in the world of async server and client applications. It’s a lightweight framework that slings web applications with coroutines as its web-slinging gadget.

1. 
   

   Android Studio

   
   

   
   The playground sandbox for Kotlin-equipped Android warriors, Android Studio lets you build apps as if they’re Lego constructions. It has emulators for every device, testing tools that are like cheat codes, and shines with Kotlin support.

1. 
   

   Kotlin Multiplatform

   
   

   
   Ever wanted to write once, run anywhere? Kotlin Multiplatform teleports code between server, client, and mobile without a Time-Turner. Share business logic across iOS and Android, and watch your productivity soar like an eagle on energy drinks.

1. 
   

   Kotlin Coroutines

   
   

   
   Calling all fans of multitasking! Kotlin coroutines allow your programs to juggle tasks like a circus performer. They're the ninjas of asynchronous programming, helping you write simplified async code without wrestling with complex thread handling.

   suspend fun main() {
     coroutineScope {
       launch { println("Coroutines are cool!") }
     }
   }

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Exposed

   
   

   
   An ORM library for those who like their SQL like their coffee: strong but not too in-your-face. Exposed talks to databases while you stay blissfully in the land of Kotlin, making database operations feel like a walk in the park.

1. 
   

   Kotlin/Native

   
   

   
   So you like your code like you like your burgers, cross-platform and with extra pickles? Kotlin/Native compiles down to native binaries, letting you mix and match your Kotlin dish to run on iOS, Windows, or Linux.