Kotlin is more than just the Android house language

Key takeaways

Kotlin's growth is fueled by its modern language features that simplify coding and enhance productivity.
The Kotlin Foundation emphasizes community involvement while balancing the need for stability in the language.
Kotlin is not just an Android language; its capabilities extend to server-side, web development, and other platforms.
Null safety and built-in async capabilities of Kotlin contribute to fewer runtime errors, making it a preferred choice for many developers.
Personal experiences and initial trials with Kotlin can significantly ease the transition from Java or other languages.

Summary

Introduction to Kotlin and Guest Background

Ryan Donnan introduces Jeffrey Van Gogh, director of engineering at Google and board member of the Kotlin Foundation. They delve into Jeffrey's early beginnings in programming, starting from his experience with Commodore 64 computers and TurboPascal in school, which laid the foundation for his career in technology.

The Popularity and Appeal of Kotlin

Jeffrey discusses why Kotlin has gained such strong support and popularity since its inception. He highlights its modern features that many Java developers find appealing, especially those transitioning from languages like C#. The conversation also underscores the language's ability to run on JVM as a significant factor in its adoption.

Kotlin's Unique Features and Improvements Over Java

The episode elaborates on Kotlin's key features such as null safety, async programming through coroutines, and its influence on reducing common programming errors like null pointer exceptions. Jeffrey emphasizes how these features make Kotlin a safer and more productive language for developers.

Governance and Community Involvement in Kotlin Development

The discussion shifts to the governance structure of the Kotlin Foundation and how it balances between community input and maintaining language stability. The role of the language designer in managing feature integration is explained, alongside the open process for community suggestions.

Kotlin Multiplatform and Future Directions

Jeffrey explains Kotlin's evolution beyond Android with the introduction of Kotlin Multiplatform. The focus is on how it allows developers to target multiple platforms without performance loss, fostering code reuse across different environments including server-side and web applications.

Closing Thoughts and Community Recognition

Ryan wraps up the episode by recognizing a Stack Overflow user for their contribution. He reminds listeners about the ongoing conversation regarding Kotlin and encourages them to reach out for feedback on future episodes.

Show notes

Ryan welcomes Jeffrey van Gogh, Director of Engineering, Android Developer Experience, at Google and board member of the Kotlin Foundation. They discuss the evolution of the Kotlin language from JVM to multiplatform, how their governance board works with the community to stop breaking changes, and the intricacies of Kotlin’s multiplatform capabilities beyond just Android.

Episode notes:

The Kotlin Foundation’s mission is to protect, promote, and advance the development of the Kotlin programming language.

Over half of respondents in this year’s Annual Developer Survey reported that they want to start using Kotlin in the next year.

Connect with Jeffrey on LinkedIn or email him at jvg@google.com.

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