Iris Hunkeler

Why Kotlin is the better Java and how you can start using it

What if you could eliminate Java's billion-dollar mistake? Kotlin's null safety system is designed from the ground up to do just that.

Why Kotlin is the better Java and how you can start using it
#1about 6 minutes

A high-level comparison of Kotlin and Java

Kotlin was designed to be a better, more modern language than Java while remaining fully interoperable.

#2about 5 minutes

Eliminating null pointer exceptions with null safety

Kotlin's type system distinguishes between nullable and non-nullable types at compile time to prevent null pointer exceptions.

#3about 6 minutes

Reducing boilerplate code with Kotlin data classes

Data classes automatically generate getters, setters, equals(), hashCode(), and toString() methods to simplify POJOs.

#4about 5 minutes

Adding new functionality with extension functions

Extension functions allow you to add new methods to existing classes without inheriting from them, avoiding utility classes.

#5about 6 minutes

Simplifying code with string templates and smart casts

String templates provide intuitive string formatting, while smart casts automatically handle type casting after an `is` check.

#6about 5 minutes

Understanding Java's remaining unique language features

Java still has features not present in Kotlin, such as checked exceptions, primitive types, and wildcard types.

#7about 5 minutes

Achieving interoperability between Java and Kotlin code

Kotlin and Java code can coexist and call each other within the same project, though with some limitations like null safety.

#8about 4 minutes

Practical resources for getting started with Kotlin

Developers can learn Kotlin through interactive exercises like Kotlin Koans, books, and by building backend or Android applications.

#9about 9 minutes

Q&A: Migrating projects and convincing your team

Migrating a Spring Boot project can be done incrementally, and convincing a team involves focusing on long-term benefits like code stability.

#10about 8 minutes

Q&A: Comparing Kotlin's ecosystem and future outlook

While Java's community is larger, Kotlin leverages the same JVM ecosystem and is unlikely to be fully matched by Java due to legacy constraints.

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