Flutter and Kotlin are the two different leading technologies being used to develop mobile applications. Basically, Kotlin is a programing language, and Flutter is a framework. So let’s begin the battle Flutter VS Kotlin. Developers use the framework for fixing various problems and bugs.
Flutter has several integrated functions to build an application, but programming languages don’t contain any app development deadline. In this post, we will know the differences between Flutter and Kotlin by considering multiple parameters. Before comparison, we must have an understanding of these technologies.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is a cross-platform UI toolkit that enables us to render fast, beautiful, well-structured applications for mobile, web, and PC employing Dart programming languages. It’s a free and open-source language that develops the app with a single programing language and codebase. It is developed by Google in the mid of May 2017 and currently managing by an ECMA standard. This growing technology is capturing market popularity in delivering outstanding native experiences with its advanced and high-end features.
Initially, Google introduced Flutter as an SDK (software development kit) to help developers in creating modern apps for iOS and Android platforms. This technology is integrated with inbuilt Java and Objective C when you use Android Studio and Swift for iOS development.
Features of Flutter
Below are the fundamental features of Flutter:
- Flutter is an open-source framework to develop PC and mobile applications.
- It allows the developer to code once and can use it on different platforms, which saves the time, energy, and money of the developers.
- If we change the Flutter code, you can see the changes immediately with Hot Reload. This feature allows developers to fix the bugs in real-time.
- Flutter has two kits of widgets to develop more customizable designs.
- The accessible Native feature allows you to access Flutter’s native code, platform APIs, and third-party integration for development.
- Flutter adopts the Dart programming with the JIT and AOT compilation approaches to enhance the overall start-up time and performance of an app.
What is Kotlin?
Kotlin is a general-purpose and open-source programming language with cross-platform and statically typed inference. The application development scope with Kotlin is infinite. It is capable to run on JVM and can be coded everywhere Java is used in programming. We can develop various sorts of applications, such as Android apps, server-side apps, and many more. It is emerging as the most highly adopted technology. JetBrains introduced Kotlin on July 22, 2011, but the first official launch of Kotlin came in Feb 2016. It undergoes the Apache 2.0 license and has a special feature called “Kotlin Multi-platform” that can be complied with multiple codes like JVM bytecode, JavaScript, and LLVM code.
Features of Kotlin
The Kotlin Language contains the following features:
- Kotlin language empowers developers to avoid the writing of the additional codes that present Kotlin more concisely.
- It is the null safety language that facilitates the elimination of the NullPointerException from the code.
- This language comes with an Interoperable feature that helps developers to call the Java code with ease.
- It is toll-friendly. We can code the Kotlin programs applying the command line and any Java IDE.
- Kotlin undergoes extension functions and properties that help to expand the functionality of classes.
Difference Between: Flutter VS Kotlin
Flutter VS Kotlin performance
Flutter: One of the most notable perks of using Flutter is that it bestows associations with hot reloading functionality. This functionality makes it simple for users to administer backend modifications and observe the front-end differences in real-time. This mannerism makes it effortless to confirm the application overview.
Kotlin: Kotlin uses explicitly identical code for cross-platform development. This process makes it a decidedly stable platform for preferred performance against their native counterparts.
Integration
Flutter: Flutter provides user functionality in app building for Android and iOS, using fewer costs, time, and efforts. This feature empowers Flutter for MVP development and test prototype creation.
Kotlin: Kotlin framework incorporates a multi-platform function, acting within the native ecosystem, rather than building one. All application experts can utilize the same native development tools and libraries, such as Jetpack Compose and SwiftUI.
Backend Development possibilities
Kotlin has a definite advantage over Flutter in the backend development services purview.
Flutter consolidates Firebase, an efficient BaaS (Backend-as-a-Service) platform, to ensure active backend opportunities while the Kotlin multi-platform empowers developers to compose backend code.
Flutter VS Kotlin Multi-platform Concentration
Flutter use cases currently involve applications specifically designed for mobile platforms. There is no evident presence on tvOS, Android Auto, CarOS, etc.
Kotlin multi-platform intends to develop applications for platforms inclusive and beyond the mobile one.
UI Experience
Flutter: Several people assume Flutter as the tool for cross-platform developments. Developers can use the various available widgets to customize appearance and interface, making the development process easier and quicker. Flutter also comes with an advanced SDK to fine-tune applications for business needs.
Kotlin: Kotlin’s multi-platform gives the UI developers complete freedom to craft a novel and highly productive mobility solution without the obligation to obey set-in-stone instructions. Developers can effortlessly build an application that ideally suits your vision.
Job and Salary Expectations
According to the StackShare community, Kotlin programming language is counted amongst the tech stacks by 268 companies and 210 developers, whereas Flutter is ranked as a technology stack by 42 companies and 146 developers.
As Kotlin is not an independent platform and is more of an experimental extension of the native language, it is perceived to have more job opportunities.
Documentation and Community Strength
Kotlin’s platform is still new and experimental as compared to Flutter. This is why documentation and community support has been lagging for the former as compared to the latter. However, these factors will hopefully improve once Kotlin is further used for cross-platform development and becomes more stable.
Final Line of Thinking: Kotlin Vs Flutter
When deciding on the right platform for Google Flutter VS Kotlin, it is vital to consolidate the projected primary requirements. Matching the right set of platform quality with your necessities will introduce the perfect combination.