Quick Comparison Between Kotlin and React Native

Mobile app development has now become a cornerstone of successful market differentiation, growth, innovation, profitability, and collaboration. Several enterprises are now aggressively adopting mobile technologies to achieve business objectives. In order to meet the rapidly fluctuating business requirements and business needs, there are several different platforms and technologies.

It has become a point of debate to choose the right technology to accomplish objectives. More and more organizations are adopting cross-platform mobile app development services to build mission-critical mobile apps to expand the business.

If you are planning to launch a new mobile application, it is about time to compare the two most favorable frameworks-React Native vs Kotlin to help you understand the advantages and drawbacks. This quick analysis will help to decide whether to opt for cutting-edge Kotlin Application development services or React Native development services.

Kotlin

Designed by JetBrains
Launch 22 July 2011; 9 years ago

Sponsored and developed by JetBrains, Kotlin is a programming language that runs on the Java virtual machine and can be compiled to JavaScript source code or use the LLVM compiler infrastructure. After being endorsed by Google as the official language for Android Studio, Kotlin has consistently gained popularity.

Backed by JetBrain, Kotlin is responsible for creating the best IDE tools. Kotlin provides phenomenal support in a different development environment such as Android Studio. Selecting Kotlin app development for your Android project provides support across multiple tools and IDEs.

Kotlin code is not only precise and concise but also has an extremely clear codebase. That leaves fewer chances for errors and allows stable code in production. You have to write fewer lines of code to achieve the same functionality.

Advantages of Kotlin

Stability

Ever since Google endorsed Kotlin, this language has witnessed phenomenal growth and evolved in terms of providing stable support through different levels of testing before the final release.

Android fragmentation is one of the biggest problems faced by programmers. Kotlin, a programming language developed by programmers helps overcome several issues. Its reverse compatibility with the previous versions works as a blessing.

Less Code

Kotlin is concise and requires less or fewer lines of code for any given functionality. In simple words, fewer lines of code minimize the chances of errors, improving maintainability and readability of code. This means Kotlin developers can write, read, and change code effectively and efficiently.

Compatibility

Java interoperability adds to the list of advantages of Kotlin. The language works flawlessly with Java, including tools and frameworks, which constitute a feature-rich ecosystem.

Concise Coding

Kotlin offers a concise coding process to the developers, they can develop the code with few lines only. However, Kotlin improves the readability and helps to maintain code in an accurate manner.

Furthermore, it is easy to write, read and modify the code with less effort. This upgraded technology provides extensive features including smart casts, type interference, and properties that help programmers to build short and concise codes.

Powerful Tech Support

This technology is supported by major top brands – Jetbrains and Google. Jetbrains launched Kotlin and they developed it for their own project, so there is no stone unturned. This technology has all the features, which can be integrated. Apart from this, Google also supports it. The best tech engineers enhance its architectural features.

It has amazing features such as Kotlin Android Extensions, its library sizes are optimized regularly by the Jetbrains. The advanced features simply refer to Jetbrains engineers who are putting high efforts to turn this language one-stop Android development platform.

Futuristic

Kotlin has been considered as a future of Android app development. It offers advanced features to the developers, which they preferred for modern development such as concise coding, JavaScript transpilation, and null safety. This programming language was developed with the motive to overcome the challenges with the most versatile Android programming language Java.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Kotlin?

React Native

Developer(s) Facebook and community
Initial release March 26, 2015

React Native is a JavaScript framework developed by Facebook for writing real, native mobile applications for iOS and Android, as well as reuse code across the web and mobile applications. Based on React, Facebook’s JavaScript library for building user interfaces that specifically target mobile platforms. This framework allows developers to build mobile applications that are truly native with their classic all-time favorite JavaScript.

Also, the code can be shared between platforms; React Native makes it easy to develop for both Android and iOS simultaneously. It uses the same design as React Native, letting you compose a rich mobile UI from declarative components.

Advantages of React Native

Native mobile application development using JavaScript and React

React Native lets you develop a mobile application using only JavaScript. It uses the same design as React, which allows you to build a feature-rich mobile UI from declarative components.

Live Reload

Experts believe that React Native can be considered as the next predominant technology of the React platform. However, this platform helps to deliver powerful apps and it is built as per react based features and ideas. The major feature that attracts developers towards this framework is the live reload feature, which developers obtain in few other frameworks.

This feature allows programmers to experience the latest change in the codes that developers have conducted instantly. However, it can be said that they can see the live results of the code.

Furthermore, in one screen they can put code and in another screen, the results can be reflected. The results can be observed and if required then developers can immediately enhance or improve the codes.

Code Reusability

Working with React Native can reduce the requirement of resources needed to build mobile applications. Any developer who knows how to write React code can start developing for different platforms such as the Web, iOS, and Android. This provides the much-needed flexibility to classify developers based on the target platform. React Native lets the team iterate and utilize resources effectively.

Open Source community

React native is based on an open-source feature, which offers this technology the support of developers. Apart from this, it has the best and major tech support as a backend and that is Facebook. Developers can leverage the features of both platforms.

However, an open-source feature helps developers to contribute to the framework and they can alter and modify the code. Apart from this, Facebook also actively supports this framework, which gives reasons to the developers to opt for this framework as they get a wide range of opportunities to leverage the benefits of the advanced features launched by the tech engineers.

Quick Learning Curve

REACT Native is an excellent choice for developers with expertise and familiarity in JavaScript as there is no need to learn Android specific Java or iOS’s Swift. This makes the learning curve easier and eliminates the need of maintaining different teams for iOS and Android. Smaller team size effectively means less cost and easy to manage teams.

This framework helps meet the demand of both the platforms at one go and ends the perennial battle of selecting either iOS or Android app development for mobile developers.

Hot Reloading

React Native is heavily focused on UI which makes quick loading apps and gives a smoother feel. React Native lets you build your app faster. Now reload your app quickly as there is no need for a recompile. With Hot Reloading, you can quickly run the new code while retaining your application state.

What Are The Pros And Cons of React Native?

Companies using Kotlin or React Native

Why Hidden Brains?

Hidden Brains is one of the most trusted and reliable IT companies when it comes to web applications development. With a global client base, we are the pioneer in our field. We offer front-end development services for building customized, cross-platform applications and mobile apps. Our users get a seamless experience throughout the stages of the code analysis to the debugging applications. The web applications developed by us have aesthetic appeal and are feature-rich with high usability and scalability. Our greatest USP is to offer simple solutions to complex problems and making them work for your business.

Conclusion

React Native is a thriving community that offers a cohesive ecosystem for the mobile app development sector, as well as access to libraries and plugins to ensure faster time to market. The apps enjoy the intuitive and robust features of native apps without compromising on the performance, all in a reduced timeline, cost, and resources.

On the other hand, Google recommends Kotlin as the standard IDE for Android development. Kotlin is 100% interoperable with Java and offers backward compatibility with Java and Android projects. Kotlin is an enterprise-level language aimed at resolving real-world development problems.

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Albert Smith

Albert Smith, Marketing Manager at Hidden Brains, drives brand growth with innovative strategies in web, mobile app, and software development.