4 ms·

Optimized Kotlin Kotlin is a first-class language on Android, and if you haven't tried it yet, you should! We've made an enduring commitment to Kotlin in Andro

Optimized Kotlin Kotlin is a first-class language on Android, and if you haven't tried it yet, you should! We've made an enduring commitment to Kotlin in Android and continue to expand support including optimizing the performance of Kotlin code. In P you'll see the first results of this work -- we've improved several compiler optimizations, especially those that target loops, to extract better performance. We're also continuing to work in partnership with JetBrains to optimize Kotlin's generated code. You can get all of the latest Kotlin performance improvements just by keeping Android Studio's Kotlin plugin up-to-date. How is Google looking at Java vs Kotlin vs Dart. If Flutter is indeed a long term strategic investment by Google, then why not Kotlin ?

pjmlp 9y ago
I guess politics. You see the same with Go, all the Android support is kind of done by volunteers.
sidlls 9y ago
I wish they'd consider moving away from Java, Kotlin and really any JVM-basis for the platform entirely. I just can't stand development on that platform. It's got all the worst elements of "enterprisey Java" style development.
- ZenoArrow 9y ago
  > "It's got all the worst elements of "enterprisey Java" style development." What are your complaints about "enterprisey Java" development? Is this just a repackaged "text editor vs. IDE" complaint, or do you have other points you'd raise against Android development?
kjksf 9y ago
Flutter guys explained why Dart: at the time they were making decision they looked at bunch of languages and Dart came at the top. At the time Kotlin either didn't exist or was at extremely early stages. Regardless of history, Kotlin is, in the end, a JVM language. If you want to ship a Kotlin app, you need to ship JVM. Getting JVM to a reasonable size is a great technical challenge not to mention Oracle made it clear what they think about other companies reimplementing "their" APIs. (I do know about Kotlin Native but that's far, far future). Also, Google is not a Borg or centrally planned economy with 5 year plan. Flutter happened because a bunch of Chrome devs wanted to experiment with a better way to write mobile apps, not because Larry dictated that "Flutter is now long term strategic investment, so go and do it". Flutter happened to be a promising technology so it's getting increased attention and funding. But it could just as well fail, like AtScript did.
- k__ 9y ago
  Hu? I thought the JVM isn't an issue on Android, becaue it's ingrained in the OS itself. (Dalvik/ART)
  - jayd16 9y ago
    Its not but Flutter is meant to be a cross platform solution.
- kodablah 9y ago
  > I do know about Kotlin Native but that's far, far future If you mean adoption, sure, but from using it a good bit lately, I'd say the tech is basically there.
- sandGorgon 9y ago
  Kotlin Native is not far - the repo already has a lot of sample apps that you can run today. https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin-native/tree/master/samples https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin-native/tree/master/sampl... KotlinConf app in ios was in production release on Kotlin/Native - https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlinconf-app https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlinconf-app -> https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kotlinconf/id1299196584?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kotlinconf/id1299196584?mt=8 Do note that this is without the weight of Google's support behind it. I'm not quite sure why you say its far-far in the future. Given Flutter's own maturity, I dont see them being very differently placed in terms of production readiness - https://flutter.io/faq/#should-i-build-my-next-production-app-with-flutter https://flutter.io/faq/#should-i-build-my-next-production-ap... Kotlin is a perfect bridge - works brilliantly on the JVM, works brilliantly natively, everyone loves it, simple migration path from Android -> Fuchsia
on_and_off 9y ago
As far as I am aware, the Android and Dart teams are completely separate. They might as well be part of 2 different companies. It would make sense for Fuchsia to adopt Kotlin though, dev ux wise.

pjmlp 9y ago

I guess politics. You see the same with Go, all the Android support is kind of done by volunteers.

sidlls 9y ago

I wish they'd consider moving away from Java, Kotlin and really any JVM-basis for the platform entirely. I just can't stand development on that platform. It's got all the worst elements of "enterprisey Java" style development.

ZenoArrow 9y ago
> "It's got all the worst elements of "enterprisey Java" style development." What are your complaints about "enterprisey Java" development? Is this just a repackaged "text editor vs. IDE" complaint, or do you have other points you'd raise against Android development?

kjksf 9y ago

Flutter guys explained why Dart: at the time they were making decision they looked at bunch of languages and Dart came at the top. At the time Kotlin either didn't exist or was at extremely early stages. Regardless of history, Kotlin is, in the end, a JVM language. If you want to ship a Kotlin app, you need to ship JVM. Getting JVM to a reasonable size is a great technical challenge not to mention Oracle made it clear what they think about other companies reimplementing "their" APIs. (I do know about Kotlin Native but that's far, far future). Also, Google is not a Borg or centrally planned economy with 5 year plan. Flutter happened because a bunch of Chrome devs wanted to experiment with a better way to write mobile apps, not because Larry dictated that "Flutter is now long term strategic investment, so go and do it". Flutter happened to be a promising technology so it's getting increased attention and funding. But it could just as well fail, like AtScript did.

k__ 9y ago
Hu? I thought the JVM isn't an issue on Android, becaue it's ingrained in the OS itself. (Dalvik/ART)
- jayd16 9y ago
  Its not but Flutter is meant to be a cross platform solution.
kodablah 9y ago
> I do know about Kotlin Native but that's far, far future If you mean adoption, sure, but from using it a good bit lately, I'd say the tech is basically there.
sandGorgon 9y ago
Kotlin Native is not far - the repo already has a lot of sample apps that you can run today. https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin-native/tree/master/samples https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlin-native/tree/master/sampl... KotlinConf app in ios was in production release on Kotlin/Native - https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlinconf-app https://github.com/JetBrains/kotlinconf-app -> https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kotlinconf/id1299196584?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kotlinconf/id1299196584?mt=8 Do note that this is without the weight of Google's support behind it. I'm not quite sure why you say its far-far in the future. Given Flutter's own maturity, I dont see them being very differently placed in terms of production readiness - https://flutter.io/faq/#should-i-build-my-next-production-app-with-flutter https://flutter.io/faq/#should-i-build-my-next-production-ap... Kotlin is a perfect bridge - works brilliantly on the JVM, works brilliantly natively, everyone loves it, simple migration path from Android -> Fuchsia

on_and_off 9y ago

As far as I am aware, the Android and Dart teams are completely separate. They might as well be part of 2 different companies. It would make sense for Fuchsia to adopt Kotlin though, dev ux wise.