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Kotlin vs Groovy: A Comparison Guide for Android App Development in 2022-2023

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Over the years, websites and apps have become an apparent reason to optimize business growth by reaching a potential group of audience.

There is no doubt in saying that Android is the most demanding mobile OS worldwide. When it comes to building a mobile app, the Android OS grabs all the attention.

Today for Android app development we have a bunch of languages serving different purposes for mobile app developers. Kotlin and Groovy are two such programming languages that stand out in the competition to become the developers’ best choice.

Let’s look at the comparison guide of Kotlin vs Groovy to help you have a deep understanding of both programming languages.

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is a high-level, open-source statically typed programming language that came into existence in 2012 and runs on Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Jetbrains initially developed Kotlin in 2011. Later google announced it as the official language for Android Development in 2017.

Kotlin is user-friendly, just like most Java-compatible programming languages. Many programmers claim that Kotlin is a modern and safe programming language.

Top Industries Using Kotlin :

Uber
Pinterest
Evernote
Coursera
Trello

Benefits of Kotlin App Development

Official Android development language
It is compatible with Java
Requires less coding
Easy to maintain
It has null in the type system

What is Groovy?

Groovy is an object-oriented programming language that came into existence much before Kotlin. Groovy 1.0 was released in 2007.

Groovy is a dynamic scripting language for the Java platform, and it can be used as both a scripting language and a programming language.
Groovy is similar to Java and can easily integrate with existing java code for better visibility.

Top Industries Using Groovy :

Linkedin
Oracle
Netflix

Benefits of Groovy App Development

Groovy supports both static and dynamic typing
Can easily integrate with the existing interface
It has a rich collection of java libraries
Backed by a wide range of frameworks
Provides support for languages like HTML and XML

Difference between Kotlin and Groovy

DIFFERENCES	GROOVY	KOTLIN
FILE EXTENSION	.groovy	.kts , .kt
FEATURES	Runtime and Compile-time programming, static and dynamic typing, XML/HTML support, closures, and builders, etc	Safe and reliable, reduces runtime crashes, static typing, null safety, etc
ECOSYSTEM	It has a wide variety of in-built features and testing tools	It has a limited amount of libraries and is new in the market
COMPILATION	Groovy is a dynamically typed language	Kotlin is a statically typed language
NULL SAFETY	Do not ensure null safety	Ensure null safety
PERFORMANCE TIME	Groovy is slower compared to Java and Kotlin	The performance time is similar to Java

SEE ALSO: Best Mobile App Ideas

The Bottom Line: Groovy vs Kotlin

The decision of choosing the programming language between Kotlin vs Groovy depends on the objective of the application.

The main benefit of both the programming languages is that both are compatible with Java, so it is more reliable and safe to write the code with Groovy and Kotlin.

If you have an app idea but are not sure about the process, reach out to our android app development company.

Our expert web and app developers will guide you through the App Development process in detail.

FAQs

Where Kotlin can be used?

Kotlin can be used for any kind of development, whether it is Server-side, Client-side, Web, or Android.

Is Kotlin an object-oriented or a functional language?

Kotlin has both object-oriented and functional constructs. It can be used as both.

Kotlin vs Groovy, which is better for Android app development?

Kotlin and Groovy both are JVM languages. Groovy is easier if you want to do scripting or testing, while Kotlin is a better choice to develop mobile games and apps. Kotlin is also the official Android app development language since 2017.

What are the features of Kotlin?

Safe and reliable
Reduces runtime crashes
Static typing
Null safety

What are the features of Groovy?

Runtime and Compile-time programming
Static and dynamic typing
XML/HTML support
Closures and builders

Rushi Trivedi

Rushi is a full stack mobile app developer at Webs Optimization Software Solution. He is tech–savvy and highly passionate about Hybrid application development. He has got an inside-out knowledge of all the things in Hybrid Mobile App Development. Being a quick adapter, he would always be up to date with all the latest trends in the industry.

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