Getting Started with Kotlin for Android Development

Introduction

Google has officially announced that Kotlin is the first-class language for Android, and it is evolving rapidly, expanding its features every day. We think you don’t want to miss out on this exciting development.

Getting Started with Kotlin for Android Development

In this article, you will learn what Kotlin is, what Android Studio is, how to start with Kotlin, the basic configuration setup, and the complete implementation process with a program sample.

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that combines object-oriented programming concepts with functional-oriented programming features. It is designed to run on the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and can also be compiled using LLVM compiler infrastructure (JetBrains, 2023). Kotlin fully supports Android Studio 3.0, and you can utilize all existing Android tools with Kotlin code. By adding Kotlin code to your existing project, you can convert Java language to Kotlin.

Understanding Android Studio

Android Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) officially developed and announced by Google for developing Android apps. It provides you with quick tools to build instant apps for every Android device with complete in-built solutions like code editing, debugging, deploying, performance tooling, etc. This Android Studio works on various OS like Windows, Linux, Mac, etc. (Google, 2023).

Installation of Android Studio

Installing Android Studio is easier than you might think. You can download and install it with an executable file from the following link: [Google's Android Studio Installation Guide](https://developer.android.com/studio/install.html).

Configuring Kotlin Plugin on Android Studio

If you need to use Kotlin in Android Studio, you must configure the Kotlin Plugin. It’s not as complicated as it might seem; you can do it with simple steps. If you are using an Android Studio version below 3.0, follow the steps below:

1. After installing Android Studio, on the "Welcome to Android Studio" screen, choose to configure → Plugins → Install JetBrains plugin.
2. Search for the Kotlin Plugin and start installing it.
3. Once installation is complete, restart Android Studio.

Note: If you are using Android Studio version 3.0 or above, you don't need to configure Kotlin because Android Studio 3.0 has an embedded Kotlin Plugin.

Creating a Project on Android Studio

Follow the steps below to create your new project:

1. File → New Project →
2. You will see the Create Android Project screen, where you can add your project details like app name, company domain, and set the path for your project. Click the next button to continue the configuration.
3. Select the platform for which you are going to develop. For example, Android works on phones, tablets, wearables, TV, etc. Check PHONE AND TABLET from those categories and click the Next button.
4. Choose Empty Activity from the pre-built activities and click the Next button. On the next screen, provide the activity name and XML layout name.
5. Finally, click the Finish button, and your project will open in an editable window.

Coding with Kotlin

The file will have default in-built codes like below:

MainActivity.java
package agira.com.myapplication
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity
import android.os.Bundle
public class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity () {
    override fun onCreate (savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate (savedInstanceState)
        setContentView (R.layout.activity_main)
    }
}

Note: setContentView (R.layout.activity_main) activity main file is called here to implement the designing process. You can find the activity main layout file on the left side menu.

Designing activity_main.xml

The code above is used for designing the layout. AppCompatTextView is used for displaying text. AppCompatEditText is used for entering text at runtime. AppCompatButton is used for submission. Now we should enter the Strings.xml for app registration info.

Deep Dive into Kotlin Code

If you are too confused about what is happening in the above codes, here is a brief explanation for each division:

import android.os.Build
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity
import android.os.Bundle
import android.speech.tts.TextToSpeech
import android.support.annotation.RequiresApi
import android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatButton
import android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatEditText
import android.util.Log
import kotlinx.android.synthetic.main.activity_main.*
import java.util.*

These are the imported packages that are pre-built codes. We can use these features by importing those packages. On the above line, the MainActivity extends the AppCompatActivity module to the TextToSpeech listener.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you start building your Kotlin program on your own. Now you can play with your coding and develop whatever you are trying to bring out!

New technologies are never new to us! At Agira Technologies, we are always open to new technologies to bring new visionaries to your apps. We are practiced in such a way to make a difference in whatever we do. If you are looking to develop an app with well-optimized features, you can always reach us at www.agiratech.com.

References:

• Google. (2023). Android Studio Installation Guide. Retrieved from https://developer.android.com/studio/install.html
• JetBrains. (2023). Kotlin Programming Language. Retrieved from https://kotlinlang.org/