Kotlin Multi Platform
Kotlin Multiplatform is a framework for developing cross-platform applications with Kotlin. It allows you to write shared code that can be reused on multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. You can also write platform-specific code to access the native features of each platform.
Short History of KMP/KMM
- July 2011 — Kotlin — The history of KMM begins with the development of the Kotlin programming language itself. Kotlin was officially announced by JetBrains.JetBrains aimed to create a language that could run on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and improve upon Java in terms of conciseness, expressiveness, and safety.
- February 2016 — Kotlin 1.0 — It was a significant milestone for the language, including that it had reached a level of maturity and stability suitable for production use. Kotlin quickly gained popularity in the Android app development community.
- Kotlin Multi Platform(KMM/KMP) — Kotlin Multi Platform(KMM/KMP) was introduced as a concept around 2017. It allowed developers to write shared Kotlin code that could run on both Android and iOS. KMP was precursor to KMM
- KMM/KMP Announcement — Kotlin Multi Platform Mobile(KMM) was officially announced by JetBrains in August 2020. KMM/KMP represented a more refined and robust approach to cross-platform mobile development with Kotlin. It provided dedicated tooling and support for iOS development in addition to Android
KMM to KMP
- KMM stands for Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile, while KMP stands for Kotlin Multiplatform. The name change from KMM to KMP was announced in July 2023.
The reasons for the name change are as follows:
- Clarity: The term “mobile” is redundant, as KMM is specifically designed for developing mobile apps.
- Consistency: The term “multiplatform” is used consistently across other Kotlin projects, such as Kotlin Multi Platform JS and Kotlin Multi Platform Desktop.
- Simplicity: The shorter name is easier to remember and type.
- Future-proofing: The name change allows for the possibility of expanding KMP to support other platforms in the future.
Usages of KMP
- Kotlin Multi Platform uses a technique called native interoperability to allow Kotlin code to call platform-specific APIs. This means that you can write Kotlin code that can access the native features of both iOS and Android.
- Kotlin Multi Platform also provides a number of libraries that make it easier to develop cross-platform applications, such as libraries for networking, data persistence, and image processing.
- Kotlin Multi Platform is a relatively new framework, but it has quickly gained popularity among developers. It is a powerful tool that can help you to write code that is more reusable, portable, and maintainable. If you are interested in developing cross-platform applications with Kotlin, I encourage you to learn more about Kotlin Multiplatform.
- Kotlin Multiplatform is not limited to mobile app development but can be used for a wide range of applications, including web services, backend servers, command-line tools, and more. It’s a powerful approach to cross-platform development that allows you to maximize code reuse, reduce duplication, and maintain a consistent codebase across different platforms, ultimately improving development efficiency and code quality.
IDE Support
- Kotlin Multiplatform is well-supported by popular integrated development environments (IDEs) such as Android Studio, JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio Code, making it easier to develop and maintain cross-platform projects.
Most Common Highlighted Benefits
- Shared code
- Testing
- Networking
- Serialization
- Data persistence
- Image processing
- Native interoperability
- Platform-specific code
Used Places
- It is used by a variety of companies and organizations, including Google, Netflix, Airbnb, and Walmart.
Conclusion
KMP apps are easier to maintain than apps that are written in different languages or frameworks. This is because you can write all of your code in a single language, and you can use the same tools to test and debug your code on both iOS and Android. KMP uses native interoperability to allow Kotlin code to call platform-specific APIs. This means that your apps will have native performance on both iOS and Android.KMP apps can be easily ported to new platforms. This means that you can write an app for iOS and Android today, and you can easily port it to other platforms in the future.If you are interested in developing cross-platform mobile applications, I encourage you to learn more about KMP It is a powerful tool that can help you to write high-quality apps that are easy to maintain and port to new platforms.
