Imagine building a treehouse.
Java is like the strong, traditional hammer you’ve seen your grandfather use—tested, reliable, and used to build some of the tallest treehouses (Android apps) for years. Kotlin, on the other hand, is a sleek, modern nail gun—faster, safer, and designed to work with the same wood but with more convenience and fewer mistakes.
So, when it comes to Android development, which one is the best programming language to learn?
Let’s break it down in a tashbeehi (illustrative) style and find out whether you should swing the old hammer or grab the new power tool.
The Foundation – What Are Java and Kotlin?
Java has been the backbone of Android development since its birth. It’s like the old trusted architect who has built most of the Android world.
Kotlin, introduced by JetBrains and adopted by Google as an official Android language in 2017, is Java’s younger sibling—built on the same foundation, but faster, smarter, and more expressive.
But when choosing the best programming language to learn, your direction depends on your goals.
Kotlin vs Java – Side-by-Side in a Real-World Scenario
In Java, writing a click event might look like this:
javaCopyEditbutton.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
orderPizza();
}
});
In Kotlin, it becomes:
kotlinCopyEditbutton.setOnClickListener {
orderPizza()
}
Less code. Fewer chances for bugs. Cleaner and easier to read. That’s Kotlin’s charm.
Kotlin – The Modern Android Champion
1. Concise & Clear
Kotlin cuts out the boilerplate. You can do more in fewer lines, which means less typing, fewer bugs, and easier debugging.
2. Null Safety
In Java, forgetting to handle null can crash your app. Kotlin makes nullability part of the language design, helping prevent the dreaded NullPointerException.
3. Coroutines for Async Programming
Kotlin makes background work like API calls or database operations simpler with coroutines—keeping apps responsive and snappy.
4. Official Google Support
Since 2019, Google recommends Kotlin as the preferred language for Android development, giving it the official crown.
