Kotlin vs Swift – Which one is a better option in 2024?

It’s been exactly ten years since Swift was released and 13 years since Kotlin first came into the spotlight. While it’s hard to say which one is a more useful alternative, it’s important to point out the main difference between these two languages right away – Kotlin is widely used for Android app development, while Swift is the go-to option for iOS applications.

But first, let’s try to understand what these two languages are exactly and then do the comparison.

Kotlin – What you need to know

Kotlin is usually defined as a statically typed programming language developed by JetBrains and officially supported by Google for Android app development. As briefly mentioned above, Kotlin was released 13 years ago, or to be more exact, in 2011.

It was designed to be a more modern and efficient alternative to Java, which at the time, had its fair share of shortcomings. Kotlin addressed the majority of those issues and became, many would even say, a fan favorite almost instantly.

As we usually like to say here, a perfect tool does not exist. Both Kotlin and Swift have their pros and cons, but while we’re still at the very start of our debate, it’s still safe to say that both languages offer more advantages than disadvantages.

If we take a closer look at Kotlin and all its pros, we’ll notice:

• Kotlin’s interoperability with Java – Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java. This allows developers to use both languages seamlessly in the same project. While Java had its issues and slight disadvantages at the time Kotlin was released, it’s still a viable alternative for many developers. 
• A language with a concise syntax – Kotlin requires less boilerplate code compared to Java, which leads to a cleaner and more readable code. A somewhat close analogy here would be comparing English to German grammar. Almost everyone would agree that English is less complex when it comes to all the grammatical nuances. Of course, native language plays a huge role here and, at the end of the day, it all depends on what your mother tongue is.
• Null safety – Kotlin's type system is designed to eliminate null pointer exceptions. This ultimately makes your code more reliable. While this feature is not exclusive to Kotlin, it’s still worth pointing it out as something that developers might keep in mind when choosing whether they want to commit to a certain language.
• Coroutines – Kotlin supports coroutines, which makes it easier to write asynchronous code, improving app performance. If you’re not quite familiar with it, it’s just like making a dinner but starting and pausing several tasks in no particular order. Let’s say you’re boiling pasta, then while you wait, you can chop vegetables. When the pasta is almost ready, you focus on making the sauce, and so on.

Of course, Kotlin has some slight downsides as well:

• Learning Curve – While similar to Java, Kotlin introduces new concepts that developers may take time to master.
• Smaller Community – Kotlin’s community is growing, but it is still smaller than that of Java or Swift, which may lead to fewer resources and third-party libraries.

What are some of Kotlin’s key features?

As you most likely already know, what separates one language from another are small nuances. Key features that Kotlin has are also present in some other programming languages. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Kotlin is far from being a viable option – On the contrary, we feel like this is one of the best alternatives out there at the moment. Here’s what Kotlin has to offer to its user base:

• Type inference – This feature helps developers write less code. It does so with its ability to infer variable types automatically.
• Smart casts – Kotlin lets the users enjoy more intuitive type checking and casting without the need for additional code.
• Extend your code – A quite convenient option that allows adding new functions to existing classes with Kotlin’s extension functions – all without altering the source code.
• Asynchronous programming – Kotlin lets developers handle complex tasks more efficiently – All with its built-in coroutine support.

Kotlin in action – Code examples

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of how Kotlin’s syntax and features come to life in real-world coding scenarios:

1. Declaring Variables:

val name = "Kotlin"
var age = 5

2. Function with Default Arguments:

fun greet(name: String = "World") {
    println("Hello, $name!")
}

3. Using Coroutines:

GlobalScope.launch {
    val data = fetchData()
    updateUI(data)
}

Swift as the driving force behind iOS development

Now that you’re a bit more familiar with Kotlin as a programming language, let’s switch focus to its iOS counterpart – Swift.

Simply put, Swift is Apple’s answer to modern programming needs – With a main focus on its simplicity. As briefly mentioned in the intro, Swift has been a part of the programming world for over ten years now. 

It was initially designed to overcome the limitations of its predecessor, Objective-C. Swift managed to do so by offering developers a more intuitive and efficient toolset. A toolset that’s quite convenient for building apps across Apple’s ecosystem.

But what exactly makes Swift the preferred language for iOS development? 

Here are Swift’s pros:

• Swift’s swiftness (pun intended) – Swift outperforms not only its predecessor Objective-C but also many other languages. This makes it a top choice for high-performance iOS apps – Apps that are graphics-intensive, games, but also complex calculations.
• Safe by design – Swift with its specific syntax encourages developers to write safe, error-free code. It does so by catching errors at compile time before they cause problems at runtime. 
• Open source flexibility – As an open-source language, Swift is continuously evolving with contributions from a global community. This means that Swift stays up-to-date with the latest programming trends and technologies. Another useful thing worth mentioning here is that Swift also has a large online community. A community that is not only quite active but also fairly helpful when it comes to assisting those who are either just starting or are already quite familiar with Swift as a language.
• Legacy compatibility – Swift works hand-in-hand with Objective-C. This means that it ensures smooth integration with existing Apple projects – Quite convenient as this compatibility allows developers to gradually migrate their codebases to Swift without a complete rewrite. Just imagine what a nightmare it would be to have to write the whole code from scratch.

And here are some of Swift’s downsides:

• Platform focused – While Swift shines on Apple platforms its cross-platform capabilities are still developing.
• Frequent updates – Being an open-source language, Swift is rapidly evolving – It basically requires developers to keep up with regular updates, which can be somewhat tedious at times.

What features does Swift offer?

A somewhat similar situation here as with Kotlin, as some of the main features that Swift offers are also present among other programming languages. Some of them are:

• Type safety – Swift’s type safety ensures that variables are used correctly. This helps minimize runtime errors.
• Optionals – This feature focuses on Handling the absence of values with ease. It does so by using Swift’s optional types – Optional types that reduce the risk of crashes.
• Functional power – Swift’s closures provide a tool for functional programming. This is fairly useful as it makes code both more flexible and reusable.
• Interactive playgrounds – This feature lets developers experiment with Swift code in real time. This ultimately helps with learning and testing more in a more intuitive way.

A closer look at Swift code examples

Here’s what writing a Swift code looks like:

1. Declaring Variables:

let name = "Swift"
var age = 10

2. Function with Default Arguments:

func greet(name: String = "World") {
    print("Hello, \(name)!")
}

3. Using Closures:

let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
let squares = numbers.map { $0 * $0 }

Kotlin vs Swift – A Head-to-Head Comparison

Here’s a quick comparison of Swift vs Kotlin to help you decide which one might be the better choice for your next project:

When to opt for Kotlin

When it comes to this Kotlin vs Swift debate, the answer is quite simple and straightforward – Kotlin is the go-to language if your focus is Android development while Swift is, naturally, the best alternative for iOS developers.

Its Java interoperability, combined with modern features like coroutines and null safety, makes Kotlin an excellent choice for creating efficient Android apps.

When to go with Swift

As Swift is something of Kotlin’s counterpart, it’s only logical to focus on Apple’s programming language to create iOS-centric apps. 

But again, don’t forget its open-source nature and compatibility with Objective-C, as it ensures that Swift is not just limited to Apple platforms. This makes it a quite versatile tool for a wide range of development needs.

FAQs

1. Can Kotlin be used for iOS development?

Yes, while Kotlin can be used for iOS development through Kotlin Multiplatform, it’s primarily designed for Android.

2. Is Swift easier to learn than Kotlin?

Yes, Swift is generally considered easier to learn , especially for developers familiar with other Apple technologies.

3. Can I use both Kotlin and Swift in the same project?

While Kotlin and Swift are designed for different platforms, you can use both in a cross-platform project using tools like Kotlin Multiplatform or Flutter.

Build your next mobile app with a little help from Tapptitude

At Tapptitude, we specialize in both languages. Trust us, we’ve had our fair share of Swift vs Kotlin debates enough times.

All in all, whether you’re targeting Android, iOS, or both, our experienced developers can help you choose the right technology for your project – regardless of how small or big it is. 

Contact us today to get started on your next app!