7 Kotlin Extensions For Developers: Must Know

Google made the announcement at Google I/O 2017 that the Android operating system would now support the Kotlin programming language in addition to the already supported languages Java and C++. However, how many programmers do you anticipate will eventually switch to Kotlin?

Increasing numbers of Android developers are acquiring knowledge of Kotlin and making the switch to using it. In point of fact, Google reports that more than fifty percent of professional Android app developers utilize Kotlin while creating Android mobile applications. Additionally, it is regarded as one of the most popular programming languages all over the globe.

It is anticipated that Kotlin will even have the potential to alter the way Java is used on the server. This indicates that in the not-too-distant future, Android app developers who do not have an understanding of the Kotlin programming language run the danger of being seen as dinosaurs in the industry.

In addition to this, knowing that the language is compatible with Java, it is anticipated that it would speed up the process of developing Android applications. And maybe the most significant benefit offered by the newly developed programming language known as Kotlin is the reduction in the total number of lines of code.

Kotlin Extensions

Let's go into some specifics regarding the most important Kotlin extensions that each and every Android developer and programmer need to be familiar with:

Android KTX:

Android Kotlin Extensions, also known as Android KTX, is a collection of features that, when used in conjunction with the Kotlin programming language, make it possible for Android application creation that is both simple and enjoyable. If you are an Android developer, you have probably grown weary of utilizing the outdated and corroded Java APIs for Android. Therefore, in order to access the Java Android APIs in Kotlin in a more straightforward manner, the developers working on the Android team created Android KTX.

The purpose of Android KTX is not to expand the capabilities of the pre-existing Android APIs; rather, it is to simplify the process of developing Android apps by making use of the APIs that are already available.

The Android KTX operating system has a wide variety of functions, some of which are as follows:

Extension functions: These are the functions that help us to extend the functionality of the class without getting into the code of that class. Instead, all you have to do is call the function of the class in order to extend the functionality of the class. Extension functions are also known as helper functions.
Extension attributes are supported as well by the Kotlin programming language. However, in order to utilize the extension property in Kotlin, you need to give the getter in an explicit manner (plus setter for vars).
Named parameters are a feature that are unique to this object-oriented programming language and cannot be found in any other language of its kind. The names of the parameters that you are giving to a function may be specified in Kotlin thanks to a feature that the language offers.
Default values for parameters: Kotlin allows you to provide the arguments of a function default values that they should use.

Firebase:

Firebase is a development platform that can be used for both mobile and online applications. It offers services that a mobile application or web application might require in order to function properly. Firebase eliminates the burden of having to construct a backend specifically for user authentication by providing email and password authentication for users.

Firebase is an extension for the Kotlin programming language that has the potential to completely revolutionize the future of Android development as well as the process of managing the experiences of users who are actively interested in Android applications. The beta version of Firebase is now available on the market, and it will provide you with more capabilities. If any errors appear, however, they will be fixed as soon as you report them.

There is no need to worry about the safety of your smartphones or computers onto which Firebase has been loaded since cybercriminals cannot directly manipulate the privacy and security of the information in the same way that they can with Kotlin interfaces. Therefore, from today and moving forward, every Android developer, regardless of their level of expertise, will be required to become proficient in the usage of the Firebase Kotlin SDK in order to construct high-quality applications that operate efficiently on Android.

Double.toPrice():

Formatting with group separation is another enhancement that might be quite helpful when dealing with pricing. The majority of the time, inside an app, we just adhere to a single set of guidelines for structuring prices. The display of pricing across the app may be handled by a single extension.

For the purpose of making the price simpler to see, this modification involves the use of two fractional (monetary) digits, the display of a comma between the two, and the splitting of each of our three numbers with a dot.

If you are an Android developer or programmer, you should definitely give this helpful extension a go at least once. It works well with pricing and formats them in accordance with just one set of rules.

Context.screenSize:

Access to information on the status of the application may be gained via the use of a Context. It grants Activities, Fragments, and Services access to resource files, graphics, themes, and styles, as well as the locations of external directories. In addition to that, it offers access to the built-in services that are available on Android, such as those used for layout inflation, identifying content providers, and keyboarding.

In many situations in which the "context is necessary," all that is asked of us is to simply pass in the instance of the activity that is currently being performed. When we are operating inside of objects that were generated by the activity, such as adapters or fragments, we need to ensure that we are passing the activity instance into those objects.

Null Receiver:

When it comes to creating the extension functions with the class type, this Nullable Receiver extension is both exact and versatile (Nullable). In addition, the extension assures that Kotlin is null safe by clearly differentiating between references that may be null and those that cannot be null. This, in turn, avoids any problems that may have occurred during the compilation process. If you are not already using this extension, there is a chance that you will be presented with this particular NPE (Null Pointer Exception).

String.isAlphanumeric:

Validating whether or not a string contains alphanumeric characters is the responsibility of the String.isAlphanumeric extension. The only characters that can be found in an alphanumeric string are letters like a-z, A-Z, and numerals in the range from 0 to 9. An alphabetic string will ignore any special characters such as %, @, &, or $.

String.toLocation:

This String.toLocation function is essentially a Kotlin String extension that transforms a string into a place with certain longitudinal and latitudinal values, such as 53.45 and -0.943, respectively. When using this extension, it is not necessary to submit any information on the location provider.

Kotlin Benefits that helps to Boost Android Development

Before we get into those capabilities, it is important to keep in mind that they are centered primarily on making use of them within the context of developing Android applications. As a result, you should be comfortable programming in Kotlin using the Android studio software developed by Jetbrains.

Data Classes in Kotlin

The need of a class is always debated by those responsible for the design and creation of computer languages. Kotlin, on the other hand, allows Android programmers to create code that is functionally identical to Java in a straightforward way and with fewer lines of code. As a result, the data classes that are available in Kotlin are widely acknowledged as being one of the language's advantageous characteristics.

Helps Reduce Crashes During the Runtime

During the compilation of your Android app development project, it will be simple to recognise the NullPointerException if you take use of this most sophisticated functionality.

This will guarantee that every variable functions as a non-null, and it will also assist in reducing the amount of crashes that occur throughout the runtime of the program. In addition, if you have made the decision to keep hold of a value that is null, you may limit the amount of crashes that occur by adding a question mark to the end of the variable type. You will have a much easier time reducing crashes during the runtime if you do it this way.

Uncomplicated and Trustworthy

Since Kotlin is a pretty secure language, you may use it without any concern if you take use of this feature of the programming language. This is one of the most powerful aspects of Kotlin. In addition, by using the Null Safe method, it is possible to circumvent issues such as the "NullPointException." You may also effortlessly avoid using nullable types, and errors will be instantly removed from your work. This will assist you in simplifying your code for the sake of debugging and running activities while developing Android applications.

Syntax That Is Both Clear and Compressed

When compared to Java, this programming language is light years ahead in terms of its grammar and the readability of its code. It is easier for the developer to work with less code, and the reduced number of mistakes and faults that Kotlin introduces makes it more dependable. In addition, having syntax and code that is both clean and compact offers a variety of advantages, including simple maintenance, code that is simple to understand, and the ability to easily incorporate modifications when they are required.

Hire Kotlin Developers if you want to get your Kotlin app developed by the best in field. We have successfully completed 50+ Kotlin Development projects.

How can I pick between the languages Java and Kotlin?

You do not have to choose! You may combine both as you see appropriate.

What does Kotlin's future hold?

Can both Java and Kotlin files be used in the same project?