Android Programming Languages: A Complete Guide for Developers

Have you ever thought about why Android is the favorite platform amongst all developers around the world? Well, that is because billions of devices on Android mean unlimited possibilities to create some really creative apps. But the big question is, what are the android programming language that keep these apps up and running and thriving? Is Java still the king, or does Kotlin reign supreme? What about other languages, such as Python or C++? Do they serve any purpose in the development of Android?

If you are not sure which Android programming language fits your project, then don’t be worried. You are not alone. Countless developers experience this very problem, searching for the perfect mix of features, speed, and ease of use in a language.

In this tutorial, we are going to break it down: which is the most used android programming language for Android, their pros and cons, and how to choose the best for your application idea.

A Look Back in the Past of Android Programming Languages

The story of Android started in 1989; at that time, it was an operating system for digital cameras. As time passed, it evolved into the powerful platform that it is today. It was bought by Google in 2005, and its first Android phone was released in 2008. After that, each year, some amazing features were introduced, such as Android 1.5 “Cupcake.” Fast-forward to 2017, Kotlin made it much easier and more modern to develop Android. Moving on to 2021, Android 12 began work more on customizations and privacy, thus polishing the user experience even more.

Think of it this way: You are a fitness instructor, and you need to develop an app so that people can create workout plans themselves, track progress, and set notifications. Having at least a general idea about the history of Android, one can clearly see why Kotlin fits perfectly for modern features like chatbots, while Java will do just perfectly for heavy and robust calculations.

With tools like Android Studio, developers can build apps quickly and easily. These tools make it simple to add features like video tutorials or real-time tracking. For example, “Cupcake” introduced features that paved the way for interactive apps. By choosing the best android programming language and tools, you can create apps that people trust. This will help you grow your business and make your app stand out.

Choosing the right language isn’t just about coding; it’s more about how that code makes users fall in love. The bottom line is that selecting the right programming language is actually the very first step toward success, whether for a fitness app or literally whatever.

What are Key Programming Languages for Android Development?

First things first, any beginning of Android application development requires picking the proper Android programming language. Such a decision is made to rely on plenty of aspects, like the intended performance of an app, complications of the design, and also developers’ experience or even specific project features, requiring the involvement of certain specialties. So, each has both plus points and weak sides that a developer has to learn beforehand in order to decide on any particular language.

Java

Java has been the top choice for Android app development for years. It’s a trusted, object-oriented language known for being dependable, portable, and packed with helpful libraries. But now, with Kotlin on the rise, Java isn’t the only option anymore.

Syntax

Java’s syntax comes from C-style programming. Here’s how it works:

• Case Sensitivity: Java treats uppercase and lowercase as different (e.g., variable and Variable are not the same).
• Class Names: Start with a capital letter (e.g., MyFirstJavaClass).
• Method Names: Begin with a lowercase letter (e.g., myFirstMethodName()).
• Code Blocks: Use curly braces {} to group code.
• Semicolons: End every statement with a semicolon;

Over time, Java has added useful features. For example, it now supports lambda expressions, making it easier to write clean, simple functions.

Libraries

Java offers many libraries to simplify Android app development, such as:

• Jackson and Gson: For handling JSON data.
• Log4j2: For logging and debugging.
• JUnit: For testing your code.
• Apache Commons: For general utilities.
• Google Guava: For even more utilities.
• jOOλ (jOOL): Adds functional programming tools like tuples.

Frameworks

Frameworks in Java save time and effort. Popular ones include:

• Spring: Great for big applications.
• Hibernate: Makes working with databases easier.
• Struts: Built for web apps.

Strengths

• Mature Ecosystem: Java has many tools, libraries, and resources.
• Platform Independence: It runs on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
• Community Support: A large developer community is ready to help.
• Security Features: Java comes with built-in security tools.

Weaknesses

• Verbose Code: Writing in Java can take more lines compared to other languages.
• Performance: Slower than some cross-platform languages like C++.
• User Interfaces: Java’s GUI tools aren’t always visually appealing.

Kotlin

Kotlin is a newer language created by JetBrains. It solves many of Java’s problems while being fully compatible with it. You can even use both Kotlin and Java together in the same Android app development project. Google officially recommends Kotlin for building Android apps.

Syntax

Kotlin’s syntax is clean and simple. Here’s what sets it apart:

• Type Inference: It figures out variable types on its own.
• Null Safety: Prevents crashes caused by null pointer errors, which are common in Java.
• Data Classes: This makes it easier to create classes that store data.
• Extension Functions: This lets you add new functions to existing classes without modifying their original code.

Libraries

Kotlin works with Java libraries and has its own growing list, such as:

• Ktor: For building asynchronous servers and clients.
• Coroutine: Simplifies handling asynchronous tasks.
• Room Database: Eases database management.
• Koin: A lightweight dependency injection framework.

Frameworks

Kotlin works with Java frameworks and also has its own options:

• Spring Boot: Ideal for building web apps and microservices.
• Ktor: Simplifies creating connected apps.

Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM) is a standout feature. It allows you to write business logic once and use it for both Android and iOS apps. This saves time while still creating native interfaces.

Strengths

• Concise Code: You write less, but it does more.
• Better Safety: Features like null safety reduce bugs during the mobile app development process.
• Interoperability: Kotlin works seamlessly with Java.
• Modern Tools: It supports advanced features like coroutines for smoother programming.

Weaknesses

• Smaller Community: Fewer developers use Kotlin compared to Java.
• Learning Curve: Java developers may need time to adjust.
• Slower Compilation: In some cases, Kotlin compiles more slowly than Java.

C++

C++ is a strong programming language often used for demanding apps like games or multimedia tools. Android supports it through the Native Development Kit (NDK). It builds on the C language and adds object-oriented features.

Syntax

C++ syntax is similar to Java, but there are some differences:

• Manual Memory Management: Developers must allocate and free memory themselves. This gives more control but can cause memory leaks.
• Pointers: C++ uses pointers to access memory directly.
• Operator Overloading: You can decide how operators work with custom data types.

Libraries

C++ comes with many libraries to make coding easier:

• Standard Template Library (STL): Includes tools for algorithms, containers, and more.
• Third-party Libraries: These are for specialized tasks and needs.

Frameworks

Frameworks help make C++ even more useful.

• Qt: Great for building apps that work on multiple platforms.
• Unreal Engine: A favorite choice for making games.

Strengths

C++ has some clear advantages:

• High Performance: It runs very fast and uses resources efficiently.
• Reusable Code: You can use existing C++ libraries to save time.
• Low-Level Access: It can work directly with hardware, making it ideal for tasks that need a lot of resources.

Weaknesses

However, C++ does have some downsides:

• Complexity: It is harder to learn than Java or Kotlin.
• Memory Management: Handling memory manually can cause problems.
• Limited API Access: Some Android APIs are not as easy to use with C++.

Python

While Android is certainly not the most common place to find Python usage, that does not mean it’s not used; in fact, people use it to develop Android apps. It can be used with external tools such as Kivy. Kivy is an open-source tool that helps design apps with touches. The coolest thing about Kivy?

You code once, and its core works on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. But generally speaking, when it comes to developing Android-related applications, compared to Java C++ or even the new language in development, Kotlin-Python comes out a notch short.

• Type: Dynamically typed language, which is simple and pretty easy for beginners.
• Usage in Android: Works with tools like Kivy.

Strengths:

• Easy to Learn: Python has simple rules, so it’s great for beginners.
• Cross-Platform: With tools like Kivy, one codebase works on many platforms.
• Powerful Libraries: Python has many libraries for things like data analysis and machine learning.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Native Support: It’s not a standard choice for Android.
• Performance Issues: Python is slower than Java or C++.
• Complex Setup: Getting Python apps to run on Android can be tricky.

Notable Features:

• Kivy: Helps build touch-friendly apps.
• Pyjnius: Let Python use Java classes on Android.
• BeeWare: Another tool for making mobile apps with Python.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a popular language for making cross-platform Android apps. Many developers use it with React Native, which is a tool that works with JavaScript and React. React is a library for building user interfaces. Apps built with React Native feel like real native apps because they use native components.

• Type: A high-level language often used for web development.
• Usage in Android: Works with React Native.

Strengths:

• Cross-Platform: You can use one codebase for Android and iOS.
• Native Feel: Apps look and perform like real native apps.
• Big Community: React Native has lots of help and resources online.
• Reusable Code: You can use the same pieces of code, which saves time.

Weaknesses:

• Slower Performance: Apps might not be as fast as those made with Java or Kotlin.
• Library Dependence: Using too many third-party tools can make maintenance harder.
• Debugging Issues: Fixing errors can be tough due to extra layers of code.

Notable Features:

• React Native: Helps create apps with JavaScript and React.
• Expo: A tool for testing and deploying React Native apps.
• Hot Reloading: Shows changes instantly without restarting the app.

Dart

Dart is growing in popularity for Android development because of Flutter. Flutter is a toolkit from Google that allows you to create apps for Android, iOS, web, and desktop. It uses one codebase for everything. Flutter is known for its hot reload feature, which shows changes immediately. It also has tools to build attractive user interfaces.

• Type: A modern language with static typing, made for building user interfaces.
• Usage in Android: Mostly used with Flutter.

Strengths:

• Cross-Platform: Flutter works for Android, iOS, web, and desktop with one codebase.
• Hot Reload: Developers can see updates instantly, saving time.
• Flexible UI: Flutter makes it easy to create custom and beautiful designs.
• Good Performance: Dart turns into native code, making apps faster.

Weaknesses:

• Learning Curve: New developers may take time to learn Dart.
• Larger App Size: Flutter apps can be bigger to download.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Dart has fewer libraries compared to JavaScript or Kotlin.

Notable Features:

• Flutter: Google’s toolkit for making high-quality apps.
• Widgets: Makes UI design easy and customizable.
• State Management: Tools like Provider and Bloc help manage app data smoothly.

Conclusion

The selection of the proper Android programming language is a big step towards the creation of an Android application. Since its inception, Java has been the first preference because of its stability and cross-platform capability. However, Kotlin has recently emerged as the clear winner. Kotlin is more concise, null-safe, and interoperates nicely with Java, making the migration to its adoption quite easy.

If one wants to create an outstanding Android app, then the selection of android programming language is quite crucial. That’s where Linkitsoft comes in: developing amazing Android apps with the best tools and technologies like Kotlin, Java, and Cross-platform frameworks Flutter and React Native. By failing to heed the advice from this blog, one will surely lose opportunities, have low-performing applications, and fall behind in the race of competition.

At Linkitsoft, we deliver smooth performance, modern features, and solutions tailored to your needs. Don’t take the risk of settling for less. Our skilled team ensures satisfaction by creating apps built for success. Reach out to Linkitsoft today to turn your app idea into reality. With our help, you’ll stay ahead and avoid costly mistakes. Let’s build something great together! Contact us now.