Kotlin vs Scala: Which JVM Language To Choose For Your Project?

Java is a revolutionary programming language worldwide. It has catalyzed multiple other languages over the years, and these languages are considered Java’s alternative for effective application development. The two famous names in the programming world under the JVM language category are Kotlin and Scala. Scala and Kotlin have been a developer’s delight with their bouquet of salient features.

There has been a constant comparison between Kotlin and Scala, though both showcase their innovative ways of enhancing Java. Kotlin focuses on a better version of Java by reducing the boilerplate code and adding new features like null-safe design. In comparison, Scala offers a flexible syntax motivated by functional programming ideas.

Before we compare them, we should look at their overview and salient features.

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is a modern programming language that makes developers happier. It is a concise and safe programming language, easy to pick up, so you can create powerful applications immediately.

Kotlin is a well-known, open-source, JVM programming language developed in 2010. It is backed by two well-known entities: JetBrains and Google. It possesses object-oriented features like Smart Casts, Extension Functions, etc. It is an ideal choice for Android users since Android Studio lets app development be done in Java and Kotlin. If you are familiar with Java, learning Kotlin is easier.

Being a functional language, it offers good support for high-order functions. Kotlin is a modern language used to build server-side apps, Android apps, and much more. It majorly targets the Java Virtual Machine and compiles it into JavaScript. It is affected by other languages like Groovy, Java, C#, etc. It relies on the current Java Class library for its syntax. It offers code interoperability and code safety to the entire developer community.

Features Of Kotlin

• Object-oriented and functional programming
• Clean and compact syntax
• Operator overloading
• Compiles to JVM bytecode
• Extension functions
• Reduction of a crash at runtime
• Supports higher-order functions
• Neat, short, and sleek expression

Companies Using Kotlin

Uber, Pinterest, Coursera, Evernote, Atlassian, Google, Foursquare, Corda, Trello, Gradle, Amazon, Pivotal, etc.

What is Scala?

The Scala Programming Language combines object-oriented and functional programming in one concise, high-level language. Scala’s JVM and JavaScript runtimes let you build high-performance systems with easy access to huge ecosystems of libraries.

Scala is a popular JVM language meant for large-scale programs for functional programming. It is interoperable with Java and possesses features like code conciseness, higher-order functions, etc. It supports object-oriented programming, type systems, collections, custom control structures, traits, functions, and closures. Pattern matching is a highlight in Scala, through which you can use the match statement to correspond any data or lists with your types.

It has an extensible and flexible code syntax. Scala mainly intends to showcase common programming patterns in a sleek, short, and effective manner. Since the object-oriented and functional features are integrated, developers can easily explore Scala and its features. It automatically infers type information. It facilitates turning variables mutable or immutable while declaring them.

Scala Features

• Immutability and concurrency control
• High order functions
• Exact syntax with no boilerplate code
• Supports object-oriented and functional programming
• Faster error and bug detection
• Statically typed and extensible
• Supports pattern matching and macros
• Facilitates overloading operators

Companies Using Scala

Netflix, LinkedIn, Apple, Twitter, LinkedIn, Uber, Foursquare, Tumblr, Sony, The Guardian, precog, Airbnb, etc.

Good Read: Scala vs Java: Features, Applications, And Difference

Kotlin vs Scala: The Similarities

• Popular and liked by developers
• Support for Null Safety management
• Java Virtual Machine (JVM) languages
• Operator overloading
• Functional programming

Kotlin vs. Scala: An Evaluation Between Two Popular JVM Languages

The Bottom line

The debate between Kotlin and Scala seems like a long one. Kotlin is a comfortable option in an Android environment; however, beyond that, there could be other options. For options like Eclipse, Scala could prove better. Scala IDE is a tad more developed than the Kotlin plug-in, yet it is highly popular among Java developers. Being modern, developers look at Kotlin as a better option. Scala is for implementing newer ideas, and Kotlin is for getting the best results.

Be it Scala or Kotlin, both are popular and effective and are a developer’s choice.