Java EE vs Kotlin: What are the differences?

Introduction: Java EE and Kotlin are two popular programming languages used in web development. While Java EE is a framework for developing enterprise-level applications, Kotlin is a statically typed programming language that can be used to develop both client-side and server-side applications. Despite having some similarities, there are several key differences between Java EE and Kotlin.

1. Syntax and Code Conciseness: Kotlin is known for its concise syntax and improves on many of Java's features. It reduces boilerplate code and provides a more compact and readable syntax. Kotlin supports many modern language features like extension functions, lambda expressions, and null safety that can result in less code and improved developer productivity.

2. Interoperability: Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, which means developers can use Kotlin and Java code together seamlessly. Kotlin can call Java code and vice versa, making it easy to migrate codebases from Java to Kotlin gradually. This interoperability allows developers to leverage existing Java libraries and frameworks while gradually introducing Kotlin into their projects.

3. Null Safety and Type Inference: Kotlin has built-in null safety features that prevent null pointer exceptions at compile-time. It ensures that variables cannot hold null values unless explicitly specified. Additionally, Kotlin provides type inference, allowing developers to omit type declarations in many cases while still maintaining strong typing.

4. Coroutines and Asynchronous Programming: Kotlin introduces coroutines, which provides a simpler and more efficient way to write asynchronous code compared to Java EE. Coroutines allow developers to write asynchronous code that looks like sequential code, reducing the complexity of managing asynchronous tasks, and improving the readability of code.

5. Functional Programming: Kotlin has strong support for functional programming concepts like higher-order functions and immutability. It encourages writing code in a functional style, which can lead to more concise and maintainable code. While Java EE supports functional programming to some extent through libraries like Java Stream API, Kotlin provides a more streamlined and intuitive way to write functional code.

6. Compilation and Runtime Performance: Kotlin compiles to Java bytecode and runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), providing similar performance to Java applications. However, Kotlin's more concise syntax and features like smart casts and inline functions can sometimes result in better runtime performance compared to equivalent Java code.

In Summary, Kotlin is a modern programming language that offers concise syntax, null safety, interoperability with Java, support for coroutines, and strong functional programming capabilities, making it an attractive choice for developing both client-side and server-side applications compared to Java EE.