What Is Kotlin Multiplatform And How Does It Work? - KMP for Beginners

Summary

This video introduces a new playlist focusing on Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform, emerging technologies for cross-platform development. The host explains the basics of sharing common logic and UI code across different platforms like Android, iOS, and the web, highlighting the efficiency and performance benefits. The video also delves into the technical workings of Kotlin Multiplatform, its limitations, and the necessity of using Kotlin libraries. A full course on building apps with these technologies is teased for those interested in deeper learning.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The video introduces a new playlist focused on Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) and Compose Multiplatform, highlighting their growing importance in cross-platform development.
• 🛠️ KMP allows developers to share common logic and code across different platforms like desktop, mobile (iOS, Android), and web, reducing the need to write platform-specific code multiple times.
• 🔍 Compose Multiplatform is an extension of KMP that enables sharing of UI code, leveraging Jetpack Compose for a consistent UI across platforms.
• 🚀 The video promises to explain the basics of KMP and Compose Multiplatform, making it accessible for beginners and experienced developers alike.
• 🛡️ Compose Multiplatform is currently in beta for iOS and alpha for web applications, indicating that it's still in development and not yet stable for these platforms.
• 🔧 KMP works by compiling shared Kotlin code into platform-specific code, such as Java bytecode for Android and native binaries for iOS, to ensure optimal performance.
• 🔄 The Kotlin compiler in KMP is capable of understanding and compiling to the preferred code format for each target platform, enabling direct use of native APIs.
• 📚 KMP projects require the use of Kotlin libraries and cannot directly utilize Java libraries in the shared code, due to differences in platform support and JVM dependency.
• 💡 For developers considering expanding their Android apps to other platforms, starting with Kotlin libraries can facilitate easier migration to KMP in the future.
• 🍎 A limitation of KMP, especially for iOS and macOS app development, is the requirement of a Mac for building and running the apps, as these platforms are exclusive to that hardware.
• 🔗 The video concludes by encouraging viewers to check out a full course on building an app in KMP if they're interested in a more in-depth learning experience.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the new playlist on the channel?

The new playlist is dedicated to exploring Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform, focusing on their capabilities and how they work in the context of cross-platform development.

Why is Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) considered a viable option in the cross-platform space?

Kotlin Multiplatform is a trending technology by JetBrains that allows developers to share common logic between different platforms, reducing the need to write the same code multiple times and simplifying testing across platforms.

What does Compose Multiplatform offer in addition to Kotlin Multiplatform?

Compose Multiplatform is an add-on to Kotlin Multiplatform that allows developers to share UI code across platforms. It was originally available for Android but has been extended to support other platforms within KMP.

How does Kotlin Multiplatform address the issue of platform-specific code?

Kotlin Multiplatform allows developers to write shared code once and then compile it into platform-specific code, such as Java bytecode for Android or native binaries for iOS, ensuring that the app runs natively on each platform.

What is the significance of being able to call native APIs directly in Kotlin Multiplatform?

The ability to call native APIs directly in Kotlin Multiplatform provides more performance and flexibility compared to other cross-platform frameworks that require an intermediary layer to interpret the code for each platform.

What limitations does Kotlin Multiplatform have regarding the use of libraries?

Kotlin Multiplatform can only use Kotlin libraries within its shared code. Java libraries, which are interoperable with Kotlin on Android, cannot be used in the shared code due to differences in platform requirements and the lack of JVM on platforms like iOS.

Why is a Mac required to build iOS or macOS apps with Kotlin Multiplatform?

Building iOS or macOS apps with Kotlin Multiplatform requires a Mac because the applications can only run on a Mac, which is necessary for compiling and packaging the apps for these platforms.

What does the speaker suggest for developers currently working on native Android apps who might want to extend to other platforms in the future?

The speaker suggests that developers should start using pure Kotlin libraries from now on to facilitate an easier migration to Kotlin Multiplatform for extending their apps to other platforms in the future.

What does the speaker imply about the future of Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform?

The speaker is optimistic about the future of Kotlin Multiplatform and Compose Multiplatform, seeing them as exciting technologies with a bright future in cross-platform development.

How does the speaker plan to structure the playlist to cater to different levels of experience with Kotlin Multiplatform?

The playlist is structured to start from the absolute basics, making it accessible to those who have never worked with Kotlin Multiplatform before, while also providing value for those who have already started working with it.

What additional resources does the speaker offer for those interested in learning more about building a full app in Kotlin Multiplatform?

The speaker offers a full course on building a full app in Kotlin Multiplatform, which can be found through the link provided in the video description.