Kotlin Multiplatform and the future of Mobile Development

• by Muhammad Zubair

Why Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is the Future of Mobile App Development and How to Get Started

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, mobile app development must meet the growing demand for cross-platform compatibility, high performance, and reduced development time. This is where Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) comes into play. KMP is becoming a crucial tool for companies aiming to deliver robust and scalable mobile apps efficiently. At our company, we specialize in building cutting-edge Play Store apps, and Kotlin Multiplatform is a game-changer in our development strategy. In this blog, we’ll explore why KMP is critical for the future and provide an easy guide on how to get started.

Why Kotlin Multiplatform is Important for the Future?

1. Code Reusability

One of the biggest challenges in mobile app development is writing and maintaining code for different platforms (Android, iOS, etc.). KMP allows developers to write platform-independent code for business logic, data handling, and core functionalities, while still providing the flexibility to use native code for platform-specific features like UI. This results in less duplicated code, quicker iteration cycles, and easier maintenance.

2. Native Performance

Unlike some other cross-platform solutions, KMP allows developers to tap into the full power of native APIs and platform-specific performance optimizations. This ensures apps run smoothly on both Android and iOS without the performance trade-offs often associated with cross-platform tools.

3. Shared Business Logic

KMP is particularly valuable for projects that require complex business logic, networking code, or data handling. You can write the core logic once and share it across multiple platforms, reducing the need for rewriting or debugging the same code twice. This is a major time-saver for development teams.

4. Flexible Architecture

KMP gives developers the flexibility to mix and match shared, and native code as needed. You can decide which parts of your application should be shared and which need to remain platform-specific, allowing for greater control over performance and UI consistency.

5. Future-Proof

As mobile development continues to advance, Kotlin is solidifying its place as a leading language, especially on Android. Google’s official endorsement of Kotlin and JetBrains’ continuous innovation make Kotlin Multiplatform a future-proof solution for businesses seeking long-term stability.

How to Set Up Kotlin Multiplatform?

Now that we understand the importance of KMP, let’s dive into how you can set up and start using it in your project.

1. Set Up Your Development Environment

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• Android Studio (latest version)
• Xcode (if you are developing for iOS)
• Kotlin Plugin installed in Android Studio

2. Create a New Kotlin Multiplatform Project

You can create a new project in Android Studio using the Kotlin Multiplatform template:

1. Open Android Studio.
2. Select New Project.
3. Choose the Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile App template.
4. Configure your project name and choose the location to save it.

This template generates the basic structure of a Kotlin Multiplatform app, where you will have:

• shared/ directory for shared code (used by both Android and iOS).
• androidApp/ and iosApp/ directories for platform-specific code.

3. Configure Gradle for Kotlin Multiplatform

The shared module's build.gradle.kts file will need some configuration for KMP:

kotlin {
    android()
    ios() // For iOS support

    sourceSets {
        val commonMain by getting {
            dependencies {
                implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib-common")
                // Add any shared dependencies here
            }
        }
        val androidMain by getting {
            dependencies {
                implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlin:kotlin-stdlib")
                // Android-specific dependencies
            }
        }
        val iosMain by getting {
            dependencies {
                // iOS-specific dependencies
            }
        }
    }
}

This configuration allows the code in the commonMain source set to be shared across Android and iOS.

4. Write Shared Code

The beauty of KMP is writing business logic once and sharing it across platforms. For example, you could write networking logic in the shared module and reuse it across both Android and iOS.

Here’s an example of a simple shared class:

expect class Platform() {
    val platform: String
}

actual class Platform {
    actual val platform: String = "Android" // This will be different for iOS
}

The expect and actual keywords let you declare platform-specific code that can be used within the shared module.

5. Run Your App

You can run the app on Android using Android Studio and on iOS using Xcode. The shared business logic will remain the same for both platforms, making it easy to debug and maintain.

Conclusion

Kotlin Multiplatform is revolutionizing how we approach mobile app development. It strikes the perfect balance between code sharing and native optimization, enabling faster development cycles without compromising performance. At our company, we are leveraging KMP to build high-quality, future-proof Play Store apps, ensuring our clients get the best in cross-platform performance and scalability.

If you’re a developer looking to streamline your mobile app development process or a business searching for cost-effective solutions, Kotlin Multiplatform is the answer. Get started today, and embrace the future of mobile development!