Kotlin Overview

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 10:52:46 +0200

What is Kotlin?

Kotlin is a modern, statically typed programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and can also compile to JavaScript or native code. Created by JetBrains in 2011 and officially released in 2016, Kotlin has become the preferred language for Android development (Google announced official support in 2017).

It’s designed to be:

Concise — less boilerplate than Java
Safe — built-in null safety to avoid NullPointerExceptions
Interoperable — works seamlessly with existing Java code
Versatile — can be used for Android, backend, desktop, and multiplatform apps

Key Characteristics

Detailed Timeline of Kotlin

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:12:58 +0200

2010:

Kotlin Project Starts: JetBrains begins development on Kotlin. The project aims to create a concise, elegant, expressive, and Java-interoperable language to reduce boilerplate code and introduce new constructs like higher-order functions.

July 2011:

Project Kotlin Public Release: JetBrains initially releases the language under the name “Project Kotlin.”

February 2012:

Kotlin Open-Sourced: JetBrains open-sources the Kotlin project under the Apache 2 license.

February 15, 2016:

Kotlin 1.0 Released: Kotlin reaches its first major milestone with the official 1.0 release, signalling its readiness for production use. It is highlighted as a pragmatic programming language for the JVM and Android, focusing on interoperability, safety, clarity, and tooling support. JetBrains reconfirms its long-term commitment to the project.

April 22, 2018 (or earlier):

Kotlin on MaasboDev

Kotlin Overview

Detailed Timeline of Kotlin