Making development across platforms easier for developers

Do what works best for your business; whether you’re sharing both UI and business logic across multiple platforms with Flutter or development with Kotlin Multiplatform.

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Google
•
Maru Ahues Bouza, Brandon Badger
•3 min read•beginner•
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•View Original
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Overview

The article discusses how Google is simplifying cross-platform development for developers by recommending specific technologies and frameworks. It highlights the benefits of using Kotlin for Android development, Kotlin Multiplatform for sharing business logic, and Flutter for sharing both UI and business logic across platforms.

What You'll Learn

1

How to leverage Kotlin for Android app development

2

Why Kotlin Multiplatform is beneficial for sharing business logic

3

How to use Flutter for cross-platform UI and business logic sharing

Key Questions Answered

What programming language is recommended for Android development?
Kotlin is the recommended programming language for Android development as it allows developers to leverage the latest Android capabilities and provides access to modern UI toolkits like Jetpack Compose for high-quality app performance.
How can developers share business logic across multiple platforms?
Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) allows developers to share business logic across mobile, desktop, web, and server by compiling Kotlin code into platform-specific binaries, reducing code duplication and easing maintenance.
What is Flutter and when should it be used?
Flutter is Google's SDK for creating apps that share both UI and business logic across platforms. It is ideal for delivering a consistent user experience across Android, iOS, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

Technologies & Tools

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Programming Language
Kotlin
Recommended for Android app development to leverage unique capabilities.
Framework
Kotlin Multiplatform
Used for sharing business logic across mobile, desktop, web, and server.
SDK
Flutter
Recommended for sharing both UI and business logic across platforms.
Programming Language
Dart
Used in Flutter to create applications that compile to machine code and JavaScript.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Utilize Kotlin and Jetpack Compose to enhance your Android app development process.
Kotlin simplifies UI development with features like Live Edit and Compose UI previews, making it easier to create high-quality apps that leverage the full capabilities of the Android platform.
2
Consider using Kotlin Multiplatform to streamline your app's business logic across various platforms.
KMP reduces code duplication and maintenance efforts, allowing you to focus on building unique UI experiences for each platform while sharing core functionality.
3
Adopt Flutter for projects requiring a unified approach to UI and business logic across platforms.
Flutter's ability to compile Dart to machine code and JavaScript enables developers to create rich applications that perform well on multiple devices, enhancing user experience.

Common Pitfalls

1
Choosing the wrong technology stack for cross-platform development can lead to increased complexity and maintenance challenges.
It's important to assess your project requirements and team capabilities to select the most suitable frameworks and languages, ensuring a smoother development process.