Written by José Dimas Luján and Ron Veen - seasoned developers with deep expertise in Java and Kotlin - this practical guide teaches Kotlin through side-by-side Java comparisons, real-world examples, and clear explanations of modern language features.
Key Features
Learn Kotlin by drawing direct comparisons to core Java concepts Understand null safety, coroutines, extension functions, and DSLs through practical examples Use Kotlin confidently in backend, Android, and cross-platform development Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book DescriptionThis book is a hands-on programming guide designed for developers who are fluent in Java and want to gain working knowledge of Kotlin. Whether you're maintaining Java systems or adopting Kotlin for Android, backend, or cross-platform development, this book teaches Kotlin in a way that leverages your existing understanding of Java's syntax and structure. The book opens with the basics of Kotlin types, expressions, and control flowmapping each feature to its Java counterpart to build fluency quickly. You'll then explore object-oriented and functional programming constructs, understand how Kotlin improves null handling, and learn when and how to apply Kotlin's concise features like extension functions, coroutines, DSLs, and smart casting. Youll also learn how Kotlin interoperates with Java, configure Kotlin in Maven and Gradle projects, and use modern Kotlin tooling. Later chapters cover Kotlin's use in backend and cross-platform applications, giving you a rounded understanding of how and where to apply the language effectively. By the end of the book, youll be able to read and write idiomatic Kotlin, refactor Java code, and structure Kotlin projects with confidence.What you will learn
Write Kotlin programs using variables, functions, and control flow Model real-world data with classes, properties, and constructors Handle missing data safely with nullable types and safe calls Simplify logic using lambdas and extension functions Work with Kotlin collections and sequences to process data efficiently Use Kotlin with Java, Gradle, and Maven for seamless project builds Write non-blocking code using coroutines and Async flows Create custom DSL for your projects
Who this book is forThis book is for software developers who are proficient in Java and want to learn Kotlin for professional application development. Its especially relevant for Android engineers, JVM backend developers, and full-stack programmers who maintain or extend Java systems. Familiarity with core Java syntax and object-oriented programming is expected.
