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Kotlin for Java Developers
Kotlin for Java Developers

Kotlin for Java Developers: Confidently transition from Java to Kotlin through hands-on examples and idiomatic Kotlin practices

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Profile Icon José Dimas Luján Castillo Profile Icon Ron Veen
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S$53.99
Paperback Oct 2025 414 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon José Dimas Luján Castillo Profile Icon Ron Veen
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S$53.99
Paperback Oct 2025 414 pages 1st Edition
eBook
S$38.99 S$43.99
Paperback
S$53.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
eBook
S$38.99 S$43.99
Paperback
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Renews at $19.99p/m

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Kotlin for Java Developers

An Introduction to Kotlin and Its Basic Types

In this chapter, we will look at the relationship between Kotlin and Java. We will study the basic elements of Kotlin, such as some types, and we will go through some recommendations to consider if you are starting with this language, and leverage your previous experience with Java to help you master Kotlin.

Before delving into the technical content, this chapter will highlight the strong points of Kotlin. We will explain why references to general elements of Java are necessary, covering not just new or old versions, but also providing a comprehensive view. The book will maintain a neutral tone, avoiding negative comparisons between languages. Our focus will be on the technical elements of both languages to optimize your prior knowledge of Java. We aim to introduce you to the world of Kotlin in a pleasant and engaging manner, explaining the dynamics of the book and studying the types available in Kotlin.

Kotlin offers several advantages...

Join our community on Discord!

https://packt.link/deep-engineering-javaIn this chapter, we will see the relationship between Kotlin and Java. We will be able to study basic elements of Kotlin, such as some types and I will explain some recommendations to consider, if we are starting with this language, and take advantage of previous experience with Java to master Kotlin.Before delving into the technical content, this chapter will highlight the strong points of Kotlin. We will explain that references to general elements of Java are necessary, covering not just new or old versions, but a comprehensive view. The book will maintain a neutral tone, avoiding negative comparisons between languages. Our focus will be on the technical elements of both languages to optimize your prior knowledge of Java. We aim to introduce you to the world of Kotlin in a pleasant and engaging manner, explaining the dynamics of the book and studying the types available in Kotlin.Kotlin offers several advantages...

Technical requirements

To begin we can use any text editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that the reader uses of their choice with the Java language, in my case I could recommend the IDE IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition (CE) This tool already comes with everything you need to work with both, Java and Kotlin. The list of requirements for this chapter are as follows:Software required (with version):

  • Java JDK 17 or higher
  • IntelliJ IDEA CE
  • Kotlin 1.x or 2.x

The code used in the chapters can be found on the book’s accompanying GitHub repository:https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Kotlin-for-Java-Developers-Beginner-to-Advanced

Looking at the origin

Kotlin is a language that has taken a relevant role in the world of software development in recent years. It has been linked to the Java programming language since its inception, and this is because the developers who created it used Java as a starting point. They used the concepts of Java, Groovy, C#, and Scala. Kotlin uses many features that can found in modern programming languages.Kotlin was created by JetBrains but it is also closely associated with Google, and this is because of Google's decision to make it its main language for the development of Android applications a few years ago.The reality is that Kotlin was born within the company JetBrains. The company decided to create a language that was completely interoperable with Java, but as we already mentioned, contained many modern language features. With the creation of Kotlin we can notice that they created a language that avoided being ambiguous, eliminating repetitive code, and increasing the speed...

Relationship between Java and Kotlin

At this point, we will see how we can find some similarities and differences between Java and Kotlin. We will emphasize very particular parts, in some we will not go in-depth since this book will have chapters to explain the points in detail. But we do want to share in this part with the reader what the points may be where the similarities arrive and what are the differences between the two. The main objective is for this to be the starting point to understand simple differences, but also to know that later we will explain the differences that are more complex and that deserve explanation in detail.

Kotlin and Java Virtual Machine

Kotlin is a programming language that works on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). In other words, this means that Kotlin needs a JVM installed on the device where we want our code to work. It is very common that when we start, we have many doubts about this, but later in this book, we will address the topic in detail.Although...

Types available in Kotlin

In this section, we are going to touch on the topics related to the variables and the types that are available. In this chapter, we will focus on the different types available in Kotlin, including their characteristics, behaviors, and how they contribute to safer and more expressive code. Understanding Kotlin’s type system is essential to writing robust applications, and this section will provide a clear overview of how types work and how to use them effectively.

Variables

As Kotlin is a technology that works with the JVM, we will find many similarities between Kotlin and Java. The topic of variables is no exception.The general concept of variables is the same in both Java and Kotlin. They are elements that serve to store information. At a technical level, we can say that it is memory space that is reserved to store some type of data. Different types of data are available for being able to adjust certain characteristics that we may need in our programs...

Summary

In this chapter, we have explored the foundations of Kotlin and its significance in the world of software development. We learned about Kotlin's origins, its association with Java, and its rise in popularity, particularly due to Google's adoption of Kotlin for Android development. We also discussed Kotlin's robust ecosystem, including various libraries and tools designed to tackle common development challenges, such as asynchronous programming, dependency management, and code quality improvement. Additionally, we introduced Kotlin's key features like null safety, type inference, and its full interoperability with Java.Understanding these foundational aspects is crucial as it highlights why Kotlin is a powerful and versatile language, helping developers write cleaner, more efficient code while leveraging their existing Java knowledge. The insights gained in this chapter prepare us for more advanced topics, enabling us to appreciate and effectively use Kotlin...

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Key benefits

  • 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

Description

This book is a hands-on programming guide for Java developers who want to gain practical, production-ready knowledge of Kotlin. Whether you’re maintaining Java systems or adopting Kotlin for Android, backend, or cross-platform projects, it will help you bridge the gap by building on your existing understanding of Java’s syntax and design principles. You’ll begin by learning why Kotlin was created and how it improves on Java – exploring types, expressions, control flow, and null handling while mapping each concept to familiar Java constructs. Each topic is introduced with clear purpose, showing how Kotlin’s concise syntax, safety features, and expressive APIs lead to cleaner, more maintainable code. As you progress, you’ll master object-oriented and functional programming, extension functions, smart casting, and interoperability with Java. The second half of the book dives into generics, data and sealed classes, coroutines for concurrency, and DSL design – demonstrating when and why to use these features to build scalable, elegant solutions. By the end, you’ll not only write idiomatic Kotlin but also understand the reasoning behind its design, enabling you to craft modern, reliable applications with confidence.

Who is this book for?

This book is for software developers who are proficient in Java and want to learn Kotlin for professional application development. It’s 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.

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
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Publication date : Oct 31, 2025
Length: 414 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781835884829
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Table of Contents

21 Chapters
Getting Started with Kotlin Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
An Introduction to Kotlin and Its Basic Types Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Interoperability, Gradle, and Maven Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Null and Non-Nullable Types Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Extension Functions and the Apply Function Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Object-Oriented Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Object-Oriented Programming Basics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Generics and Variance Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Data and Sealed Classes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Functional Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Basics of Functional Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Lambda Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Collections and Sequences Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Coroutines, Testing and DSLs Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Coroutines Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Synchronous and Asynchronous Programming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Kotlin Testing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Domain-Specific Languages in Kotlin Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Unlock Your Book’s Exclusive Benefits Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
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Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

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