Java, Kotlin, & Scala

Coding languages and product requirements are both things that can constantly be evolving, sometimes at the same time. Maybe you’re working on a project with your team, and the client suddenly changes the product’s code… it happens. Whatever the case, choosing the correct language for your project is crucial.

We could write you an in-depth article on the features and requirements of Java, Kotlin, and Scala, but then this piece would be more noise in the countless sea of similar content you can find on Google, and where is the value in that?

Instead, we thought we’d do a small comparison of each language, highlight a little bit of their uses from a business perspective and then go from there! We don’t want to assume everyone is a coding mastermind (our blog writer certainly isn’t!) so we’ll keep it clear, simple, and relatively jargon free.

But after we’ve got that out of the way, we catch up with some of our developers to ask their thoughts on each of these languages and how they adapt to rapidly changing product specs and requirements. We hope it gives fellow geeks insight into self-organisation and management in a Mindera team!

Java Explained

Many will have heard of Java; it’s undoubtedly a popular coding language. It’s well-known for its flexibility and wide-scale use, especially with its “write once, run anywhere” principle. This makes it super useful for running on different devices and operating systems without needing to be rewritten. It's great for building large apps. We’ve got loads of passionate Minders skilled in Java too!

Kotlin Explained

Much like Java, Kotlin is also a general-purpose, statically typed programming language. Kotlin was developed to combat some limitations of Java. “Null safety” (variables always have data assigned to them) and concise syntax are some features of this coding language (compared to Java which has a more verbose syntax). This, in a nutshell, means our devs can code more efficiently. The majority of Kotlin developers still use the language for developing Android and server-side applications. More than 10 per cent use Kotlin for mobile platform development, and this number continues to grow.

Kotlin is also pretty easy to integrate with Java projects which can be great if a project’s language changes mid-roadmap. And, of course, we also have epic Minders skilled in this too!

Scala Explained

If you’re looking for advanced features, then Scala could for sure be something to consider. This language stands out with a combination of object-oriented and functional programming paradigms. It’s handy for building high-performance and scalable apps. Scala allows devs to write concise and expressive code, which can help maintain and reuse software.

From a business perspective

You may wonder what each language offers from a business perspective when considering what to go with for your product development.

Firstly, let's consider Java. This is great for projects that need to run on different devices and operating systems; separate versions don’t need to be developed for each platform when using this, meaning precious time and resources can be saved! Additionally, Java is considered super reliable and stable, with a vast community of developers knowledgeable in the code.

If you’re looking for speed, then Kotlin is definitely a great shout. Apps can be developed faster due to more concise and efficient syntax, which can ultimately reduce the code required. Kotlin also works great with any existing Java code, so projects can be integrated faster. With null safety, apps can be more reliable too!

Scala is fantastic for flexible yet powerful code, allowing apps to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Code can also be considered more readable and maintainable as well as scalable. Like Kotlin, Scala is also compatible with Java.

The down low with our Devs

We had a chat with some of our backend devs on all this!

Alex Dunlop caught up with us on how:

“Both Kotlin and Scala will run existing Java code, and the same development environments can be used, which makes the transition from Java easier. Java is typically slow to adopt new features, and these JVM-type languages deal with these limitations while staying in the same environment. While Java now supports some functional programming, I much prefer the way it is supported by design with Scala or Kotlin. We have an active Java community at Mindera who are actively supporting training in Kotlin, and Mindera encourages self-development in areas such as these.”

Sirisha Chalumuri talked about Java and Kotlin, changing product requirements, and self-organisation:

Java Vs Kotlin:

“In my experience, Kotlin has proven to be more advanced than Java in various aspects. Despite having a smaller community, it seems like there will be a significant shift from Java to Kotlin. Many of the new features in Java 17, such as functional programming, sealed classes, records, and string interpolation, are already present in Kotlin. However, in my personal opinion, Kotlin may require more effort to understand initially and continuous practice to acquire proficiency, whereas Java is simpler to comprehend. Nonetheless, Java has caught up with Kotlin in terms of new features, although it may have been a bit delayed in doing so.”

Changing Product Requirements:

“It is important to conduct a thorough initial analysis and design a solution before proceeding with any proposition. This helps to anticipate and address potential uncertainties that may arise during development, which could result in changing product requirements. Nonetheless, adapting to changing requirements at any stage is necessary to ensure that the customer receives a functional product. It is crucial to identify the root causes of changing requirements and learn from them to avoid repeating similar mistakes in the future.”

Self-Organisation:

“I completely agree that self-organising is a great way to increase efficiency and productivity in the IT industry. It enables individuals to take ownership of their work and be accountable for the results they achieve. By doing so, everyone becomes an important part of the team and works towards a common goal. This approach ensures that everyone has a say in how the project is handled and allows for better communication and collaboration. Ultimately, this leads to better results and a more satisfied customer.”

Mayank Sharma discussed:

“Kotlin is a language of many forms; there are multiple ways to write the same piece of code, whether functional or declarative. It has no one correct way to identify the best way to write code. Understanding the standard that is considered best requires a great understanding of the language itself. Some features like coroutines for reactive programming in Kotlin can be very useful. It feels more modern though abstracted and reduces the lines of code by a huge amount. But we are constantly getting new developments in Java with each new update which is closing the gap.”

Final Thoughts

Java, Kotlin, and Scala are great coding languages to consider when starting a new project, and they all offer their own unique benefits while still being compatible with JVM.

With Java being reliable, flexible and stable, as well as having a vast community, it’s a great place to start on new products; it’s also cross-platform compatible. Although if you’re looking for speed and a more concise syntax, there are definitely other options.

Kotlin is one to use if you want faster development with less code; it also integrates with any Java code too, which can be pretty convenient if your product’s requirements change!

Finally, Scala is a cool option for flexible and powerful code and is excellent with apps handling multiple tasks simultaneously.

Having a team on the product that can effectively deal with changing requirements and use self-organised principles can help the product roadmap move along smoothly.

If you’re looking to work with a team that knows their stuff on Java, Kotlin, and Scala for your next product, get in touch!

If you’re a keen dev with knowledge in any of these languages and you’re looking for your next challenge, check out our vacancies!