Foreword

Every few years, there is a revolutionary new language that threatens to change the way that people write software. The reality seldom lives up to the hype. Kotlin is different. Since its creation back in 2011, it has slowly, almost imperceptibly, crept its way into codebases across the world. Developers who have used Java for so long and found it lacking have been able to sneak in a little Kotlin here and there. In so doing, they have shrunk the size—and increased the power—of their code.

Having gained some fame as the preferred language for Android development, Kotlin is now at a sufficiently mature stage that a book like this is desperately needed. With a wealth of useful tips, Kotlin Cookbook begins at the beginning. Ken shows you how to install Kotlin and configure it for your project. He shows how to run it in a Java environment, in a browser, or as a standalone application. But the book quickly moves on, solving the kind of day-to-day programming problems faced by developers and architects everywhere.

Although there is a section set aside for Kotlin testing, you will find that the book is itself test-driven. It uses tests as practical examples of how to use the language. The tests will allow you to adapt the recipes to fit your needs more precisely.

This book brings you the kind of straightforward, practical help that will guide your progress on your Kotlin journey. It’s the essential how-to Kotlin guide, and every developer should keep it on their desktop (real or virtual) to support their daily work.

Dawn and David Griffiths
Authors, Head First Kotlin
October 6, 2019