JetBrains’ Enhanced Compiler Enters Beta Stage Across All Platforms for Universal Kotlin Project Integration
JetBrains has announced the release of Kotlin 1.9.20, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Kotlin language. This latest version brings the K2 compiler, a high-performing and eagerly anticipated tool, to its beta stage. The K2 compiler, which has been under rigorous development, is now available for all platforms supported by Kotlin, including the JVM, native, JavaScript, and WebAssembly. This means developers can begin experimenting with K2 in their Kotlin projects across a wide range of environments.
The K2 compiler represents a major advancement in Kotlin’s compilation capabilities. JetBrains has designed it to deliver substantial improvements in compilation performance, making it a key feature of Kotlin 1.9.20. Although K2 is currently in beta, it is expected to reach full production readiness with the forthcoming Kotlin 2.0 release. The introduction of K2 aims to accelerate language feature development and unify the Kotlin ecosystem across different platforms, providing a more cohesive and efficient architecture for multiplatform projects.
In addition to the K2 compiler, Kotlin 1.9.20 brings enhancements to the kapt compiler plug-in, integrating K2 support to further streamline the development process. This integration is expected to enhance the overall efficiency of annotation processing and contribute to faster build times. Developers working on Kotlin projects will benefit from these performance improvements, particularly in large-scale applications where build times can be a critical factor.
Kotlin 1.9.20 also includes stabilizations for Kotlin Multiplatform, the cross-platform development technology that allows developers to share code across different platforms. The new release introduces a default hierarchy template designed to simplify the setup of multiplatform projects, making it easier for developers to get started with Kotlin Multiplatform and manage their codebases more effectively.
Other notable updates in this version include performance improvements for the garbage collector in Kotlin/Native, which should lead to better runtime efficiency and reduced memory overhead. Additionally, Kotlin 1.9.20 expands support for WebAssembly with the inclusion of the WASI (WebAssembly System Interface) API in the standard library for Kotlin/Wasm. This enhancement aims to broaden the scope of Kotlin’s capabilities in the WebAssembly ecosystem, enabling more robust and versatile web applications.
Overall, Kotlin 1.9.20 represents a significant step forward for the Kotlin language, with major improvements in compiler performance, cross-platform development, and runtime efficiency. The beta release of the K2 compiler marks an exciting development for Kotlin developers, setting the stage for future enhancements and the eventual release of Kotlin 2.0.