Android and iOS Code Sharing Technology, Namespace Prototype, Code Coverage Plug-In, and Documentation Generation Tool Also in the Works
The roadmap for Kotlin, JetBrains’ programming language for JVM, JavaScript, and Android development, has been updated to reflect the project’s advancements in areas such as the compiler and mobile functionality.
Plans for Kotlin 1.7.0 and beyond were detailed in a bulletin published by JetBrains on November 10. Kotlin 1.5.31 is the latest version available, as of November 15.
JetBrains said the focus of the compiler work was on bringing the K2 compiler front end to an alpha state. K2 promises to be a speedier compiler for the language, with the front end responsible for code analysis and transformation to an intermediate representation. The planned K2 alpha release will preview a new plug-in infrastructure that will lay the groundwork for the development of more tools. Kotlin’s developers are also investing in support for non-JVM back ends, which would allow multiplatform projects to be built with K2.
In addition to the compiler advancements, the roadmap outlines several key developments:
- Kotlin Multiplatform Mobile (KMM): This technology for sharing code between platforms including iOS and Android is moving to a beta release in Spring 2022. The update addresses issues affecting code highlighting, navigation, completion, debugging, and build tool stability. Improvements are also being made in concurrency.
- Namespace Prototype: A new prototype for a namespace concept is planned, which would provide an ephemeral object that every class automatically possesses. Namespace members would be compiled down to static members of the JVM. This change aims to enhance interoperability with Java static methods and enable extensions of Java static methods.
- Kover Gradle Plug-In: The introduction of Kover, a Gradle plug-in to measure code coverage, is noted in the roadmap, which will help developers better understand their test coverage.
- Kotlin Playground: The web-based tool for learning, prototyping, and sharing knowledge is being made more mobile-friendly, enhancing its accessibility and usability on various devices.
- Dokka Documentation Tool: Work on Dokka, a documentation generation tool, is progressing, with plans to promote it to beta in the upcoming 1.6.0 release of Kotlin.
- Internal Infrastructure Improvements: Plans are in place to enhance internal infrastructure to improve the adoption of Kotlin IDE plug-ins, making it easier for developers to integrate and use new features.
These updates and new features highlight Kotlin’s commitment to advancing its compiler technology and expanding its capabilities for mobile development, aiming to provide a more efficient and versatile development experience.