Kotlin 2.0 and beyond by Anton Arhipov

Explore Kotlin 2.0's new compiler, enhanced features, and future developments. Learn about multiplatform capabilities, DSL improvements, and the language's evolving ecosystem.

Key takeaways

Kotlin 2.0 features a rewritten front-end compiler (K2) that provides significant performance improvements, with up to 2x faster compilation in some projects
Smart casts functionality has been enhanced and now works better with data flow analysis, allowing for more intelligent type inference
Key language features that changed how developers write code include:
- Null safety
- Extension functions
- Type inference
- DSL capabilities
- Lambda with receiver
Kotlin is now a multi-platform language supporting:
- JVM backend
- Native platforms
- WebAssembly
- Android as primary platform
New experimental features coming in future releases:
- Context receivers
- String interpolation improvements
- Enhanced type system capabilities
- Better data-oriented programming support
DSLs (Domain Specific Languages) remain a core strength, with improved builder patterns and type-safe capabilities
Kotlin development prioritizes:
- Backwards compatibility
- Tooling support
- Careful feature introduction with experimental phases
- Community feedback for new features
Evolution from alternative JVM language to full ecosystem:
- Started in 2011
- Version 1.0 released with core features
- Gradual feature additions post 1.0
- Now includes comprehensive standard library and framework support

Kotlin 2.0 and beyond by Anton Arhipov

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