JetBrains has introduced Kotlin version 2.0 with a significant new feature, the new compiler called K2, which has been under testing since 2022 and is now stable. The highlight of K2 is the greatly improved compilation efficiency, nearly doubling, and its seamless integration with the IDE (IntelliJ IDEA) for faster code highlighting, with a 1.8x speedup for code completion and 1.5x faster code typing.
K2 now serves as the compiler to convert Kotlin code for use on other platforms, categorized into four broad types:
1. JVM (e.g., for Android applications)
2. JS for web development
3. Native for various platforms like iOS or desktop
4. WebAssembly (Wasm) for high-performance binary code in browsers
The integration of K2 as the standard compiler for Kotlin across all platforms (previously supporting only JVM and gradually expanding to other platforms) has greatly accelerated the support for Kotlin in various platforms in terms of features, performance, bug fixes, and overall efficiency.
Furthermore, K2 has enabled Kotlin to become a cross-platform programming language or Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) allowing seamless code sharing across platforms and supporting UI development with Compose Multiplatform. Google has also integrated the Jetpack Compose compiler into Kotlin developed by JetBrains.
TLDR:
JetBrains has released Kotlin 2.0 with the new K2 compiler, boosting compilation efficiency and enabling cross-platform development with Kotlin Multiplatform, supporting UI development with Compose Multiplatform.
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