JetBrains: Embracing the Power of Kotlin for Gradle Builds

JetBrains has always been devoted to crafting better, more efficient builds to streamline developers’ experiences. To this end, the inclusion of Kotlin in build scripts and Gradle plugins appears to be a natural fit, thanks to the language’s impressive features that are apt for creating a domain-specific language (DSL). JetBrains’ commitment to optimizing developers’ experiences has led to the evolution of Kotlin’s domain-specific language (DSL) as the default language for new Gradle builds.

From Introduction to Default: Kotlin in Gradle

Since its introduction into Gradle, JetBrains has made significant strides with Kotlin, and the Kotlin DSL has now assumed its rightful position as the default language for new Gradle builds. Consequently, the Kotlin DSL has become the preferred choice in plugins and documentation. Kotlin’s advanced features such as first-class functions and extension methods enhance and streamline the best parts of Gradle scripts.

This progress can be attributed to the successful collaboration among JetBrains, Google, and Gradle. The Kotlin DSL has matured considerably, and its latest version is more efficient and user-friendly. Additionally, Google has announced its decision to use Kotlin DSL as the default script for Gradle build files for Android applications.

Google, Gradle, and JetBrains will persist in their efforts to establish a unified coding style and define idioms to improve code quality for Kotlin users. In this article, we will delve into the prime advantages of using the Kotlin DSL for writing Gradle scripts and discuss the existing IDE support capabilities for build.gradle.kts files.

The Superiority of Kotlin DSL Over Groovy

Kotlin brings a host of strengths to the table, making Kotlin DSL an optimal choice for writing build scripts and Gradle plugins. If you’re wavering about switching from Groovy to Kotlin for your Gradle build files for Android, consider the top four advantages of using Kotlin:

1. Compilation Checks: Unlike Groovy, a dynamic language, Kotlin is a statically typed language. This difference means that when you use the Kotlin DSL, build script errors are evident immediately upon compilation, without the need to execute the build. In contrast, dynamic type checking won’t detect errors until the build script has been run. These compile-time checks allow you to rectify issues more promptly, and when using an IDE, these errors are flagged in your editor.
2. Improved IDE Experience: Given that there is more semantic information available about the code, users can fully exploit IDE features such as autocomplete, source code navigation, and refactoring. IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio currently provide the most comprehensive environment for Kotlin. However, other IDEs can import and work with builds based on the Kotlin DSL.
3. Simplified Declarative Plugin Syntax: The Kotlin DSL offers a unique syntax compared to the traditional Groovy DSL, retaining the benefits inherent to the Kotlin language. The Kotlin DSL enables a simplified process when adding a Gradle plugin to a project, requiring just the plugin ID. An example would be applying the ‘application’ plugin with the Groovy DSL, whereas the Kotlin DSL simply needs “application” as input. Moreover, the IDE flags any syntax errors when applying non-existent plugins.
4. Thriving Kotlin Developer Community: Kotlin boasts a large community of passionate developers who actively contribute to the language, libraries, and Gradle plugins. The community’s proactive approach and growth have resulted in an abundance of useful resources, including official Kotlin documentation, forums, blogs, social media threads, and online training. Access to these resources simplifies users’ quest for solutions and enhances their learning experience.

Transitioning from Groovy to Kotlin DSL

The compelling features and benefits of Kotlin DSL make it a compelling choice for enhancing productivity and creating high-performance software. If you’re considering migrating an existing Gradle build from Groovy to the Kotlin DSL, JetBrains has provided a detailed tutorial. For Android developers, there’s a comprehensive guide on converting your Android app’s Gradle build files from Groovy to KTS.

While Gradle continues to support the Groovy DSL, it advises against migrating large projects with complex build logic using Groovy DSL at this time. However, as Kotlin becomes the default DSL for Gradle, JetBrains is confident that it will provide a superior experience in writing and editing build scripts. JetBrains continues its dedication to the development of tools laden with features for building efficient applications. Whether you are a developer looking to migrate an existing Gradle build from Groovy to Kotlin DSL or an Android developer seeking to convert Gradle build files from Groovy to KTS, there is a wealth of resources to assist you in these tasks.