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IronPython VS Kotlin

Compare IronPython VS Kotlin and see what are their differences

IronPython logo IronPython

Development

Kotlin logo Kotlin

Statically typed Programming Language targeting JVM and JavaScript
  • IronPython Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-05-21
  • Kotlin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09

We recommend LibHunt Kotlin for discovery and comparisons of trending Kotlin projects.

IronPython features and specs

  • Integration with .NET
    IronPython is built on top of the .NET framework, allowing seamless integration with .NET libraries and tools. This is beneficial for developers who work in a .NET environment and want to use Python alongside other .NET languages like C#.
  • Performance
    IronPython can be faster than CPython for certain tasks due to its JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation feature built into the .NET framework. This can lead to performance improvements for specific applications.
  • Strong Typing
    Being part of the .NET ecosystem, IronPython can leverage the strong typing capabilities of .NET, which can lead to more reliable code, easier maintenance, and better tooling support through Visual Studio.
  • Cross-language Interoperability
    IronPython allows for easy interoperability between Python and other .NET languages, making it easier to build applications that might require features from multiple languages.

Possible disadvantages of IronPython

  • Limited Library Support
    Compared to CPython, IronPython has limited support for Python libraries, especially those that rely on C extensions, like NumPy and SciPy. This can pose challenges for developers who rely heavily on such libraries.
  • Development Activity
    IronPython's development and community activity have historically been less vigorous compared to CPython and other popular Python implementations, potentially leading to fewer updates and community resources.
  • Platform Specificity
    Being closely tied to the .NET framework, IronPython is best suited for Windows environments. Although .NET Core improves cross-platform capabilities, IronPython might still not be the best choice for Python applications intended for non-Windows platforms.
  • Python Version Support
    IronPython may lag behind CPython in supporting the latest Python features and versions. This could lead to compatibility issues if newer Python features are needed for a project.

Kotlin features and specs

  • Interoperability
    Kotlin is fully interoperable with Java, which means developers can use both languages within the same project and have seamless communications between them.
  • Conciseness
    Kotlin reduces boilerplate code, making the codebase easier to read and maintain. It offers concise syntax and reduces the amount of code.
  • Null Safety
    Kotlin's type system is designed to eliminate null pointer exceptions by making all types non-nullable by default, thus enhancing reliability and reducing runtime crashes.
  • Coroutines
    Kotlin provides built-in support for coroutines, which makes writing asynchronous code more straightforward and readable compared to traditional approaches.
  • Modern Language Features
    Kotlin includes advanced features such as lambda expressions, extension functions, higher-order functions, and more, improving productivity and providing more expressive code constructs.
  • Full Tooling Support
    Kotlin is supported by major IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, Android Studio, Eclipse, and others, with full tooling support including debugging, refactoring, and linting.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    Kotlin has a growing and vibrant community with extensive resources, libraries, and frameworks that support a wide range of programming needs.

Possible disadvantages of Kotlin

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its modern features, Kotlin has a learning curve, especially for developers who are more familiar with Java or other programming languages.
  • Compilation Speed
    Kotlin's compilation speed is often slower compared to Java, which can impact the development workflow, especially in larger projects.
  • Runtime Performance
    While Kotlin performs comparably to Java in many cases, there can be minor performance hits in certain scenarios due to additional language features.
  • Fewer Resources Compared to Java
    Although growing, Kotlin's ecosystem of libraries and frameworks is still smaller compared to Java's well-established and extensive ecosystem.
  • Tooling Maturity
    While support in major IDEs is robust, some third-party tools and plugins may not fully support Kotlin, leading to potential integration issues.
  • Android Specific Challenges
    In the context of Android development, some legacy libraries and tools might not be fully compatible with Kotlin, necessitating additional workarounds.
  • Job Market
    While demand for Kotlin developers is growing, Java still dominates the job market, which may limit opportunities for Kotlin-focused roles in certain regions.

Analysis of Kotlin

Overall verdict

  • Kotlin is highly regarded as a modern, safe, and efficient language for a variety of development tasks, specifically for Android app development.

Why this product is good

  • Modern features
    Kotlin offers modern programming features such as null safety, extension functions, and a concise syntax which make it more expressive and safer compared to some older languages.
  • Tooling support
    Kotlin is supported by leading IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio, providing efficient tools and plugins for a better development experience.
  • Interoperability
    It is fully interoperable with Java, allowing developers to gradually transition or integrate it into existing Java codebases without difficulties.
  • Community and backing
    Kotlin is backed by JetBrains and Google, with a growing community and a wealth of resources, tutorials, and libraries available.

Recommended for

    {"android_development" => "Kotlin is the preferred language for Android app development, officially supported by Google.", "modern_java_programming" => "Kotlin is recommended for developers looking to modernize Java-based applications or start new projects with a more modern language.", "multi-platform_projects" => "It is well-suited for multi-platform projects, as it can target JVM, Android, JavaScript, and native platforms efficiently."}

IronPython videos

Python Winforms Application in Visual Studio 2019 | IronPython Getting Started

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Code ASMR 💻 Soft Spoken IronPython Tutorial

Kotlin videos

10 reasons to try Kotlin for Android development

More videos:

  • Review - What can Kotlin do for me? (GDD Europe '17)
  • Review - Java or Kotlin for Android Development – Which One Is Better?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to IronPython and Kotlin)
Programming Language
23 23%
77% 77
OOP
29 29%
71% 71
Generic Programming Language
Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare IronPython and Kotlin

IronPython Reviews

We have no reviews of IronPython yet.
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Kotlin Reviews

Explore 9 Top Eclipse Alternatives for 2024
Cross-platform development with variants targeting JVM (Kotlin/JVM), JavaScript (Kotlin/JS), and native code (Kotlin/Native).
Source: aircada.com
Top 10 Rust Alternatives
The last computer programming language to stand out as an exceptional alternative to Rust is named Kotlin. It is typed statically and was manufactured for Java machines.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kotlin should be more popular than IronPython. It has been mentiond 81 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

IronPython mentions (18)

  • IronRDP: a Rust implementation of Microsoft's RDP protocol
    I think of IronPython and IronRuby and IronScheme, early attempts at Microsoft trying to combine cornmeal with .NET and open source and calling it a burrito.
      https://ironpython.net/.
    - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Python 3.13 Gets a JIT
    If you're interested in learning more about the challenges and tradeoffs, both Jython (https://www.jython.org/) and IronPython (https://ironpython.net/) have been around for a long time and there's a lot of reading material on that subject. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • How python's Multithreading differs from other languages
    There are several ways of bypassing the GIL. First of all, the GIL is only present in the C implementation of Python, CPython. Other implementations of Python like Jython, IronPython, and PyPy don't have the GIL. Additionally, Python provides the multiprocessing library, which allows for parallelism in your Python program. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Starting Python, confused about cross platform app development. Is IronPython + .NET the only option?
    I am not set on .NET, but just curious, so thanks for the suggestions. Interesting that it's billed as cross-plaform, but doesn't do it that well. I just searched 'python wrapper for .net' and found PythonNET. Also, it seems yes IronPython is active. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Scripting inside Rimworld with Unity: Impossible? With java it is a 3 liner.
    There are quite a lot of ways to run scripting languages in C#. I've no idea what JSR223 is but .NET has DLR for example. There are also multiple libraries: IronPython, NLua, Jint and Jurassic for Javascript. There's also older version of CS-Script working with .NET Framework. Source: over 2 years ago
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Kotlin mentions (81)

  • Doodle Weather Clone
    Doodle helps you create beautiful, modern apps entirely in Kotlin. Its render model is intuitive yet powerful, making it easy to achieve complex UIs with pixel level precision and layouts. This simplicity and power applies to everything from user input to drag and drop. Doodle lets you build and animate anything. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Kotlin vs. Java: A Grand Finale and Farewell (But Not Goodbye!)
    Kotlin Official Website: Your one-stop shop for all things Kotlin, with comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and resources: https://kotlinlang.org/. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Day 0 of #100daysofMiva || Setting up for success
    Next, I selected the technologies and frameworks I want to focus on during this challenge. For frontend development, I'll be exploring Reactjs, Vue.js, Bootstrap, Next.js, and MUI. For backend development, I'll be diving into Express, Django, Node.js, PHP, and Firebase. Additionally, I'll be learning Kotlin, React Native, and Flutter for mobile development, and APIs, PostgreSQL, Cloud, and MongoDB for full stack... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Better Animations... in Latest Doodle
    Doodle helps you create beautiful, modern apps entirely in Kotlin. Its render model is intuitive yet powerful, making it easy to achieve complex UIs with pixel level precision and layouts. This simplicity and power applies to everything from user input to drag and drop. Doodle lets you build and animate anything. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • The Top Programming Languages to Learn in 2024
    Kotlin, fully interoperable with Java, is increasingly used for Android app development. It offers a more concise syntax and improved safety features compared to Java, making it a modern language for mobile development. Discover more about Kotlin here. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing IronPython and Kotlin, you can also consider the following products

Go Programming Language - Go, also called golang, is a programming language initially developed at Google in 2007 by Robert...

JavaScript - Lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions

Crystal (programming language) - Programming language with Ruby-like syntax that compiles to efficient native code.

Python - Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java.

C++ - Has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features, while also providing the facilities for low level memory manipulation

Dart - A new web programming language with libraries, a virtual machine, and tools