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Qt / C++ VS Kotlin

Compare Qt / C++ VS Kotlin and see what are their differences

Qt / C++ logo Qt / C++

Qt is a great cross-platform development toolkit.

Kotlin logo Kotlin

Statically typed Programming Language targeting JVM and JavaScript
  • Qt / C++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28
  • Kotlin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09

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

Qt / C++ features and specs

  • Cross-platform compatibility
    Qt allows developers to write applications once and deploy them across multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. This significantly reduces development time and costs.
  • Rich set of libraries
    Qt provides a comprehensive set of libraries and tools for building both GUI and non-GUI applications, which helps developers create feature-rich applications without needing additional tools.
  • Strong community and support
    Qt has a large and active community, offering extensive documentation, forums, and third-party resources. This can assist developers in solving problems quickly.
  • Consistent API
    Qt offers stable and consistent APIs across versions, which helps in maintaining and updating applications with minimal effort.
  • Open-source availability
    Qt is available as an open-source framework under both commercial and LGPL licenses, providing flexibility for different types of projects.

Possible disadvantages of Qt / C++

  • Steep learning curve
    Qt, especially when used with C++, can have a steep learning curve for new developers due to its extensive framework and C++ complexity.
  • Commercial licensing costs
    While Qt is available as open-source, the commercial version can be expensive, particularly for small businesses or startups.
  • Binary size
    Applications built with Qt might result in larger binary sizes compared to applications developed with other frameworks, which could be a concern for resource-constrained environments.
  • Slightly outdated UI components
    Although Qt provides many UI components, some may appear dated compared to native components of modern operating systems, requiring custom styling for a modern look.
  • Limited mobile development features
    While Qt supports mobile platforms, it may not offer full access to native device features or as robust support as native mobile development tools, making it less ideal for certain mobile applications.

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.

Qt / C++ videos

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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 Qt / C++ and Kotlin)
Programming Language
15 15%
85% 85
OOP
19 19%
81% 81
Generic Programming Language
Development Tools
24 24%
76% 76

User comments

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Reviews

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

Qt / C++ Reviews

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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 Qt / C++. 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.

Qt / C++ mentions (13)

  • Check out my new drawing software PainterQt for Windows operating systems!!
    PainterQt is an open source drawing software written in C++ using Qt GUI creation technology. PainterQt is a personal project of mine that started with a few lines with the purpose of understanding how Qt's QPainter class works. The program grew and I decided to work on it in a serious project and then distribute it. I would love to see this dream of mine come true, so if you could take a look at the software and... Source: about 2 years ago
  • GUI programming in C++
    Qt Looks like native widgets Lots of functionality Event based - can both be intuitive to understand and complex, but is efficient for CPU for typical desktop applications Lots of resources available. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Maui vs the alternatives (Avalonia, Flutter, Electron, etc)
    Have you tried Qt? It's a cross-platform framework written in C++. There are also bindings for Qt for other languages that allow you to write code in such languages (like Python). Source: over 2 years ago
  • QML for Python and poor community !!
    Can you suggest some tutorials and sources for QML and Python , I can't find any helpful sources (videos on YouTube / Project in github ) , except the qt.io but it's not enough and there are a few examples there . Source: over 2 years ago
  • Point me in the right direction please.
    Well, since you mention Qt... Install it with the Online Installer (https://www.qt.io/download-qt-installer, then ignore all the talk about commercial version, you do want the open source version). Just one version of Qt, probably the latest. For Windows, choose MingGW version of Qt and check that the matching MinGW is set to be installed too. If you have trouble, check out the installation instructions (should be... 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 / about 2 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 / 6 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 / 9 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 / 10 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 / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Qt / C++ and Kotlin, you can also consider the following products

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

Gambas - Gambas is a full-featured object language and development environment built on a BASIC interpreter.

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

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language

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

Vala - Vala is a new programming language that aims to bring modern programming language features to GNOME...