Groovy vs Kotlin | Popularity, Salary, Performance, Features, and Applications
If you want to develop full-stack web applications, desktop applications, microservices, automation tools, testing specification tools, etc. you should learn Groovy.
Groovy is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of purposes. It is primarily a multi-faceted language for the Java platform. Meaning, whatever, you can do with Java, you can also do with Groovy.
On the other hand, if you want to work on web frontend, server-side applications, multiplatform mobile apps, Android applications, and Data Science projects, you should learn Kotlin.
Kotlin is a cross-platform, general-purpose, high-level programming. It is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the JVM version of Kotlin’s standard library depends on the Java Class Library.
Comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn can be tricky, there are many factors to consider in order to choose the right programming language for the job you want to do.
Popularity, opportunities, types of projects, salaries, resources, learning curve, etc. are some of the factors that many people consider when comparing programming languages and choosing which one to learn.
Here are some of the comparisons and considerations you should make when choosing to learn a new programming language.
GROOVY VS KOTLIN POPULARITY
Comparing the popularity of programming languages is not an easy task because each programming language is different and they all seek to solve different problems.
Plus, other programming languages have been around for a longer time than others, giving them more time to be tried and tested, so, bear that in mind.
If you want to learn a programming language solely for its popularity among developers, you should learn Kotlin over Groovy.
Generally, Kotlin is more popular than Groovy. As of July 2023, The TIOBE index ranks Kotlin as the 26th most popular programming language while Groovy does not appear in the top 50 programming languages.
Further, according to a Stack Overflow survey of 2023, Kotlin is the 15th most commonly used programming language, it is used by 9.06% of developers.
On the other hand, Groovy is the 25th most commonly used programming language, it is used by 3.4% of developers according to the same survey.
Further, Kotlin is also admired by many developers than Groovy. Kotlin is admired by 60.77% of developers while Groovy is admired by 29.97% of developers.
Ultimately, if your choice of which programming language to learn depends on popularity, you should learn Kotlin vs Groovy.
Is Kotlin enough to get a Job? Find Out
GROOVY VS KOTLIN SALARY
Another popular criterion that many people use to compare programming languages and as an incentive to learn a new programming language is salary.
Salaries for developers differ from one company to the other and from one country to the other.
Experience is another factor that comes into play as far as salaries are concerned.
The more experience you have with a certain technology or programming language, the more likely you are of getting a higher salary.
Generally, Groovy developers get higher salaries than Kotlin developers. According to a Stack Overflow survey of top-paying programming languages in 2023, Groovy developers get a median salary of $86,271 per year
On the other hand, Kotlin developers get a median salary of $78,207 per year, about $8,000 less than Groovy developers.
Here are 10 Programming Languages that Pay more than $90,000
So, if the salary is your major incentive for learning a language, you should learn Groovy over Kotlin, because you are more likely to get a higher salary as a Groovy developer than as a Kotlin developer.
Is Groovy Worth Learning? Find out
GROOVY VS KOTLIN WHICH ONE IS EASIER
Both Kotlin and Groovy are relatively easy to learn, especially if you already have experience with Java.
However, Kotlin is generally considered easier to learn than Groovy, especially for beginners. Kotlin’s syntax is more concise and expressive than Groovy’s.
The good news is that there are plenty of helpful resources for both Kotlin and Groovy to help you learn the languages.
The Kotlin and Groovy communities are very active and helpful, in case you get stuck with something.
GROOVY VS KOTLIN FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS
GROOVY
Groovy seamlessly and transparently integrates and interoperates with Java and any third-party libraries.
If you’re interested in working with Java or you are already using Java, you will find Groovy a great addition to Java. Most valid Java files are also valid Groovy files.
The added advantage is that Groovy code can be more compact than Java’s because it does not need all the elements that Java needs. This makes it very easy for Java developers to learn Groovy.
This integration enables developers to leverage the full power of the JVM and build robust, scalable solutions.
Groovy power some of the applications developed by companies such as Cisco, Netflix, LinkedIn, Airbus, MTV, Google, IBM, Oracle, Target, Sony, SKY, UBS, Walmart, Vodafone, SAS, Mastercard, Nestle, Carriots, Credit Suisse, HypoPort, JPMorganChase, Commerzbank, Roche, Wells Fargo, CarFax and many others.
KOTLIN
Kotlin is a modern programming language that makes it very easy to write server-side applications and develop Android apps.
In 2017, Google announced that the Kotlin programming language is now its preferred language for Android app developers.
Another great feature of Kotlin is its interoperability with other languages like Java. This makes it easy to call JVM frameworks and libraries in a Kotlin codebase and vice-versa without issues.
As a result, developers can add more functionality to their Kotlin projects seamlessly using Java libraries and frameworks.
Kotlin powers some of the complex applications developed by companies like Google, Atlassian, Corda, Amazon, JetBrains, Pinterest, Under, Netflix, Duolingo, OLX, Evernote, Coursera, Gradle, Spring, and many others.
GROOVY VS KOTLIN PERFORMANCE
In general, Kotlin provides better performance than Groovy. This is because Kotlin is statically typed, which means that the type of a variable is checked at compile time, rather than at runtime.
This can help to prevent errors and make code more reliable, which can lead to better performance.
However, there are some cases where Groovy can provide better performance than Kotlin.
It is important to note that performance can be influenced by various factors, such as the specific use case, algorithms, and optimizations applied within the code.
While Kotlin generally offers better performance than Groovy, it’s always advisable to benchmark and profile your code to identify any potential bottlenecks or areas for optimization specific to your application.
SHOULD I LEARN GROOVY OR KOTLIN
Once you have compared the languages and evaluated all the factors, you can choose which programming language to learn depending on the factors that are on your side and what you want to build.
If you want a high-paying language that you can use to develop full-stack web applications, desktop applications, microservices, automation tools, testing specification tools, etc. you should learn Groovy over Kotlin.
If you want a popular language that can help you work on Android applications, server-side applications, web frontends, and multiplatform mobile applications, you should learn Kotlin over Groovy.