[scarface74]

> Google has stated they are increasingly moving Android development to a Kotlin-first ideology

Wow if Google is behind it, where do I sign up? It’s definitely going to take off and not be abandoned.

I probably could even write some games I could release on Stadia.

I thought they were fully committed to Dart or was that last week?

[Mikeb85]

Kotlin is JetBrains only Google has blessed it...

Also compiled languages have longer staying power because if you move on from the language, you can still make use of the binaries but simply never write it again. Look at all the Fortran libs that are still in use by other languages...

[scarface74]

Yes and how popular do you think Kotlin would be without Google’s “blessing”?

[wiseowise]

Kotlin was recognized by Google because it was getting traction, not the other way around. Get your facts straight.

[jimbob45]

Kotlin is JetBrains, not Google. Even if Google declared bankruptcy tomorrow, it would still be under active development.

[metaltyphoon]

And how well was Kotlin doing before it was backed by Google?

[origin_path]

Very well. Google deciding to back it for Android wasn't some bold, out there decision. Android developers could already use kotlin, because of its Java interop. Google was just responding to pre-existing demand that the community was already generating.

That's why I don't think it makes much sense to treat kotlin in the same category as the other languages. Sure, it's a programming language, but the way JetBrains executed on it with its easy upgrade path from java and really excellent design, not to mention the toolchain, mean that it's success and trajectory cannot easily be generalized to other "weird languages".

[bcrosby95]

> Wow if Google is behind it, where do I sign up?

https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/