Performance of Kotlin Applications
Performance of Kotlin Applications
Summary:
The book "Kotlin Application Performance" is a practical guide for developers striving to write fast, efficient, and scalable code in the Kotlin language. The author, Alexey Petrov, an experienced developer and architect, shares proven optimization techniques that will help you get the most out of your application.
What is this book about?
The book covers all key aspects of Kotlin application performance, starting from the basic principles of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and ending with advanced profiling and garbage collection tuning techniques. You will learn:
- How the Kotlin compiler and JIT compilation work, and how this affects execution speed.
- Secrets of efficient memory management: avoid leaks, optimize allocations, and use data structures correctly.
- Profiling real applications — from simple tools (jconsole, VisualVM) to modern profilers (IntelliJ Profiler, async-profiler).
- Optimization of coroutines and channels: how to avoid blocking and maximize CPU usage.
- Performance specifics of Kotlin/Native and Kotlin/JS: what you need to know for multiplatform projects.
- Writing performance tests and benchmarks using JMH.
Who is this book for?
The book will be useful for:
- Java and Kotlin developers who want to gain a deeper understanding of the language's internals and the JVM.
- Architects and technical leads responsible for the performance of server and mobile applications.
- Students and beginner developers who want to write high-quality, fast code from the start.
- Anyone working with Android, backend on Ktor or Spring, as well as multiplatform projects.
What will you learn after reading?
- How to find and eliminate bottlenecks in code using profilers.
- How to properly use inline functions, lambdas, and reified generics to speed up execution.
- How to configure the garbage collector (G1, ZGC, Shenandoah) for specific tasks.
- How to write code that runs equally fast on JVM, Native, and JS.
- How to avoid common mistakes that kill performance (e.g., excessive object creation, improper use of collections).
The book contains numerous code examples, graphs, and practical exercises. All examples are available for download and testing. Regardless of your current level, "Kotlin Application Performance" will become your desktop reference for optimization.
Happy reading and fast code!