At KotlinConf 2025, JetBrains teased a number of the new options which are coming to Kotlin within the subsequent replace to the language.
“From thrilling language and ecosystem updates and strong AI instruments that empower Kotlin improvement to main Kotlin Multiplatform milestones and a strategic partnership for the backend, KotlinConf 2025 introduced a wave of stories that set the tone for the yr forward,” JetBrains wrote in a weblog publish.
In Kotlin 2.2, builders can look ahead to guard situations in when-with-subject, multi-dollar interpolation, non-local break and proceed, and context parameters.
JetBrains additionally revealed some language options that shall be added to future releases after 2.2, together with positional destructuring, name-based destructuring, enhanced nullability, wealthy errors, must-use return values, and ‘CheckReturnValue.’
The K2 compiler is now the default compiler in IntelliJ IDEA 2025.1, leading to important decreases in compilation time. In response to JetBrains, utilizing K2 for the IntelliJ monorepo that features most JetBrains initiatives and comprises over 12 million traces of Kotlin code decreased compilation time by over 40%.
JetBrains defined that having the K2 compiler prepared is enabling the Kotlin staff to be extra assured within the stability of compiler internals, permitting them to start work on designing a brand new secure compiler plugin API for the frontend. It will lengthen the compiler with customized checks and code era.
The corporate can be persevering with improvement of Amper, an experimental Kotlin and JVM construct software. It now has a transparent configuration path, IDE assist, and error reporting.
Updates to Kotlin Multiplatform embody a brand new plugin for IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio, an experimental launch of Swift Export that’s coming to Kotlin 2.2.20, secure model of Compose Multiplatform for iOS, and Compose Scorching Reload.
Different updates from KotlinConf 2025 embody:
- Open-sourcing of Koog, a framework for growing AI brokers in Kotlin
- Updates to Kotlin/Wasm, similar to quicker incremental builds, smaller output binaries, and a greater developer expertise
- Partnership with the Spring staff to enhance Kotlin for server-side work
- Ktor 3 updates like enhanced configuration assist, server-sent occasions, and WebAssembly assist
- Kotlin Language Server Protocol (LSP) and a brand new Kotlin extension for Visible Studio Code are within the early phases of improvement
