31 Days Of Kotlin
A summary of all the kotlin tips from Google's Android Developer Twitter account with the hastag #31DaysofKotlin
A Twitter Moment summary of all the tweets are here -> https://twitter.com/i/moments/980488782406303744
TODO
- Add code samples in this repo for all 31 days
- Create an app for quick reference
- Create ref app in the Play Store
Contents
Day 1 - let, apply, with and run
Day 2 - KTX view padding
Day 3 - Parcelable
Day 4 - Spans
Day 5 - Lambdas
Day 6 - Bundles
Day 7 - Type safe builders
Day 8 - KTX Content Values
Day 9 - KTX iterators for ViewGroup & SparseArray
Day 10 - Basic syntax
Day 11 - Operator overload
Day 12 - Sequence
Day 13 - KTX Graphics
Day 14 - Extension functions
Day 15 - By
Day 16 - KTX reified
Day 17 - @JvmName
Day 18 - inline
Day 19 - require
Day 20 - lateinit
Day 21 - lazy
Day 22 - sealed classes
Day 23 - default parameters
Day 24 - access modifiers
Day 25 - data classes
Day 26 - properties
Day 27 - ranges
Day 28 - when statement
Day 29 - KTX destructuring
Day 30 - string templates
Day 31 - elvis operator
Day 1 - let, apply, with and run
Let’s run with some standard Kotlin functions! Short and powerful, let, apply, with and run all have a receiver (this), may have an argument (it) and may have a return value. See the differences
Day 2 - KTX view padding
Extending existing APIs with default arguments usually makes everyone happy. Android KTX lets you set the padding on one side of a view using default parameters.
A one line function that saves so much code!
Code: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/view/View.kt#L117
Day 3 - Parcelable
Love the speed of Parcelable, but don’t like writing all that code? Say hello to Parcelize
Spec: https://github.com/Kotlin/KEEP/blob/master/proposals/extensions/android-parcelable.md
Day 4 - Spans
Powerful but hard to use - that’s how the text styling Spans API feels. Android KTX adds extension functions for some of the most common spans and makes the API easier to use
Android KTX: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/text/SpannableStringBuilder.kt
Day 5 - Lambdas
Lambdas are sweet. With last parameter call syntax, you can cleanup callbacks, Callable, and Runnable.
For example, Android KTX sweetens postDelayed with a small wrapper.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/lambdas.html Android KTX: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/os/Handler.kt#L38
Day 6 - Bundles
Bundle up, and get ready for the concise bundle creator in Android KTX. No more calls to putString, putInt, or any of their 20 friends.
One call will make you a new bundle, and it’ll even handle Arrays!
Code: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/os/Bundle.kt#L27
Day 7 - Type safe builders
[1/4] Specifically terrific? Domain specific languages can be made by using type safe builders. They make for clean APIs; and you can build them yourself too.
Extension Lambdas: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/lambdas.html#function-literals-with-receiver Type Safe Builders: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/type-safe-builders.html
Day 8 - KTX Content Values
Combine the power of Content Values with the brevity of Kotlin. Use the Android KTX Content Values creator and just pass a Pair<StringKey, Value>.
Android KTX: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/content/ContentValues.kt#L21
Day 9 - KTX iterators for ViewGroup & SparseArray
Iterators in interesting places? Android KTX adds iterators to ViewGroup and SparseArray
To define iterator extensions use the operator keyword. Foreach loops will use the extensions!
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/control-flow.html#for-loops Android KTX: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/view/ViewGroup.kt#L66
Day 10 - Basic syntax
[1/2] Utility methods for a class? Add them to the top level of the source file. In Java, they are compiled as static methods of that class.
Doc: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/basic-syntax.html
Day 11 - Operator overload
Write Kotlin (time * 2) faster with operator overloading. Objects like Path, Range or SpannableStrings naturally allow for operations like addition or subtraction. With Kotlin, you can implement your own operators
https://goo.gl/EGipGz https://goo.gl/iy8tZ9
Day 12 - Sequence
[1/2] Sequences are lists that never existed. A Sequence is a cousin of Iterator, lazily generating one value at a time. This matters when using map and filter - they’ll create Sequences instead of copying the list for every step!
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin.sequences/index.html
Day 13 - KTX Graphics
If you ever converted a Drawable to a Bitmap then you know how much boilerplate you need.
Android KTX has a great set of functions to make your code more concise when working with classes from the graphics package:
https://github.com/android/android-ktx/tree/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/graphics/drawable
Day 14 - Extension functions
[1/2] No more Util classes! Extend the functionality of a class by using extension functions. Put the name of the class you’re extending before the name of the method you’re adding.
Doc: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/extensions.html#extension-functions
Example: https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/net/Uri.kt#L28
Day 15 - By
Delegate your work to another class with by. Favor composition over inheritance with class delegation and reuse property accessor logic with delegator properties.
Delegation: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/delegation.html
Delegated properties: http://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/delegated-properties.html
Day 16 - KTX reified
To make the concept of reified concrete an example is in order: Context.systemService() in Android KTX uses reified to pass a "real" type via generics. No more passing classes to getSystemService! https://github.com/android/android-ktx/blob/master/src/main/java/androidx/core/content/Context.kt#L37
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/inline-functions.html#reified-type-parameters
Day 17 - @JvmName
Using Kotlin and Java in the same project? Do you have classes with top-level functions or properties?
By default, the compiler generates the class name as “YourFileKt”. Change it by annotating the file with @file:JvmName(“...“).
Doc: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/java-to-kotlin-interop.html#package-level-functions
Day 18 - inline
Can’t wait to use lambdas to make new APIs?
Get in line.
Kotlin lets you specify a function as inline - which means calls will be replaced with the function body. Breathe and make lambda-based APIs with zero overhead.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/inline-functions.html
Day 19 - require
[1/2] Are your function arguments valid? Check before using them, with require. If they’re not valid an IllegalArgumentException is thrown.
Doc: https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/require.html
Day 20 - lateinit
In Android, onCreate or other callbacks initialize objects. In Kotlin non-null vals must be initialized. What to do?
Enter lateinit. It's a promise: initialize me later! Use it to pinky-swear it will "eventually" be null safe
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/properties.html#late-initialized-properties-and-variables
Day 21 - lazy
It’s good to be lazy! Defer the cost of expensive property initialization until they’re actually needed, by using lazy. The computed value is then saved and used for any future calls.
Lazy: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/delegated-properties.html#lazy
Day 22 - sealed classes
[1/3] Kotlin sealed classes let you easily handle error data. When combined with LiveData you can use one LiveData to represent both the success path and the error path. Way better than using two variables.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/sealed-classes.html
Day 23 - default parameters
Is the number of method overloads getting out of hand? Specify default parameter values in functions.
Make the code even more readable with named parameters.
Doc: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/functions.html#default-arguments
Day 24 - access modifiers
In Kotlin, everything is public by default! Well, almost. Kotlin has a rich set of visibility modifiers you can use as well: private, protected, internal. Each of them reduces the visibility in a different way.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/visibility-modifiers.html
Day 25 - data classes
Creating classes with one role: to hold data? Mark them as “data” classes. The default implementation of equals() is generated (so are hashCode(), toString(), and copy()) and checks for structural equality.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/data-classes.html#data-classes https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/equality.html
Day 26 - properties
In Kotlin, classes can have mutable and read-only properties, with getters and setters generated by default. You can also implement custom ones if required.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/properties.html
Day 27 - ranges
For loops get superpowers when used with two other Kotlin features: range expressions and destructuring.
Ranges: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/ranges.html
Destructuring: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/multi-declarations.html#destructuring-declarations
Day 28 - when statement
A switch statement with superpowers? Kotlin’s when expression can match on just about anything. Literal values, enums, ranges of numbers. You can even call arbitrary functions!
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/control-flow.html#when-expression
Day 29 - KTX destructuring
Now with prisms? Android KTX uses destructuring to assign the component values of a color. You can use destructuring in your classes, or extend existing classes to add destructuring.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/multi-declarations.html
Day 30 - string templates
Formatting Strings? Refer to variables and expressions in string literals by putting $ in front of the variable name. Evaluate expressions using ${expression}.
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/basic-types.html#string-templates
Day 31 - elvis operator
Handling nulls in style? Check out the elvis operator ?:, to cut your “null-erplate”. It’s just a small bit of syntax sugar to replace nulls with a default value or even return!
Docs: https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/null-safety.html#elvis-operator
Thanks
Thanks to the Google Android Developer team for putting together this cool series of Kotlin info!