Kotlin for the Curious

Learn to code in Kotlin by starting from scratch and gradually building skills to tackle a wide range of fun and challenging problems.

Kotlin is a programming language that combines the best features of Python and Java into a single, easy-to-use language that’s rapidly growing. Though Kotlin is primarily known for Android app development, this book establishes its broader credentials for general-purpose coding—complete with geeky, hands-on projects that will take you from total beginner to proficient Kotlin developer.

After learning the basics of the language and integrating the JavaFX library to generate graphics and data visualizations, you’ll apply your knowledge to over 30 math, science, and algorithmic challenges of increasing complexity. You’ll model the motion of a pendulum, simulate the orbits of a binary star system, render enchanting fractals like the Mandelbrot set, implement ant colony optimization and other nature-inspired algorithms, and much more. Beyond the specifics of the Kotlin language, the book’s many projects will teach you how to think methodically and use code to solve problems. You’ll also learn about generally applicable computer science topics such as randomness, recursion, sorting and searching, genetic algorithms, and optimization.