Posts Tagged ‘TadeasKriz’
[KotlinConf2025] Dependencies and Kotlin Native
The world of dependency management is often taken for granted in the JVM ecosystem. However, when venturing into the realm of Kotlin Native, the familiar comforts of JAR files and class loaders fade, giving way to a more intricate and challenging landscape. In his insightful talk, Tadeas Kriz, a senior Kotlin developer at Touchlab, demystified this complex topic, offering a detailed comparison between JVM and native dependency handling and providing practical solutions for common issues.
Tadeas began by drawing a clear distinction between the two worlds. The JVM handles the heavy lifting of linking and loading dependencies at runtime, a process that is largely transparent to the developer. In contrast, Kotlin Native produces a standalone binary, which means the developer must contend with the nuances of native linking and compilation. This fundamental difference introduces a new set of challenges, particularly for those accustomed to the JVM’s seamless “it just works” experience.
He delved into the specifics of native platforms, examining dependency management tools like CocoaPods and Swift Package Manager used on Apple platforms. By comparing their strengths and weaknesses, Tadeas provided valuable context for how Kotlin Multiplatform fits into this ecosystem. He underscored the importance of understanding the native build process, a step that is often abstracted away but is crucial for troubleshooting the cryptic errors that can arise when integrating dependencies. He emphasized that static linking is often the most reliable approach in Kotlin Native, offering a more predictable and robust solution.
A significant portion of the talk was dedicated to practical workarounds and tools to overcome these challenges. Tadeas introduced a key concept: cinterop bindings, which are used to interact with C libraries from Kotlin Native code. He explained how to handle dynamic and static libraries and provided guidance on navigating the complexities of header file inclusion and symbol visibility. He also highlighted the utility of specific tools and practices, such as meticulously heeding build warnings, as they often contain clues to underlying issues.
Tadeas also brought attention to Skie, an open-source tool he co-authored, which addresses a key pain point for developers: the quality of the Kotlin Multiplatform API exposed to Swift. He explained that Skie enhances the generated Swift API, making it more idiomatic and easier for iOS developers to work with. He positioned it as a valuable solution for teams looking to improve their development workflow and collaboration while waiting for future features like Swift export. His talk provided a comprehensive guide, arming developers with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of dependencies in the Kotlin Native world with greater confidence and efficiency.