- Published on
Full-Stack Development with Kotlin Multiplatform
- Authors
- Name
- Patricia Dumontier
- X
- @polyglotmaster
Full-Stack Development with Kotlin Multiplatform
Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) transformed how I approached cross-platform development. I recently built a full-stack application that ran on Android, iOS, and desktop, with Ktor handling the backend and Compose Multiplatform powering the UI—all in Kotlin. Here’s what I accomplished and learned along the way.
What I Achieved
- Built a Full-Stack App: Created a single Kotlin codebase for clients and services.
- Explored the Multiplatform Wizard: Understood the project structure it generated.
- Developed Compose Clients: Crafted UIs that called Ktor services seamlessly.
- Reused Shared Types: Shared data models across my app’s layers.
- Configured Libraries: Integrated multiplatform libraries correctly.
Conclusion
Using Kotlin Multiplatform, I successfully built a full-stack app where one codebase powered Android, iOS, and desktop clients, plus a Ktor backend. The Multiplatform Wizard streamlined setup, Compose unified the UI, and shared types simplified development. Looking back, KMP proved to be a game-changer for my project—I’d recommend giving it a shot! For a detailed guide, check out the original tutorial on Ktor’s site. (https://ktor.io/docs/full-stack-development-with-kotlin-multiplatform.html)
JetBrains Fleet in Full-Stack Development with Kotlin Multiplatform
JetBrains Fleet is a lightweight, next-generation Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and editor from JetBrains, designed to support multiple languages and offer both local and cloud-based workflows.
I used Fleet during my full-stack development of a Kotlin Multiplatform application that targeted Android, iOS, and desktop platforms, with Ktor handling the backend. It became my go-to environment for writing and managing the shared Kotlin codebase, including the Ktor server logic and Compose Multiplatform UI. Fleet’s quick startup, polyglot support, and collaboration features streamlined my workflow, letting me seamlessly edit, debug, and test across all layers of the stack.
Polyglot support
"Polyglot support" refers to the ability of a tool, system, or environment—like JetBrains Fleet—to work with multiple programming languages seamlessly. The term "polyglot" comes from "poly" (many) and "glot" (tongue/language), meaning it can "speak" or handle various languages without requiring separate tools or significant reconfiguration.