Java & Kotlin: Java and Kotlin are the primary official languages used for developing native Android apps. But have you ever wondered why the core components of the Android OS—like the Kernel, Hardware APIs, and Drivers—are written in low-level programming languages such as C and C++? (Recently, support for Rust has also been introduced.)

This often leads me to question why we don’t use C and C++ for building Android apps, even though they are integral to the OS itself.

There are several key reasons why Android apps are predominantly developed in Java (and Kotlin) rather than C or C++, despite the core Android OS relying heavily on these lower-level languages.

There are a few key reasons why Android apps are primarily written using Java instead of C or C++, even though the core Android OS is written in C/C++:

1. Ease of development:

   • Java has a simpler and more beginner-friendly syntax compared to the complexity of C/C++.

   • Java provides higher-level abstractions and a rich set of libraries that make app development faster and more productive.

2. Safety and memory management:

   • Java has automatic memory management through its garbage collector, which helps prevent common memory-related bugs like memory leaks.

   • C/C++ require manual memory management, which can be error-prone and lead to crashes if not handled properly.

3. Platform independence:

   • Java’s byte-code can run on any platform with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), making it more portable.

   • C/C++ code is typically more platform-specific and requires additional porting work.

4. Android SDK and tooling:

   • The official Android SDK and development tools from Google are primarily designed for Java development.

   • While C/C++ can be used for Android development, the tooling and ecosystem support is not as comprehensive.

5. Existing developer expertise:

   • Java is one of the most widely used programming languages, with a large pool of existing developers.

   • Leveraging this existing Java expertise makes it easier for developers to get started with Android app development.