Kotlin Essentials

Introduction
Get up to speed with Kotlin fast and master the essentials for backend development in just one focused day with Google Expert Paulien van Alst.

Detailed description
Kotlin is taking the JVM world by storm, and for good reason. What started as “that Android language” has evolved into a powerhouse for backend services, web development, and cross-platform solutions. If you’re used to code in pure Java, you’re missing out on cleaner code, better safety, and modern language features that make development genuinely enjoyable. This one-day intensive training gets you productive with Kotlin fast. No fluff, no filler—just the essential concepts and patterns you need to start writing real Kotlin code immediately. You’ll learn from practical examples, work through hands-on exercises, and walk away with a solid understanding of Kotlin idioms and best practices. By the end of the day, you’ll confidently read and write Kotlin, understand how to set up projects with modern build tools, integrate with Spring Boot, and even get a taste of Kotlin Multiplatform’s potential for sharing code across platforms. Whether you’re curious about Kotlin or ready to adopt it for your next project, this training gives you the foundation you need without the time commitment of a multi-day course.

Prerequisites
Basic Java development experience is all you need. If you understand object-oriented programming and can write simple Java applications, you’re ready to learn Kotlin.

Target audience
Ideal for Java developers who are curious about Kotlin and want to see what the hype is about without committing to a multi-day training. Whether you’re completely new to Kotlin or have dabbled and want structured guidance, this course takes you from zero to production-ready in one intensive day.

Learning goals

You’ll acquire the essentials:

• Data classes and destructuring for cleaner code
• Smart use of default values and named parameters
• Objects, companion objects, and when to use each
• Inheritance patterns and Kotlin’s approach to classes
• Immutability principles for safer code
• Creating your own DSLs with Kotlin’s expressive syntax
• Null-safety that actually prevents crashes
• Coroutines basics for asynchronous programming
• Introduction to Kotlin Multiplatform possibilities

Topics covered

A fast-paced journey through:

• Core Kotlin language features demonstrated in practical, real-world contexts
• Asynchronous programming fundamentals with coroutines
• Building your own domain-specific languages
• Modern testing approaches for Kotlin applications
• Hands-on project setup with multiplatform structure
• Real-world use cases showing Kotlin Multiplatform’s potential

Training outline

One day intensive covering:

• Core language features with practical examples
• Introduction to coroutines and asynchronous programming
• DSL creation with Kotlin
• Testing in Kotlin with modern frameworks
• Hands-on: set up a Kotlin project with multiplatform structure
• Overview of Kotlin Multiplatform use cases and benefits

Course format
This is an in-person classroom training that can be delivered at an OpenValue office or as an in-company training.

Certification
Participants receive a certificate of completion upon finishing the training.

Next steps
For more information about expanding your knowledge past this course, check out our entire training portfolio at www.openvalue.training or in your learning management system. Contact us at training@openvalue.nl for personal learning advice or customized on-demand training and just contact your OpenValue trainer during the training course.

Provided training material
Learning material with slides and exercises will be available for the participants.

About the trainer
Paulien van Alst is a software engineer at OpenValue, Google Developer Expert in Kotlin and co-host at the BarCoding podcast. Passionate about software engineering she loves to spread the word by giving talks and workshops at meetups and conferences such as Devoxx, JFall, Goto.

Note: This training can be given in Dutch or English at one of the OpenValue offices (Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Arnhem, Munich, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Zurich) or at your own location. Please contact us to discuss possibilities for a remote training and for training in German.