Forbes magazine has long been known for its business content and iconic lists like the Forbes 400. Now the century-old publisher is making a tech leap by using Kotlin Multiplatform to build its latest mobile app.
Kotlin Multiplatform allows developers to write business logic code once and reuse it across multiple platforms like iOS, Android and the web. This means Forbes can significantly reduce development costs and time to market for their mobile app.
By using Kotlin Multiplatform we can share over 80% of our business logic across iOS and Android. This lets us roll out new features simultaneously on both platforms with a small fraction of the engineering effort.
Multiplatform Is A Flexible Option
Most projects go through revisions. We were able to do a few internal releases, receive feedback and iterate quickly. Building a media app, details in design, engineering, marketing, product and many more matters.
We decided to focus on iOS first, using SwiftUI to build the interface and Kotlin for everything else. This tech choice allowed us to build a lean team.
Successful Launch
The new Kotlin-powered Forbes app launched in September on iOS. It incorporates features like the most popular news feeds, a discovery section for other publications, and seamless access to Forbes’ vast article archives.
The team has already been able to release a fast follow version based on user’s feedback, it was quick and seamless process. That’s likely driven by the faster release cadence and shared logic Kotlin Multiplatform enables.
Strong Community
The app also leverages Kotlin’s strong community support. There are so many open source Kotlin libraries we can use, from coroutines for async processing to serialization for converting data. This lets us focus on our core business capabilities versus building infrastructure.
For other publishers looking to expand their mobile presence, Kotlin Multiplatform presents an intriguing path forward. By sharing logic across platforms, development teams can create feature-rich apps faster. This allows brands to better engage users across devices with a unified experience.
Business Advantages of Kotlin Multiplatform
Forbes’ move to Kotlin Multiplatform brings significant business advantages:
Faster Feature Delivery
By sharing over 80% of logic across iOS and Android, Forbes can rollout new features simultaneously on both platforms. We also have the flexibility to withhold or customize features based on the specific platform. This allows the team to innovate and respond to market needs faster than developing separately for each OS.
Lower Development Costs
With a single codebase, Forbes saves substantial engineering time and effort compared to building two separate apps. Less duplicate work means lower overall development costs.
Shared Business Logic
Core business capabilities like profiles, archives and analytics can be written once then reused. This avoids costly duplication of business logic across platforms.
Leverage Open-Source Plugins
Forbes taps into rich open-source plugins for needs like async processing and serialization. This allows them to focus engineering on core app functionality versus building infrastructure.
Enhanced User Experience
With faster feature delivery and shared logic, Forbes can provide a more unified and engaging user experience across devices. Leveraging shared and native code, allows of to take advantage of the latest features from Apple and Android.
Potential Challenges
However, Kotlin Multiplatform also brings some challenges:
- Learning curve for developers new to Kotlin
- Less mature cross-platform libraries vs native iOS/Android
- Platform differences still need to be handled
- Some performance tradeoffs vs optimized native code
- You will have to decide when you use native or shared
Conclusion
By strategically leveraging Kotlin Multiplatform, Forbes streamlines mobile development while delivering better user value through faster feature delivery, lower costs, shared business logic, and improved user experience.
So, while Forbes continues providing thought leadership through decades of respected journalism, the company is also leading with technology thanks to Kotlin. This powerful combination should well-position Forbes for continued success in the mobile age.
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