5 Hacks to Boost Your Kotlin Development

What is
Kotlin is a powerful and expressive programming language that is quickly gaining popularity among developers. It offers a wide range of features and tools that can help you write cleaner, more efficient code. 

Here are five hacks that you can use to boost your Kotlin development skills:

1. Use the "lateinit" keyword 
   When working with Kotlin, it's important to remember to use the "lateinit" keyword when initializing variables that may not be available at the time of object creation. This can help prevent null pointer exceptions and make your code more robust.
    
2. Take advantage of data classes 
   Kotlin's data classes make it easy to define simple classes that hold data, and automatically generate useful methods like "toString()", "hashCode()" and "equals()". This can save you a lot of time and make your code more readable.
    
3. Utilize the "when" expression 
   The "when" expression in Kotlin is a powerful tool for handling different cases in a concise and readable way. Instead of using a series of "if-else" statements, use "when" to handle multiple cases in a single line of code.
    
4. Use the "apply" function 
   The "apply" function in Kotlin allows you to execute a block of code on an object, then return the object itself. This can be useful for initializing and configuring an object in a single line of code.
    
5. Leverage extensions 
   Kotlin's extension functions allow you to add new functionality to existing classes without having to inherit from them. This can be a great way to add functionality to third-party libraries or classes that you don't control.

By using these hacks, you'll be able to write cleaner, more efficient code in Kotlin. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, these tips and tricks will help you take your Kotlin development skills to the next level.