Last week, JetBrains made an electrifying announcement, proclaiming Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) as...
Beyond Dependency Injection : Koin's 2024 Evolution into a Kotlin Integration Framework
As we usher in the new year, we can't help but feel excited about what's in store for Koin. The goal has always been to make injecting dependencies into your code as simple and straightforward as possible, while also providing all the power and flexibility you need to write great, scalable applications. And with its simple and intuitive design, Koin succeeds in doing that, making it easier than ever for Kotlin developers to manage their dependencies, write clean, modular code, and create great applications that are easy to maintain and scale. This relentless pursuit to improve devs' lives continues to be the driving force behind our journey.
With this clear vision, we're super happy to share with you the exciting roadmap that lies ahead for Koin in 2024.
Expanding Koin's Horizons
Our primary goal for 2024 is to elevate Koin from being a dependency injection framework to a full-fledged Kotlin integration framework. What do we mean by that?
We aim to expand Koin's capabilities beyond just dependency management. Koin will become a more comprehensive and versatile framework that seamlessly integrates with various aspects of Kotlin-based application development.
This transformation means that Koin will offer not only dependency injection but also a broader range of tools and features that enhance the overall Kotlin development experience. This includes features for handling different Kotlin components, providing better support for Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) development, optimizing performance, and integrating with other Kotlin-related technologies. This evolution reflects our commitment to staying relevant and valuable in an ever-changing Kotlin ecosystem.
With that said, we're excited to unveil a slew of initiatives for 2024:
Unveiling Koin 3.6 & 3.7: The Next Chapter
These upcoming iterations of Koin will center their attention on the following key areas:
1. Stabilizing Modules Background Loading
Efficiently loading modules in the background is paramount. We'll focus on preventing main thread blockages, thereby enhancing scalability and responsiveness.
2. Expanding Android Injection Points
We're working towards creating Activity and Fragment instances through constructors. This feature will streamline your Android development experience, making it more seamless and intuitive.
3. Continuing to Enhance KMP Integrations
Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) is now stable. We're committed to simplifying the use of components, including ViewModel, across the KMP platform, ensuring a cohesive development experience.
4. Stabilizing Config Verification API
Robust verification of Koin module configurations is essential. We'll introduce APIs that encompass a wider range of verification cases, further bolstering the stability of your projects.
5. Exploring Kotlin Wasm Integration
Kotlin WebAssembly (Wasm) integration is on our radar. This exploration aims to open up new avenues for Kotlin development, expanding our framework's reach.
6. Seamless Standard Support
Koin's commitment to seamless integration extends across Kotlin KMP, Ktor, Android, and Compose APIs. We are also considering the integration of Ktor 3.0, enhancing compatibility with the latest technologies.
7. Platform Integration Features
Platform integration features will be introduced incrementally. Expect additions like job scheduler and cache manager integration, alongside improved integration APIs that simplify the declaration of your KMP components in Koin.
8. Koin Annotations and KSP 2.0
Our commitment to providing developers with powerful tools remains solid. Koin Annotations will anticipate usage for Kotlin Symbol Processing (KSP) 2.0, enhancing your development workflow.
Initiating Work for Koin 4.0: A New Era
By the end of 2024, we'll embark on the journey to create Koin 4.0, the next-generation Koin engine. This development will harness the power of Kotlin's coroutines to significantly improve parallel data access. As Kotlin 2.0 approaches, we are inspired to revamp internal components, ushering in a new era in the history of the Koin framework.
Kotzilla: Fueling Koin's Growth
In 2022, we founded Kotzilla, a company dedicated to advancing Koin's development, promoting community content, and providing enterprise-level support for Koin and the broader Kotlin ecosystem. Our services encompass various areas, including Koin best practices, coaching, design, and seamless migration from other dependency injection tools.
Our mission extends beyond support; we aspire to contribute to the Kotlin ecosystem by introducing an innovative developer platform, Cloud-Inject. This platform will allow you to dive deep into your app’s architecture thanks to our Koin logs to help you evaluate and monitor your application architecture structure, a key pillar in your app's health. Cloud-Inject is a work in progress, but we'd love to hear what you think of it. You can give it a try for free as it's currently in beta.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey.
In Conclusion: Cheers to 2024🍾
As we embark on this thrilling journey into 2024, the Koin team remains super focused on our commitment to empowering devs and enhancing the Kotlin ecosystem. With many innovations on the horizon, including Koin 3.6, 3.7, and the monumental Koin 4.0, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of Kotlin integration. Here's to an exhilarating 2024!