Kotlin 2.1.20, the latest version of JetBrains' cross-platform programming language, has been released with a focus on improving plugin support for the K2 compiler and enhancing Kotlin/Wasm debugging. The update, announced on March 20, brings a range of new features and improvements to the language.

One of the key updates in Kotlin 2.1.20 is the enhancement of the kapt and Lombok compiler plugins for the K2 compiler. The kapt annotation processing compiler, which has been in maintenance mode since Kotlin 1.9.20, has seen significant performance improvements. The experimental Lombok plugin, which allows for the use of Java Lombok declarations, now supports the @SuperBuilder annotation, making it easier to create builders for class hierarchies. The kapt compiler plugin is now enabled by default for all projects.

Kotlin/Wasm, which enables the compilation of Kotlin code into the WebAssembly format, has also seen significant improvements in Kotlin 2.1.20. Custom formatters now work out of the box in development builds, and DWARF (debugging with arbitrary record format) facilitates code inspection. DWARF data can be embedded into the embedded WebAssembly binary, allowing many debuggers and virtual machines to read this data and provide insights into compiled code.

In addition to these updates, Kotlin 2.1.20 brings a range of other improvements and features. The Compose compiler has relaxed some restrictions on @Composable functions introduced in prior releases, and the Compose compiler Gradle plugin is now set to include source information by default, aligning the behavior on all platforms with Android. The standard library has also introduced experimental features, including common atomic types, improved support for UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers), and new time-tracking functionality.

For Kotlin/Native, a new inlining optimization pass is being introduced, which is expected to improve performance. Kotlin plugins supporting Kotlin 2.1.20 are bundled into the latest IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio IDEs. Furthermore, a new DSL (domain specific language) replaces the Gradle Application plugin for Kotlin Multiplatform.

The release of Kotlin 2.1.20 demonstrates JetBrains' ongoing commitment to improving and enhancing the language. With its focus on performance, debugging, and plugin support, this update is expected to have a significant impact on the development community. As Kotlin continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these updates are received and what new opportunities they bring for developers.

Instructions on updating to Kotlin 2.1.20 can be found at kotlinlang.org. With its latest release, Kotlin solidifies its position as a leading cross-platform programming language, offering developers a powerful toolset for building innovative applications.