Kotlin Web Framework Ktor: What's New and How It Can Benefit Your Project?
Tags: kotlin, webdev, javascript
Published: 2023-01-23 11:40:40

Ktor is a framework built by the Kotlin language. This Kotlin web framework frequently updates and improves its performance. It's one of the best Kotlin web frameworks for your [web app development](https://quokkalabs.com/web-application-development) projects. 

This blog will see what's new in Ktor version 2.1.0, released in August 2022. Let's get started. 

## What's New in Ktor?
In this release, there are new beta tools you can try:
- Command Line tool
- Yeoman Generator
- Gradle Deployment Plugin
- YAML configuration support

### Native Command Line Tool
There are two ways Ktor gives to simplify making new templates in IntelliJ or start.ktor.io. Now, a new command-line tool is built in Kotlin, as the team has extended it. You do not need to download JDK or generate the Ktor server app. It's all taken care of if you are new to JVM, which is ideal for you. 

To create a new project, type: 

`ktor generate {projectName}`

```
> tmp ktor generate hello-ktor
Generating your ktor project
Progress: 100 %
Archive: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor. zip
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/build.gradle.kts
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/settings.gradle.kts
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/gradle.properties
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper. properties
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/gradle/wrapper/gradle-wrapper. jar
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/gradlew
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/gradlew. bat
inflating: /Users/hadihariri/tmp/hello-ktor/.gitignore
```
It will build the project once it is completed. 
```
> Task :check
> Task :build

BUILD SUCCESSFUL in 44s
9 actionable tasks: 9 executed

Project "hello-ktor" was successfully generated.
You can execute “ktor start hello-ktor® to start it
```
Now the only task left is to run it. 
```
tmp ktor start hello-ktor
> Task :compileKotlin UP-TO-DATE > Task :compileJava NO-SOURCE
> Task
processResources UP-TO-DATE
> Task :classes UP-TO-DATE
> Task :run
2022-07-28 13:10:09.512 [main] INFO
2022-07-28 13:10:09.539 [main] INFO
ktor.application - Autoreload is disabled because the development mode is off. ktor.application - Application started in 0.081 seconds.
2022-07-28 13:10:09.905 [DefaultDispatcher-worker-1] INFO ktor.application - Responding at http://0.0.0.0:8080
```
This tool is currently available for use on macOS and Linux. Windows support will be coming soon. Keep watching our updates for the best Kotlin web framework. 
### Yeoman Generator
In Ktor, Yeoman is a command line tool that quickly generates scaffolding for different projects.

You can install Yeoman by first installing node/npm and then run:

`npm install -g yo`

It will install Yeoman on your system globally. Now next step is uninstalling Ktor generators:

`npm install -g generator-ktor`

Now, you can Run the generator by:

`yo ktor`
```
→ ym yo ktor
? Your project name hello-yeoman
? Project website hadihariri.com
Would you like to add the sample code to your application? Yes
? Choose build system Gradle Kotlin
? Choose engine Netty
? Where would you like to have a configuration? HOCON file
? Let's use the recommended versions of Kotlin (1.7.10) and Ktor (2.0.3) Sure
? What does your project require? (Press <space> to select, <a> to toggle all, <i> to invert selection, and <enter> to proceed)
O Security
O Routing > HTTP
O Monitoring
O Templating
O Serialization
O Sockets
(Move up and down to reveal more choices)
```
After that, it will generate a project and automatically run it for you. 
```
ym npm start
> start
> node start.js
Starting a Gradle Daemon, 1 incompatible Daemon could not be reused, use --status for details > Task processResources
> Task
processTestResources NO-SOURCE
> Task :compileKotlin
> Task :compileJava NO-SOURCE
> Task :classes
> Task
inspectClassesForKotlinIC
> Task :jar
> Task
startScripts
> Task :distTar
> Task :distZip
> Task :assemble
> Task :compileTestKotlin
> Task :compileTestJava NO-SOURCE
> Task :testClasses UP-TO-DATE
> Task :test
> Task :check
> Task :build
BUILD SUCCESSFUL in 10s
9 actionable tasks: 9 executed
```

### Gradle Deployment Plugin
The Gradle Deployment Plugin is a Gradle plugin that allows developers to easily deploy their applications to the web using the Ktor framework (the best Kotlin web framework). Ktor is a Kotlin-based web application framework that makes it quick to build web applications quickly, easily, and securely.
```
ktor {
    docker {
        jreVersion.set(JreVersion.JRE_17)
        localImageName.set("sample-docker-image")
        imageTag.set("0.0.1-preview")

        externalRegistry.set(
            DockerImageRegistry.dockerHub(
                appName = provider { "ktor-app" },
                username = providers.environmentVariable("DOCKER_HUB_USERNAME"),
                password = providers.environmentVariable("DOCKER_HUB_PASSWORD")
            )
        )
    }
}
```
The Gradle Deployment Plugin provides several tasks that can be used for automated deploying a Ktor application. For example, the deployWar task can be used to build a WAR (Web ARchive) file containing your Ktor application and then deploy it to a web server. Other tasks, such as startServer and stopServer, can be used to start and stop the web server hosting your Ktor application.
```
ktor {
    fatJar {
        archiveFileName.set("fat.jar")
    }
}
```
Using the Gradle Deployment Plugin makes it easy to automate the deployment process for your Ktor application. It can save time and effort and make it easier to deploy your application to multiple environments, such as development, staging, and production.

Overall, the Gradle Deployment Plugin is a valuable tool for anyone working with Ktor and looking to deploy their applications to the web quickly.
### YAML Configuration Support
One of Ktor's key features is support for YAML configuration, which allows developers to manage the configuration of their Ktor applications easily.
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable data serialization language. It is often used for configuration files. It is designed to be easy to read and write and is well-suited for web applications.

Ktor provides built-in support for YAML configuration, so developers can use YAML files to define the configuration for their Ktor applications. It makes it easy to manage the various settings and options that control how the Ktor application behaves.

Using YAML configuration in Ktor also has the advantage of allowing variables and expressions in the configuration file. It will enable developers to use the same configuration file in different environments, such as development, staging, and production, without duplicating the configuration.

To configure Ktor apps using code or HOCON, developers can now use YAML, which is available for native server apps. 
```
ktor {
    deployment {
        port = 8080
    }
    application {
        modules = [ com.example.ApplicationKt.module ]
    }
}
```
In YAML, it will be like this:
```
ktor:
    deployment:
        port: 8080
    application:
        modules:
            - com.example.ApplicationKt.module
```

You can find the documentation here. 

{% embed https://ktor.io/docs/configuration-file.html %}

Overall, YAML configuration support in Ktor is a valuable feature and the best kotlin web framework that makes it easy to manage the configuration of Ktor applications. It allows developers to use YAML files to define their applications' configuration. It enables them to use variables and expressions to customize the configuration for different environments.
## How can Ktor Benefit your Project?
Ktor is a Kotlin web framework that makes it straightforward to build web applications that are fast, scalable, and safe. It is widely believed to be one of the best Kotlin web frameworks.

One of the biggest benefits of using Ktor for your web project is its simplicity and ease of use. Ktor is designed to be intuitive and straightforward, so you can start building your web application quickly without spending much time learning complex frameworks or libraries. The framework has a modular design, so you can easily pick and choose the features you need, and it has a rich set of APIs and tools that make it easy to build web applications with Kotlin.

Another benefit of Ktor is its performance and scalability. Ktor is built on top of the Kotlinx.io library, optimized for high-performance, asynchronous I/O operations. Ktor applications can handle many concurrent requests without sacrificing performance, making them a great choice for building high-traffic web applications.

Ktor also offers several advanced features to help you build better web applications. For example, Ktor has built-in support for reactive programming, which allows you to build applications that can respond to changes in data in real time. It can be helpful for building applications that need to process large amounts of data or handle high traffic volumes. Ktor also supports standard web development technologies such as HTTP/2, WebSockets, and JSON, as well as built-in security, testing, and deployment tools.

## Final Words
In conclusion, Ktor is a new Kotlin web framework that offers several benefits for developers. It is built on top of the prevalent Kotlin language, which makes it easy to learn and use for anyone familiar with Kotlin. 
Additionally, Ktor is designed to be fast, easy, and secure, making it a decent choice for building contemporary web applications. Overall, Ktor is a promising new web framework worth considering for anyone looking to develop web applications with Kotlin. 

If you have a complex project idea, you can reach out to a **[web app development company](https://quokkalabs.com/web-application-development)** to create and make that user love it.