JDK وAndroid Studio وKMP Plugin

Before you write a single shared line, you need the right toolchain. Get this setup right and the rest of KMP feels smooth. 🛠️

Everything starts with the JDK, the Java Development Kit that compiles and runs your Kotlin code on the JVM side.

Pick a modern JDK 17 or newer. It is the safe, well-supported baseline that current Android and Gradle tooling expect.

Open a terminal and confirm Java is installed and visible. One command tells you the version your machine will use.

Your main workshop is Android Studio, the IDE where you will edit shared code, run the Android app, and manage Gradle.

Install a recent stable Android Studio. Newer releases ship better Kotlin support and smoother multiplatform tooling out of the box.

Add the Kotlin Multiplatform plugin from the plugins marketplace. It unlocks the project wizard and KMP-aware editing features.

Find it under Settings then Plugins, search Marketplace for the multiplatform tooling, install, and restart Studio to activate it.

Studio also installs the Android SDK, the platform libraries and build tools your Android target compiles against.

Create an Android emulator from the Device Manager so you can run and see your shared code working without a physical phone.

So far you can build the Android half of KMP. The iOS side needs Mac-specific tools you will set up in the next lesson.

Which JDK version is the recommended safe baseline for modern KMP?

You lined up the essentials: a JDK 17+, Android Studio with the KMP plugin, the Android SDK, and an emulator. The Android side is ready. ✅