Kotlin for the Curious

Learn to code in Kotlin by starting from scratch and gradually building skills to tackle a wide range of fun and challenging problems.

Kotlin is a programming language that combines the best features of Python and Java into a single, easy-to-use language that's rapidly growing. Though Kotlin is primarily known for Android app development, this book establishes its broader credentials for general-purpose coding--complete with geeky, hands-on projects that will take you from total beginner to proficient Kotlin developer.

After learning the basics of the language and integrating the JavaFX library to generate graphics and data visualizations, you'll apply your knowledge to over 30 math, science, and algorithmic challenges of increasing complexity. You'll model the motion of a pendulum, simulate the orbits of a binary star system, render enchanting fractals like the Mandelbrot set, implement ant colony optimization and other nature-inspired algorithms, and much more. Beyond the specifics of the Kotlin language, the book's many projects will teach you how to think methodically and use code to solve problems. You'll also learn about generally applicable computer science topics such as randomness, recursion, sorting and searching, genetic algorithms, and optimization.

從零開始學習 Kotlin 程式設計，逐步建立技能，以應對各種有趣且具有挑戰性的問題。

Kotlin 是一種將 Python 和 Java 的最佳特性結合在一起的程式語言，它是一種易於使用且快速發展的語言。儘管 Kotlin 主要用於 Android 應用程式開發，但本書確立了它在通用編碼方面的廣泛應用，並提供了一系列極客風格的實踐專案，從完全初學者到熟練的 Kotlin 開發者。

在學習語言基礎並整合 JavaFX 函式庫以生成圖形和資料視覺化之後，您將應用所學知識解決超過 30 個數學、科學和演算法挑戰，難度逐漸增加。您將模擬擺錘的運動，模擬二進制星系的軌道，渲染像 Mandelbrot 集合這樣迷人的分形圖案，實現螞蟻群體優化和其他自然啟發的演算法，以及更多。除了 Kotlin 語言的具體知識外，本書的多個專案還將教您如何有系統地思考並使用程式碼解決問題。您還將學習一般適用的計算機科學主題，如隨機性、遞迴、排序和搜索、遺傳演算法和優化等。

Faisal Islam holds an MS in civil engineering and a PhD in resource economics. He has been coding for over two decades in C, Java, Python, and Kotlin. He loves tackling complex real-world problems with his skills in simulation, modeling and optimization. He is also passionate about promoting STEM education through coding, especially for youth. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, reading sci-fi novels, and traveling with his family across the globe.

Faisal Islam擁有土木工程碩士學位和資源經濟學博士學位。他在C、Java、Python和Kotlin等程式語言上有超過二十年的編程經驗。他喜歡運用模擬、建模和優化等技能解決複雜的現實世界問題。他同時也熱衷於通過編程促進STEM教育，特別是針對年輕人。在閒暇時間，他喜歡攝影、閱讀科幻小說，並與家人一起環遊世界。