What Ktor Does
- Server — HTTP server with routing, content negotiation
- Client — HTTP client with multiplatform support
- Coroutines — native suspend functions throughout
- Plugins — Authentication, CORS, Sessions, WebSocket, Call Logging
- Serialization — kotlinx.serialization, Gson, Jackson
- WebSocket — built-in support
- Multiple engines — Netty, CIO, Jetty, Tomcat
- Multiplatform — client works on JVM, iOS, JS, Native
Comparison
| Framework | Language | Async Model |
|---|---|---|
| Ktor | Kotlin | Coroutines |
| Spring Boot | Java/Kotlin | Threads + WebFlux |
| Micronaut | Java/Kotlin | Compile-time DI |
| Quarkus | Java/Kotlin | CDI + Reactive |
FAQ
Q: Ktor vs Spring Boot? A: Ktor is lighter, pure Kotlin, and coroutine-native; Spring Boot has a larger ecosystem and more enterprise features. Ktor is a delight for small-to-medium Kotlin projects.
Sources
- Docs: https://ktor.io/docs
- GitHub: https://github.com/ktorio/ktor
- License: Apache 2.0