kotlin

Run Kotlin scripts and provide a REPL

TLDR

Run a Kotlin script

$ kotlin script.kts

Run a script with arguments

$ kotlin script.kts [arg1] [arg2]

Start the interactive REPL

$ kotlin

Evaluate an expression

$ kotlin -e "println(\"Hello\")"

Run a script with additional classpath JARs

$ kotlin -cp [lib.jar] script.kts

Pass JVM options (e.g., increase memory)

$ kotlin -J-Xmx512m script.kts

SYNOPSIS

kotlin [options] script [args...]

kotlin is the Kotlin runtime command that executes Kotlin scripts (.kts files) directly on the JVM without requiring a separate compilation step. It also provides an interactive Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL) when invoked with no arguments, allowing you to experiment with Kotlin expressions and statements interactively.The tool can evaluate single expressions from the command line using the `-e` flag, run script files with command-line arguments, and include additional JARs on the classpath for access to external libraries. Since Kotlin scripts run on the JVM, they have full access to the Java standard library and any Java or Kotlin libraries added to the classpath, making it suitable for automation tasks, quick prototyping, and build scripting.

PARAMETERS

SCRIPT

Kotlin script file (.kts).

-e EXPR

Evaluate expression.

-cp PATH

Classpath.

-J ARG

Pass argument to JVM (e.g., -J-Xmx512m).

-nowarn

Suppress warning messages.

-version

Display the Kotlin version.

--help

Display help information.

CAVEATS

Requires JVM. Scripts use .kts extension. Slower startup than compiled code.

HISTORY

Kotlin was created by JetBrains in 2011. The kotlin command runs scripts and provides the REPL.