This repository describes the benefits of using Kotlin DSL over Groovy DSL for Gradle projects. This README consists of the reasons as to why I would recommend using Kotlin DSL over Groovy DSL.
When you wish to use Gradle as a build tool for your project, you can choose to use Groovy DSL which means the project contains files such as build.gradle and settings.gradle. Alternatively, you can use Kotlin DSL which means the project contains files such as build.gradle.kts and settings.gradle.kts.
Gradle 8.2 was released in 2023, and it was decided that Kotlin DSL is now the default choice for new Gradle projects. This means that if you generate a new project using the gradle init task, it will by default select Kotlin DSL over Groovy DSL. Additionally, if you create a new project using IntelliJ IDEA or Android Studio, Kotlin DSL is the default option. When Gradle 9.0.0 was released in 2025, they mentioned that they anticipate that most new projects will be using Kotlin DSL going forward.
Using Kotlin DSL provides improved type safety compared to Groovy DSL.
For example, when using Groovy DSL, you can be required to use magic strings when configuring a task such as the test task:
When using Kotlin DSL, you are provided a type-safe way to configure this task:
The benefit here is that you avoid having to type a magic string such as "test" which is prone to typos. With Kotlin DSL, a typo for the task name would give a compile-time error.
Kotlin DSL provides type-safe model accessors which helps the developer catch issues earlier rather than later.
For example, if you wish to add a Gradle dependency and accidentally misspell "imlpementation" it can be difficult to notice this as quickly with Groovy DSL:
You could essentially run this project and an error would first arise at runtime. With Kotlin DSL, the typo would cause a compile-time error. This means that it is easier for a developer to find the issue as quickly as possible when using Kotlin DSL:
Groovy DSL does not provide as much support for autocompletion. If you for example try to autocomplete useJUnitPlatform(), IntelliJ IDEA is unable to come up with a suggestion:
When you use Kotlin DSL, you have improved autocompletion support, and it is able to suggest useJUnitPlatform() easily:
Groovy DSL does not provide that much code documentation:
However, Kotlin DSL has improved support for code documentation:
Groovy DSL does not have the best support for quick navigation. When you for example try to Ctrl/Cmd + Click to quick-navigate to the source of useJUnitPlatform() it does not work with Groovy DSL:
Kotlin DSL has improved quick navigation support, and you are able to easily Ctrl/Cmd + Click to quick-navigate to easily see the source of for example useJUnitPlatform():
When defining Gradle plugins using Groovy DSL, you are required to use magic strings as such:
With Kotlin DSL, the plugin syntax is safer:
You generally want to avoid magic strings as they are prone to errors. Kotlin DSL makes it easier to catch an issue when defining plugins as shown in the example images above.