Kotlin: Kotlin Bytecode – analyze in IntelliJ IDEA

Kotlin Programming

Question or issue of Kotlin Programming:

I want to see the compiled bytecode so I can learn more about how it works under the cover. I’m using IntelliJ IDEA 15 but can’t find a way to see the bytecode. What am I missing?

How to solve this issue?

Solution no. 1:

IntelliJ IDEA comes with a bytecode viewing tool for Kotlin:

Tools → enter image description here Kotlin → Show Kotlin Bytecode

Also available through Ctrl / ⌘+Shift+A as Show Kotlin Bytecode action.

It’s a great tool that can jump to the corresponding bytecode when you move around in the source file. And it updates the bytecode on the fly whenever the source changes.


Also, I’d like to recommend jclasslib Bytecode Viewer as an external tool for low-level class files analysis (such as inspecting constant pools). Now it is also available as an IntelliJ IDEA plugin.

Solution no. 2:

I use https://javap.yawk.at/ to view byte code online. Set “Kotlin” as the input language and you are good to go.

It even has an option to see the decompiled Java code via Procyon, but it might crush from time to time.

Solution no. 3:

Just adding to the above answer.

Tools → enter image description here Kotlin → Show Kotlin Bytecode

Now, in the bytecode view, there is also an option to decompile the bytecode to Java. So, you can actually see both the bytecode and the equivalent java code in intellij. You even have an option to convert using JVM 8 target.

Hope this helps!