I would use Kotlin multiplatform and Jetpack Compose multiplatform. But mainly because I already know Kotlin. It's definitively nicer than typescript though.
The only problems with Compose Multiplatform are the lack of multiplatform libraries, and documentation, but JetBrains tells me that a new documentation site is due this summer.
But then you're in Android Studio land. Have fun when adb refuses to recognise your connected Anroid phone. I gave up and created a React web app optimised for phones.
I will acknowledge that and I do think it sucks. Even when learning kotlin, what bothered me the most was the IDE and the other tedious tools needed (maven, gradle, etc.). Why can't I have something like rustup that just gets the newest kotlinc for me?
So I think it's a valid point you're making although I was able to get used to the ecosystem over time.
I have little experience with mobile development; my primary target now is the desktop and I have a Google Pixel so I have not encountered such a problem. And I am using IntelliJ more than Android Studio though I had no problem with that yet either. It would be a shame if Android Studio were not the best platform for Android development.
Android development is just very janky. There’s just so many pieces that sort of work together, until they don’t. It is Kotlin compiling to Franken-Java with a thick crusty layer of compatibility libraries because OS updates are completely broken on Android. ADB and Gradle just randomly break sometimes. The emulator is slow.
I’m not surprised that people are reaching for Flutter and React Native instead.
Jetpack Compose Multiplatform is in alpha status on iOS and Kotlin Multiplatform still has a a beta disclaimer on it, so I don’t feel like this is a good choice at this time. Something to keep an eye on for the future certainly.
