Compose Multiplatform is a declarative UI framework from JetBrains that enables building native applications with shared UI code across Android, iOS, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and web. Based on Jetpack Compose, it uses Kotlin as its foundation and provides a unified approach to cross-platform development without compromising native performance. Unlike traditional cross-platform solutions, Compose Multiplatform allows developers to share UI composables directly across platforms while offering full interoperability with native code when needed — you can embed UIKit views on iOS, AndroidView components on Android, and access platform-specific APIs through expect/actual declarations. The framework renders natively on each platform using Skia on iOS/desktop and the native canvas on Android, ensuring smooth 60fps+ performance. One critical insight: platform-specific customization is not a compromise but a feature — Compose Multiplatform shines when you leverage its ability to share core UI logic while tailoring the experience where it matters, making it ideal for teams seeking a single codebase without sacrificing platform fidelity.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This topic spans 20 focused tables and 111 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Table 1: Core Platform Targeting
| Target | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
kotlin { androidTarget()} | Full Jetpack Compose API support with Material 3 components, native performance, and seamless integration with existing Android Views via AndroidView. | |
kotlin { iosX64(); iosArm64(); iosSimulatorArm64()} | • Stable since Compose Multiplatform 1.8.0 (May 2025) • renders using Skia • supports UIKit interop via UIKitView for embedding native iOS components | |
kotlin { jvm("desktop")} | Targets Windows, macOS, and Linux with desktop-specific features like window management, menu bars, system tray, and file dialogs. |