Getting Started with Compose Multiplatform in 2026

Compose Multiplatform has matured significantly in 2026, making it the go-to choice for shared UI across Android, iOS, Desktop, and Web. At Mobile Byte Sensei, we've been building production apps with Compose MP since its early days. Here's your complete guide to getting started.

Why Compose Multiplatform?

Traditional cross-platform frameworks force compromises. Flutter uses its own rendering engine. React Native bridges to native views. Compose Multiplatform takes a different approach — it compiles to native code on each platform while sharing the declarative UI layer. The result? Native performance with shared UI code.

Project Setup

Start with the KMP Wizard at kmp.jetbrains.com. Select your target platforms (Android, iOS, Desktop, Web), choose Compose Multiplatform as your UI framework, and generate the project template. The generated project includes shared UI modules, platform-specific entry points, and Gradle configuration for all targets.

Shared Components

The power of Compose MP is writing UI once and running everywhere. Create your composable functions in the shared module — buttons, cards, screens, navigation — and they render natively on each platform. Use expect/actual declarations only when you need platform-specific behavior like camera access or file system operations.

What's Next?

Ready to dive deeper? Our KMP Mastery Course covers Compose Multiplatform in depth — from basic layouts to complex animations and platform-specific adaptations. Use code MBSSALE20 for 20% off enrollment.