This article was originally published at: https://www.blog.duomly.com/python-vs-other-programming-languages/
Python is a programming language with many advantages and few disadvantages. It has always been one of the most popular languages to learn as its syntax is easy to pick up, it's relatively simple to read, and it also makes coding easier by reducing typing errors since Python uses indentation instead of curly brackets or parentheses.
Python is also used for web development (a big trend right now), data analysis research, artificial intelligence work, testing software applications, and scientific computing.
All these fields are growing rapidly, so this popularity should continue into the future! But how does Python compare against other popular programming languages?
To find out, we need to evaluate which programming languages will be more relevant in 2022 than they are today.
1. What is Python, and why is it so popular
Python is a high-level, interpreted, general-purpose programming language which means it can be used for various purposes. It was created in the late 1980s by Guido van Rossum and has gained popularity ever since. Python is popular because it's easy to learn – the syntax is straightforward, and it doesn't use curly brackets or parentheses like some other languages do, leading to confusion and coding errors.
Python is also versatile – it can be used for web development, data analysis, artificial intelligence work, software testing, and scientific computing.
In fact, Python is currently the most popular language for data science and machine learning. And due to its growing popularity, Python will likely remain one of the most popular programming languages in 2022!
2. What are Python's advantages and disadvantages?
Python has many benefits for developers, including:
- it's simple to read without parentheses or brackets, making coding easier for beginners;
- it's open-source, so there is no licensing fee;
- it has an extensive range of third-party libraries which can be used for all kinds of purposes;
- it's high level, so you don't need to worry about low-level details like registers or memory management, making development faster and less likely to create bugs;
- the language is designed for readability, which helps to reduce errors;
- it's used in some of the most cutting-edge areas like web development, machine learning, and data analysis.
However, Python does have its drawbacks too:
- it can be slow compared to other languages since it doesn't support low-level operations;
- it's difficult for new devs to learn how to use compilers and debuggers;
- its syntax is sometimes considered convoluted.
3. Python vs Javascript
In 2022, Python will likely still be popular, but JavaScript is also likely to remain important. These two languages are both used for web development, so it's really just a matter of which language you prefer! But overall, Python has more benefits, giving it the edge over JS in 2022. Of course, some people love JS and others prefer Python, but which one will become more popular in 2022?
The Stack Overflow Developer Survey shows that JS is the most commonly used language while Python was ranked lower. But this doesn't tell us much about how they compare against each other. Luckily, there's plenty of data out there that can help us compare these two languages.
The TIOBE Index shows that Python has grown more popular over the last few years. In contrast, JS had a significant drop in rankings in 2018. This means that Python is catching up to JavaScript, and this trend may continue into 2022.
However, JavaScript is still more commonly used than Python, so it has a wider range of tools and libraries to choose from. It's also often used as a first programming language for those new to computer science because it's easier to learn. Python is similar, but its syntax can be confusing for beginners.
This means that JS will still have an advantage over Python as a language for beginners in 2022. However, Python is catching up, and it's likely to surpass JavaScript in terms of popularity later on in the year because of its additional benefits.
4. Python vs Go
Go was created by Google back in 2009, and it's used to build web servers, microservices, distributed systems, and cloud applications. It is also used for backend development work like building APIs.
So what are Python's advantages over Go? Well, since Python has an extensive range of third-party libraries which can be used for all kinds of purposes, it's more versatile than Go. This can be really useful when you're trying to create new features or fix bugs in your app.
However, Python is similar to Go because it supports high-level coding, but it's not as fast as Go.
Since Python will likely remain more popular than Go in 2022, the language likely has some advantages over it too. However, this depends on what type of apps you are building because Python might work better for some projects, and Go might be better for others.
5. Python vs Java
The fact that Python is more popular than Java isn't the only advantage it has. Another big difference between these two languages is that Python has simpler syntax, which means it takes fewer code lines to do anything. This can help you save time and get your app working faster.
Another benefit of using Python over Java is that it has an extensive range of 3rd party libraries, which are really useful for all kinds of purposes. This includes web development, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and more.
However, while the differences between Java and Python are clear now, the same may not be accurate in the short future. The popularity of Python has been increasing, but Java is still one of the most popular languages, so it won't fade away any time soon. This means that it will likely remain important in 2022 and beyond. You can use both languages for web development, so it really just depends on which one you prefer!
6. Python vs R
R is often used for statistical data analysis because it's good at manipulating datasets. It can be used with many different databases, including Mongo DB, SQL Server, and Hadoop.
Python has similar advantages over R since it has a great community that is constantly growing. There are also plenty of libraries available for Python which enable you to easily manage data for statistical analysis.
However, R is also one of the most popular programming languages out there, so, likely, you will still need to be familiar with it. This means that learning Python won't replace your need for R because they both are helpful in different situations.
7. Python vs C
C# is another language similar to Python because it can be used for a range of different purposes. On the one hand, you can use C# for web development, and on the other, you can also use it as a platform for building mobile apps too.
However, while both languages have advantages over each other, they are very different from each other. This means that you will need to choose one language over the other since you won't use both of them simultaneously in most cases.
8. Python vs C++
C++ is one of the most powerful programming languages because it offers high-performance and low-level access. It's used to build servers, desktops, consumer electronics, mobile apps, games, embedded devices, 3D rendering engines, etc.
However, Python is one of the most popular programming languages because it's easy to learn. This makes it ideal for beginners who are just starting out with coding or experienced developers who need a language with versatile purposes.
9. Python vs PHP
PHP is a scripting language used to build web applications, but it can also be used for mobile apps. Many popular platforms are built with PHP, including Facebook, Wikipedia, Tumblr, WordPress, and YouTube.
However, while Python is gradually becoming more popular than PHP now, the same may not be accurate in the future. The main reason for this is that many developers have experience coding in PHP, and it's still one of the most popular programming languages right now. According to the Stack Overflow Survey, which is carried out every year, PHP is among the most popular language after Python, JavaScript, and C#.
10. Python vs Ruby
Python and Ruby are both high-level programming languages. Python was created in 1989 by Guido van Rossum, while Ruby was created in 1995 by Yukihiro Matsumoto. Both languages have a lot of similarities, but there are also some key differences.
Some of the similarities between Python and Ruby include:
- both are Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) languages
- both are interpreted languages
- both have a syntax that's easy to read and understand
Some of the key differences between Python and Ruby include:
- Python is statically typed, while Ruby is dynamically typed
- Python is more popular than Ruby
If you need help with Python software development, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you.
Thank you for reading, \ Radek from Duomly