Java vs Python: Which programming language to pick?
Author : Abishek Surya RS 29th Oct 2019
As a beginner, it might be overwhelming to decide on which language to choose while getting into the coding world. Among several options, Java and Python are two programming languages that are widely used. However, It might be hard to pick one. This Java vs Python blog is meant to help you evaluate them and decide on what might work best for you.
Before getting started
Java: According to Wikipedia, “Java is a general-purpose programming language that is class-based, object-oriented, and designed to have a few implementation dependencies as possible. It was developed so that developers code once and use it across different platforms. This is popularly known as Write Once, Run Anywhere(WORA)”.
Describing itself as a language of possibility, Java’s official website makes a strong case for learning Java. Commonly used for developing web apps, cloud-based solutions, and desktop applications, Java is currently being used by close to 12 million developers and considered to be the #1 programming language for the cloud.
Python: According to Wikipedia, “Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991, Python’s design philosophy emphasizes code readability through the use of significant whitespace”.
Python website describes it as powerful, fast and collaborative. It was developed as an open-source language and hence the strength of python lies in its similarity to English language and ease of coding for developers.
Why learn
Java: Java runs in over 3 billion devices globally & there are 12 million Java developers worldwide. This simply means it is being used by almost everyone you might know and has a thriving community to support it.
One of the advantages of Java is that it is known for its innovation and resilience to change while being implemented across different platforms and spans various industries The language has been around for 24 years, which speaks a lot about its complex structure and supreme flexibility.
Python: Python being open-source is ideal for all collaborative works. This is one of the major reasons for its widespread use in AI, ML, Data Science, and Automation. Similar to Java, Python has a loyal community of developers and even fans, if you will. However, Python differs from Java in terms of loose syntax and ease of coding.
Pro-tip: Both languages work well in web app development and lack behind in game development. Remembering this would help you when developing applications.
Java vs Python – Feature by feature analysis
Agility
In Java vs Python, Java executes faster than Python. Python is dynamically typed ( i.e without specifying any datatype) and does not demand too many syntax restrictions (think semicolon at the end of a line). Python is regarded as easier to code and learn.
Portability – Works across browsers, operating systems, and machines
Portability is one of the key metrics to gauge how quickly a programming language can adapt to change and rapidly progress. Java is more flexible and portable having seen a huge wave of changes from 1995 to date. It is no wonder why Java is being learned by more than 5 million students today. Python, however, adapts differently as it is useful for shifting legacy systems and makes the process simple and efficient.
Scalability – Handling ever-increasing workload with ease
Any business owner might be aware of what are commonly referred to as “growing pains”. What happens when you have workloads overwhelming the available resources? This is why scalability is such a critical component in software development.
There are two ways to work through this problem. One method is multithreading which encourages running several processes in parallel. Java uses multithreading better than Java. However, Python takes a different approach, multitasking. Multitasking enforces the idea of using a single thread for several tasks.
Syntax – The structure of statements in a programming language
The difference between Java and Python is quite striking. Python is much easier to understand and code. However, Java is easier to test and debug.
- Python supports dynamic typing – no need to specify data types for numbers, variables and the like.
- No need to end lines with semicolons and other stuff made for machine readability.
- The goal of Java is easy machine readability, the goal of Python is user readability.
Look at this sample code for print statements.
Java:
System.out.println(“Hello World”);
Python:
print (“Hello World”)
Object-oriented programming
In OOPS, we use objects to access members of a class and all the member variables and functions are declared inside a class. In Java, we need to first declare a variable before it can be defined. In Python, we can do this at one go
Java:
public class MyFirstJavaProgram {
/* This is my first java program.
* This will print ‘Hi Samco’ for 5 times as the output
*/
public static void main(String []args) {
for(int x=0; x < 5; x++){
System.out.println(“Hi Samco”);
}
}
}
Python:
#print text 5X
for x in range(0,5):
print(“Samco”)
Market Trends & Salaries
According to Stack Overflow’s annual Developer Survey 2019, Python is comfortably poised to stay at the top of the loved and wanted list for developers and all respondents around the world. With the demand for cloud solutions and mobile apps explode, the opportunities for Python developers are becoming abundant. In the US, with a pay scale of $118k per year, Python developers are in high demand.
The pictures look somewhat flat for a Java developer. Though it has a pay scale of $116k per year, Java as a language is losing out in terms of popularity and likability. However, what seems to work for Java is its range of use-cases and cross-industry appeal. Java is still highly relevant and has the backing of a strong community.
Disclaimer: As noted by Stack Overflow, the popularity of a programming language does not necessarily reflect its usability and application.
Suggested Read: Pythons Arrays & Array Methods
Getting Started
We hope we have highlighted some of the key factors behind choosing one language among Java vs Python. But its smart to know when to use which language based on your business needs. As with any good habit, programming is a skill acquired through constant effort and practice. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, the only way to grow is to put in consistent and disciplined work. At TechAffinity, our Java and Python developers are constantly looking at ways to improve their programming skills through constant learning and preparation. Due to their passion and commitment to excellence, we have been delivering path-breaking solutions to our clients at affordable costs. Send your queries to media@techaffinity.com to schedule a meeting and we will get in touch right away.