In software development, choosing the right programming language can make or break your next big project. There is an ongoing debate about which is better – Java or Python? Both have been around for quite a while but Python has been gaining in popularity because of its vast set of libraries and ease of use.
Python is more approachable for the aspiring developers, whereas, Java has a steep learning curve.
Let’s discuss the differences between the two and explore the various advantages of using Python over Java.
What is Java?
Java Is a high-level, class-based, object-oriented programming language that was developed by Sun Microsystems and introduced on May 23, 1995. It is a widely popular framework used for designing millions of web applications and is a network-centric coding language that can be used as a platform by itself. Java is famous for being fast, secure, reliable, and can be used to design a variety of mobile apps and enterprise software, right from server-side technologies to big data applications. Java can be used to build localized software and is often referred to as WORA which stands for Write Once and Run Anywhere. It is perfect for designing decentralized cloud-based apps and can be integrated with advanced technologies like virtual reality and machine learning.
When you code with Java, the code gets automatically converted to machine-readable code and is compiled, which makes it one of the faster choices. Java is helpful for building web applications, microservices, and enterprise-level applications for a variety of industries such as healthcare, finance, education, Fintech, governments, etc. Big companies like NASA, Google, and Facebook use Java these days too.
What is Python?
Python is an object-oriented, interpreted, general-purpose, and high-level programming language used to build dynamic enterprise-level apps and web services. It emphasizes the use of built-in data structures and combines dynamic binding with dynamic typing. Python is ideal for rapid application development, is simple to use, and is extremely easy to learn.
Its syntax is not complicated and the framework supports various packages and modules, thus encouraging program modularity and code reuse. Many standard libraries in Python are available in binary format as well as in the source code, and they can be freely distributed at no additional cost across all major platforms.
Python can be used for everything from software testing, machine learning, automation, data science, and web development. It versatility is one of the many reasons why developers are attracted to it and Python continues to be one of the most in-demand programming languages within the industry. Top companies that use Python nowadays are Industrial Light & Magic, Amazon, Stripe, Quora, Netflix, Google, and Instagram.
History of Java
Java language was initially named ‘OAK’ and designed to manage portable devices and set-top boxes. However, it failed and Sun Microsystems changed from OAK to Java in 1995. It became a popular choice in the web development business and around 2009, Oracle Corporation made an acquisition and took over all of Sun’s software assets, namely – MySQL, Java, and Solaris.
History of Python
Python was first introduced in the late 1980s but actually implemented around December 1989 across projects. Its inventor is Guido van Rossum who is from the Netherlands. Rossum launched the first version of Python (0.9.0) in February 1999, and it was initially derived from the ABC programming language.
Python soon evolved and these days, it is maintained by the core development team that is led by Rossum who still plays a vital role in its advancements.
Python vs Java: Comparison
|
Feature |
Python |
Java |
|
Typing |
Dynamically typed |
Statically typed |
|
Language |
Interpreted language |
Compiled and interpreted language |
|
Popularity |
Very popular according to the communities at Stackoverflow, Octovesrse, and Google Trends Python |
Java is less popular than Python nowadays and has fewer users |
|
Application development |
Supports building image processing and machine learning applications, scientific & numeric computing, and language development |
Can build desktop GUI apps, web apps, enterprise solutions, and embedded systems |
|
Syntax |
Syntax rules are flexible and do not require any indentation or the enclosure of braces. Variables are automatically input during runtime and developers don’t need to type them in manually |
Syntax rules are very stringent and developers need to type in all the variables |
|
Ease of learning |
Java has a complex learning curve and requires dedicated training |
Python is easy to learn and use |
|
Code |
The length of code for Java programs is greater than Python. For example, a simple “hello world” programs requires the following lines: public class HelloWorld { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println(“Hello, World!”); } } |
Python code is simple and needs only a few short lines. For example: print(‘Hello, World!’) |
|
Portability |
Java applications can be run on any computer or mobile device using the Java virtual machine |
Python programs require an interpreter to be installed first on the target machine to execute Python code, thus making it less portable |
|
Database support |
Offers stable connectivity |
Connectivity is weak |
|
Machine learning libraries |
Popular offerings are Mallet, Deeplearning4j, MOA, and Weka |
Popular offerings are Pytorch and Tensorflow |
|
Speed |
Java is faster than Python |
Python is slower than Java |
|
Performance |
Java has a just-in-time compiler which is a part of the Java virtual machine. Byte code is generated into native code which is automatically compiled and there is no need for interpretation. Java doesn’t consume much processing power and memory. |
Python uses more processing time and memory as variables are not declared by default when writing programs. It increases workloads for the interpreter which makes runtime slower. |
If you are aiming to boost productivity, Python is a clear winner as it can speed up enterprise application development. Python offers seamless integrations and has many control capabilities that can streamline development workflows. It can model real-world entities and run type-checking at runtime as it is dynamically typed.
Python vs Java: Security
Python and Java are both secure, however, Java has advanced authentication and ccess control functionalities. Java uses bytecode and creates class files with it which is tested by the JVM to check for viruses and malware. Python is easy to debug and keeps the code simple which prevents future risks. It has advanced security measures but falls a bit short behind Java.
Python vs Java: Mobile App Development
Mobile app development is all about speed and Java performs very well when it comes to designing and deploying android mobile apps. Python has a hard time building native apps for mobile devices but can be used to design cross-platform applications using libraries like Kivy. Both Java and Python are preferred by developers in that aspect.
Advantages of Python over Java
Following are the advantages of Python over Java:
- Python is one of the most incredibly productive frameworks in the industry out there and includes various scientific packages. It is a full-fledged general purpose language and is application-based, unlike Java that is platform-based. The data science community worldwide recognizes Python as a prerequisite skill and there is a lot of demand for Python developers across different countries.
- Python is a powerful choice for building enterprise-level applications and well-suited for backend development. Django and Flask are the most popular Python frameworks and they add efficiency and security to enterprise application projects. Java uses Spring as a well-known framework but it is not as popular as Python’s frameworks nowadays.
- Python is used as a scripting framework for various game development projects
- Python is widely chosen by data scientists because of its simplicity and ability to develop machine learning algorithms. It has rich libraries, packages, and can be used for various machine learning and artificial intelligence projects. Scikit-learn is a popular Python library being used these days by such professionals.
- The average salary of a Java developer in India is INR 4.43 lacs per annum while the average salary of a Python developer is INR 5.1 lacs per annum. A fresher in Java development can earn around INR 1.99 lac per annum whereas a new Python developer can make INR 2.31 lacs per annum. Python programmers are well-paid and experienced Python developers can earn up to INR 12.61 lacs per annum. Top companies that hire Python developers are Accenture, Wipro, and Tata Consultancy Services. Python has become an industry standard in the software development sector and the demand for Python developers in domains like machine learning and data science as skyrocketing.
Conclusion:
Python is an ideal choice for beginners who are new to programming and its syntax very much resembles basic English language. As it is open source, it allows the integration and addition of various tools and services to expand on its existing features. On the other hand, Java is more complex and designed to complete big coding projects, with the specific goal of writing code that is written once and run anywhere.
Ultimately, it boils down to what enterprises want, and choosing between Java or Python is influenced by development costs. Whether you want to hire Java developers or hire Python developers, we can help. Both these frameworks are secure programming languages and an excellent choice for a variety of web, mobile, and software development projects. Python is evolving day-by-day and prospects look bright for this upcoming framework.
