It's All About Python

From Netflix's recommendation algorithm to software control systems for self-driving cars, Python's broad scope of use has made it one of the most dynamic global programming languages. This Python growth trend has been reflected in the increased demand for Python specialists in the US labor market.??

We've turned to a few of our PieSoft experts—CTO Yegor Titulenko and DevOps Team Leader Sergey Ponomarenko —to take a closer look at and provide an objective perspective of what Python is, what it can do, and how you can use it to grow your business. Note that we are here to neither persuade nor dissuade use of the product but rather to provide the pros and cons of Python versus use of other programming languages.?

We believe that efficient code is the key to any IT challenge you may ever meet, and all means are reasonable on your way to excellence.?

?What Python is used for??

?Yegor Titulenko: Python is a general-purpose language that is very versatile. Python is designed for various tasks: web development, desktop applications, automation and scripts for DevOps, extensive calculations for data science, machine learning, software testing, and so forth. At PieSoft, we mainly use Python in DevOps practices.??

Sergey Ponomarenko: Python is one of the leading technologies used by teams practicing DevOps, and our PieSoft team is no exception. Python in DevOps has many libraries. It is possible to run Python code on almost any Operating System with just a few commands. Most systems have Python built-in, or it can be quickly installed, making it a desirable product. Python is compatible between versions, thereby, in most cases, making the script work on different Python versions. It is easier to create scripts with complex logic using Python than in Bash.?

Here is a short list of why this programming language is a must-have for everyone working in the DevOps department in our company.??

Can Python be used for web development??

Sergey Ponomarenko: Yes, Python offers several frameworks for web development. Commonly used ones include well-known Django and Flask.?

Yegor Titulenko: But don't forget that Python can be used partly to create, for example, a website, though it can't be used alone. Python must be used to respond to requests that return HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Moreover, using Python to build a website is a pretty complicated process. Yes, frameworks like Django and Flask make the task easier.??

Python or JavaScript???

Yegor Titulenko: I believe that demand for JavaScript developers will surpass Python for years ahead. Doing a quick search on Upwork, you'll get roughly the following results:??

JavaScript: 15,645 jobs??

Python: 6,943 jobs??

JavaScript is the de facto language for front-end web programming. It would be tough to find an argument against it, except for its challenging structure. Apart from that, it is easy to learn and ubiquitous, and an experienced JS coding hand can be found around every corner.??

Sergey Ponomarenko: Python, on the other hand, is rapidly growing. Some popular websites have been written using Python, i.e., Uber, Dropbox, Pinterest, and more. It wouldn't necessarily be my first choice of language for development, but it is widely used. And it is better than some other languages out there. ?

Can Python be used for front-end??

Sergey Ponomarenko: As a client-side scripting language, Python cannot be used at the front-end. ?

Is Python sustainable in terms of energy consumption? ? ?

Yegor Titulenko: As an interpreted language, Python needs more time to execute and is, therefore, one of the least "green" languages, occupying the position of those that consume the most energy, according to the research presented at the International Conference on Software Language Engineering in 2017. The results were updated last year and are still valid.?

Why is Python popular??

Yegor Titulenko: Python is beginner-friendly, making it extremely popular for entry-level coders. So, if you are new to the software-development world, choosing Python can be a great start, not just for web development but for an overall career in IT.?

Sergey Ponomarenko: Python versus Java? Python versus JavaScript? Python has simpler syntax and a lower entry threshold in both cases.?

Plus, Python's tremendous flexibility and various libraries can significantly help in different cases, from scripting to web dev and data analysis. So, if you are open and willing to use Python in your project, don't hesitate to try it out!?