If you are landing on this page you might be looking for several questions like:
– NodeJS or Python: which is the right choice for my next web app development project?
– Which programming language cost me less?
– Which programming language is suitable for which industry?
– Which programming language is suitable for small business or large scale enterprises?
– Which programming language is scalable, high performing and secure?
In this blog post, I’m going to answer all these questions AND MORE THAN THAT! So, continue reading this blog post:
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1. Node.js VS Python: A Brief Intro
_________________________________________________________________________________Both Node.js (majorly used as a backend framework), and Python (front-end and back-end programming language) are used extensively for programming of a web app. It is vital to select a suitable framework or programming language for web app development because it is the backbone of every web app.
Node.js and Python are extensively used for this purpose. When you talk about Node.js or python, you are actually comparing JavaScript with Python. This is because Node.js is actually a framework built on Google Chrome’s JavaScript. Python vs Javascript
Both of them are among the top programming languages according to the TOIBE index.
Here is the list with May 2018 and May 2019 rankings.
Python is maintaining its fourth position whereas JavaScript has climbed up from eighth to the seventh position. Undoubtedly, Python is more popular than JavaScript run-time, Node.js. The web app using Python are more in number in comparison to Node.js.
Source: SimilarTech
The stats depict that the popularity of Python is more than Node.js. But this does not showcase that Python is better than Node.js in all aspects and circumstances. In fact, choosing the best technology for the development of your project is not that simple.
It requires an in-depth analysis of various factors and facts. Let’s discuss the major aspects to solve the popular query of Node.js vs Python: Which is better?
2. Node.js vs Python: Usage Statistics Industry-Wise
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According to the above representation, Python is a popular choice in all domains under consideration. Python is being used since its launch in 1991 and has more coverage in websites under all categories.
Although, this does not show a complete picture. Do you know why? It is true that Python is more popular in the entire web but NodeJs is used by top sites. Yes! NodeJS is more popular among top 100K websites, Top 10K websites, and Top 1M sites.
Summary: Python rules the entire web but NodeJS rules the top web apps.
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3. Node.js vs Python: Scalability
_________________________________________________________________________________It is obvious that you want many new people to use your applications without any hindrance. The capacity of an application to support an increasing number of users without any flaw in its performance is known as scalability.
Scalability through Node.js programming can be achieved naturally as it creates asynchronous architecture in a single thread. This default feature of this Javascript framework ensures smooth scalability of application written in NodeJs code.
Simple web apps can be created with a complete guarantee for scalability by using the NodeJS framework. If you wish to provide the same convenience in the complex app then you will have to hire Node.js app developers who have in-depth knowledge.
On the other hand, Python does not have the default feature for supporting asynchronous programming. This means that Python’s architecture is not as scalable as that of NodeJS. But Python has some tools to offer which allow achieving scalability easily.
Summary: NodeJS provides easy scalability as compared to Python.
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4. Node.js vs Python: Learning Curve
_________________________________________________________________________________The learning curve is a measurement of the ability of users to write code in a particular language or framework. It depicts the fluency of web app developers in syntax and tools. In the case of NodeJS, if you know JavaScript then it will not be a problem to learn this framework.
This makes it easy to learn. Probably this is the reason the NodeJS has topped the list of most popular frameworks with a remarkable score of 49.9%.
On the other hand, Python language is not written in a well-known language like NodeJS. So, its syntax is new to the python developers. But it has a cleaner and compact code. One can easily write its code as they have to write fewer lines.
A few lines of code in Python can help you reach the same result as NodeJS. Moreover, being an old language, it has well-developed documentation also. A software developer will never run short of knowledge base when it comes to Python.
In the StackOverflow survey, Python is among the topmost preferred languages. Full-stack developers love to use this easy, precise, and efficient language for building apps. Here is the graphical representation of the same:
Summary: Python is easier to learn than NodeJS if you do not know JavaScript.
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Read more: How to hire a Python developer at 60% lost?
5. Node.js vs Python: Suitable Projects
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Node.js is ideal for small projects in web application development and website development. It is not recommended for web development companies to use this framework of javascript for large projects because it lacks clear coding standards.
On the other hand, Python is suitable for a vast range of projects from web apps, numerical computations, to machine learning and network programming. It is an ideal programming language to perform various tasks.
Python has several frameworks that can be used for backend like, Django, Flask, Pyramids. It also has frameworks like Tkinter/PySide which can be used at the front-end. Its precise coding makes it ideal for large projects also.
Therefore, if you are planning to get a large project developed then choose python developers. But if you have a small business or startup then your ideal choice should be to hire NodeJS web developers.
Summary: Node.js is suitable for small projects whereas python can be used for large projects also. Python can be used to do a variety of operations like machine learning etc.
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6. Node.js vs Python: Data and memory-intensive applications
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Node.js is probably the best framework of contemporary times to develop data-intensive run-time applications. For example, you can develop apps that involve chat functionality. Such apps developed by Nodejs development companies can proficiently handle proxy, queued inputs, and data-streaming.
The high speed offered by NodeJS has made it an ideal choice for heavy traffic sites like e-commerce stores as well. It is also suitable for memory-intensive activities like developing applications using 3D graphics.
On the other hand, because of the lower speed, Python is not an ideal choice for real-time applications. It is also not suggested to use Python in memory-intensive applications.
Summary: NodeJS wins over Python for developing data and memory-intensive applications.
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7. Node.js vs Python: Performance
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Performance is directly related to the speed of the application. This speed is the rate at which your code can be executed. This is the chief feature that we look for in any programming tool.
The comparison of Python and Node.js on this parameter is not tough. We all know that NodeJS is based on Google Chrome’s version 8. It is a very powerful and fast engine. This has made the speed and performance of NodeJS extremely high.
In comparison to Python, NodeJS wins in speed and performance. This is why it is preferred for chatting or messaging app development. While Python is not recommended in data-intensive run-time applications.
Therefore, if your idea revolves around chatting functionalities then NodeJS is a better choice than Python. Select according to the core purpose of your web development project.
Summary: NodeJS is significantly faster than Python.
8. Node.js vs Python: Error Handling
_________________________________________________________________________________When the developers write codes, errors are an unavoidable part. The convenience and transparency in detecting errors are quite important when it comes to a programming tool. The tools we are discussing here are efficient in handling errors.
Although, Python has an upper hand here as it takes lesser time to fix the bugs as well as errors. Node.js also has a good command in catching exceptions that occur during code execution.
So, error handling will not suffer if you choose any of the two programming tools for the development of your website. This will also reduce the overall completion time and increases the chances of getting a robust website in the first attempt.
Summary: NodeJS and Python are almost equal in catching and throwing errors.
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9. Node.js vs Python: Use cases
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Node.js use case:
LinkedIn: One of the largest platforms for interaction among professionals. Node.js has successfully managed its ever-growing user base. Loads of messages, as well as connections, are very well taken care of by the high-speed attribute of this Javascript framework.
eBay: A famous e-commerce store for C2C and B2C sales operations is used worldwide. The ability of Node.js for handling heavy traffic sites and data-intensive applications has been appreciated by eBay.
Mozilla: Node.js is a programming tool that has allowed the same language to be used on both sides. Mozilla considers it a team consolidation tool as Node.js is used for both the client-side development and server-side development for its browser.
Python Use Cases:
United Space Alliance: For the NASA shuttle program software development, they chose Python. The massive data processing and ability to serve complex programs of Python programming language impressed them.
Frequentis: The straightforward syntax of Python allowed this air traffic management, transport, and public safety solution provider to use it. Python is used for developing navigation and weather condition monitoring instruments of the company.
Industrial Light and Magic: Python eased the process of maintaining outstanding batch processing abilities of ILM. It has proved itself the best choice for the processing of thousands of frames per day.
Conclusion:
In the end, these are the three things that we can conclude:
Python is used more in the entire web but Node.js is more popular among top websites
Node.js provides more scalability, speed, and better performance, so more suitable for data and memory-intensive apps. Python is suitable for more variety of tasks.
Both Node.js and python are easy to learn and settle errors efficiently.
I hope that after reading this complete post, you have a clear idea about the most suitable programming tool for your web app development project. All web technologies are efficient in one or the other way, you just need to find out the most suitable one according to your business goals.
If you have any suggestions or additions for this blog, then please share them with me in the comment section below. I am open to a healthy and informative discussion with readers because I believe that knowledge increases with sharing.