Five Key Differences Between Java and Python
Before we move to the actual differences, it’s worth reminding that both languages are so popular for a reason. Developers (at least some of them) enjoy using them, and some companies even have strict guidelines for product development that software must be written in those leading technologies.
One of the main reasons for that is that we can be pretty confident that software written in those languages will be sustainable and scalable thanks to their status and the wide availability of developers to extend the development team if needed.
1. Compiled (Java) vs. Interpreted (Python)
The difference comes down in large part to the performance and robustness of Java and the flexibility and speed of development with Python. Java software has to be compiled, which means translating the source code to machine-native code, which happens on launch. With interpreted language such as Python, processes are performed on the fly, which can lead to slower runtime, but it makes the development process much faster. As you’ll see, this results in pretty much all the other aspects.
For example, if you want to use a variable in Java, you must define its name and type beforehand. In Python, you can simply write that x, y, z = 1, 2, 3, and that’s it. The first option is more solid and makes debugging significantly easier. The second gives devs much more freedom and allows them to create simple software in a much faster way.
However, the more complex and foolproof you want the application to be, the more you’ll want to focus on reliability. That’s why Python is often preferred for MVP projects or idea validation, and Java is used to build massive systems.
2. Performance
The other reason Java is better for more extensive projects is its performance. As a compiled language, Java software will run faster than similar software in Python, and the difference can be quite significant.
3. Scalability
In terms of scalability, Java is a clear favorite. As a scripting language, Python processes take much more power and time, so the bigger the application is, the slower it will be compared to a similar app in Java. In addition to that, Java has more libraries aimed at enterprises, which helps even more in the development of large systems.
4. Speed of Development
The advantage in the speed of development is definitely on the Python side. Java requires more coding and has a more complex syntax, which makes the entire development process far more time-consuming.
On top of that, Python is much easier to learn, and it resembles the English language. That’s why it’s widely used by scientists that don’t necessarily need complex software. It also makes team extension a much more manageable challenge.
5. Cost of Development (Python is Much Cheaper)
Generally speaking, it’s fair to say that the development cost in Python will be lower. The process is much more straightforward and allows for shortcuts and tweaks that simply wouldn’t be possible in a compiled language like Java.
However, we’re clearly comparing apples and oranges here. Many types of software simply cannot (or at least shouldn’t) be developed in Java, and the same goes for Python.
So, if we say that a given project will be cheaper if we choose Python, it probably means that using Java just doesn’t make sense in that particular case. No matter the situation, we always start with the project and its requirements. And that brings us to a conclusion.
