Choosing a suitable programming language for your app development project is quite a tough task. And that’s why many business owners and developers often face a dilemma with choosing between node.js vs python as the right backend technology.
And if you’re also in the same dilemma, then don’t worry as we will compare Node.JS and Python in detail which will help you make a better decision.
But before we dive deep into the comparison of Node.JS vs. Python, let us get a brief overview of Node.JS and Python.
A brief overview of Node.JS
Node.JS is an open source Javascript environment which was created by Ryan Dahl in 2009. It was developed on the pattern of Google’s V8 engine. Node.JS comes with built-in compilers, interpreters, and optimizers.
Furthermore, Node.JS presumes to have a smaller community as it is relatively newer but it is very easy to get top talents within the Node.JS circles.
A brief overview of Python
Python is a high-level object-oriented programming language developed by Guido van Rossum in 1991. Being the oldest programming language, Python comprises a lot of ancillary tools, libraries and APIs. Besides this, Python does not have a dearth of talent thanks to its larger community base.
As per HackerRank, Python is the most preferred language by the developers because it is conducive to multiple programming languages. That is why it can be used extensively to develop interactive business applications.
Node.JS vs. Python – How do they differ from each other?
Selection of the best language for their product gives sleepless nights to many startup owners. If the development language is suitable, it will let your app scale up easily. On the contrary, if you make the wrong choice then you might have to build the entire app right from the scratch, losing time, money, and the team’s morale.
Thorough research of backend languages can save CTOs and their teams from the stability, performance, or scalability issues. For this reason, we are presenting a comparison of two powerful backend languages – Node.JS and Python:
1. Scalability – node.js vs python
Ensure that your users do not face any obstacle while using your app. You need to make it so scalable that it can support a vast number of users with no error in performance. But you should keep in mind that the resource consumption of the language or coding environment would grow in similar proportions.
How scalable is Node.JS?
In the case of Node.JS, you can get greater flexibility. Rather than creating everything from the core and then doing the surrounding scaling, Node.JS enables you to create a set of modules and microservices which helps you to expand your app horizontally and vertically.
How scalable is Python?
On the other hand, Python doesn’t support asynchronous programming because of which its architecture is not scalable as Node.JS. However, Python contains some tools to accomplish amazing scalability.
2. Architecture – node.js vs python
Architecture means a set of practices that adhere to a specific framework or a language.
What is the architecture of Node.JS?
Node.JS comes with a single threaded architecture that can efficiently manage several concurrent requests at a high-performance rate. Because of this, the time-to-market gets cut down drastically.
What is the architecture of Python?
On the other hand, Python doesn’t come with in-built support for asynchronous programming. It follows a standard implementation called ‘cpython’. Besides this, Python doesn’t support multi-threading.
3. Speed & Performance – node.js vs python
While scaling an application, every single bit of efficiency can reduce operating costs. That is why speed and performance are essential while assessing a programming language or environment.
What will be the speed and performance of Node.JS?
Node.JS comparatively has a simpler and faster process of execution. On top of this, Node.JS is a solid contender as it can execute the code outside the web browser. Thus, the app processes at a faster speed and performs better on efficiency metrics.
What will be the speed and performance of Python?
Python’s architecture prohibits multi-threading, which slows down the processing speed as processes don’t run parallelly. No matter, Python’s syntax is easy to learn and execute, but it is not fast enough for applications that frequently recall data from the server.
4. Libraries and development tools
Libraries and development tools are one of the prime reasons behind the growth of app development. Because once you have devised a code, you do not have to recreate it. Instead, you can integrate this code directly from a library in your program while only writing code for the features that you want to create.
Which are the development tools and libraries used by Node.JS?
Node.JS contains comprehensive and well-documented libraries managed by the Node Package Manager. With 350,000 packages, NPM is the largest package repository in the world.
Which are the development tools and libraries used by Python?
Python uses Pip (Pip Installs Packages) for managing its libraries. It is observed that Python libraries are well-documented and easy to deploy. However, new technologies are often not as well-documented as older ones which makes the newer libraries less reliable.
5. Extensibility
Now you can easily extend, customise and integrate with other development tools. This means that you can modify the language with the help of integrated features. Hence, it is crucial for you to consider this aspect while making a choice from Node.JS or Python.
How extensive is Node.JS?
If you’re using its older versions, you can use Babel to pair Node.JS for smoother front-end development. You can also use Jasmine for unit-based testing or Log.io for project management. Along with this, you can use Webpack and PM2 for your module bundling.
How extensive is Python?
Python uses Sublime Text to edit codes. Robot Framework helps in automated testing. And then there are popular Node.JS frameworks like Django and Web2Py, which add a boatload of features.
Conclusion
Every tech framework and programming language should meet particular targets which are the basic criteria to build your preference. Don’t just choose the popular one. Your tech stack preference must depend on your requirements and capabilities. So, we would suggest that you hire Node.js developers or hire Python developers based on your project requirement.
