Which is Best Language in 2017 – PHP or Python?
2017 is the year, full of web applications and API's. In the process of reinventing the app every time, most of the web developers just make use of scaffolding's and third party libraries and develop the projects which are ready for live deployments within days.
When comes to this software world, both PHP and Python most popular coding languages of 2015. Both PHP and Python are most powerful open source, interpreted and popular programming languages on the internet. While PHP web development is the most widely used by developers as a primary server side scripting language, whereas Python is used as dynamic and general purpose language.
Both differ in their features, essentials, functionality and usage. When you talk to the PHP developers, they will obviously say PHP is better than any other language. Same for Python developers. Generally, very few PHP web development company in India say only some of the good things about the language which they don't use for their projects.
But in this article I can discuss about both the features and essentials of programming languages where the area, the beginner should consider.
Python Vs PHP – Major Differences
Initial Design:
PHP was originally created and developed as a simple module language that can be embedded in HTML. While Python was created as a hobby language in 1989 being developed by the Python Software Foundation.
Programming Paradigms:
PHP web application development supports object-oriented, functional, practical, procedural, basic, and intellectual programming styles. Whereas Python supports object-oriented, aspect-oriented, structured, and functional programming styles. And it also supports logical programming styles through extensions.
Popularity:
No doubt in this! Both PHP and Python will not run the projects, even though developers and clients consider them. And obviously PHP is widely responsible for 80% of the market share. Some of the major websites like “Wikipedia, Flickr, Tumblr and Yahoo, Amazon, Microsoft, Linked in, Wordpress and even more ”. Obviously Facebook also used PHP as their primary language before, but now social media has been transitioned into the PHP frameworks that consists all the features that FB developers need for.
Whereas Python was gradually used by industry giants such as “Google,You tube, Quora, Disqus, Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify, Drop box and even more” uses Python in their app platform either partially or completely. (either partially or completely) in their product platforms.
When comes to the popularity, both PHP web application development and Python web development are used everyday by the developers for their project launch.
Minimal and Readable Code:
As PHP runs on long lines of code, most of the programmers use python, which builds the complex applications within a short period of time. Thus, python makes the developers very easy to create organized and clean code as it emphasizes on code readability.
Syntax:
Syntax of PHP is identical to C. While writing the code developers have to frequently use $ signs, {} and → for ignoring white space. Also to use increment, decrements and assignment operators. While in Python, developers no need to use lots of curly braces as it is already a highly readable language from the beginning. Also, it allows programmers to use English Keywords.
Type Discipline and Garbage Collection:
When comes to garbage collection, PHP beats Python in this category. PHP supports garbage collections such as built-in gc_enable function. But Python supports cycle-detecting garbage collector, while effectuates memory management.
Highlights of PHP
Apart from these syntax, readable code most of the developers use PHP as their functional language for its security, frameworks and CMS.
Before Python can be the most popular one than PHP because of its readable code. But now PHP 7 has come with excellent performance and speed which dominates all aspects of web application development.
Comparing with several factors PHP 7 and PHP 7.1 released speed related improvements and it was the best thing happened in 2017.
When compared to Python, now PHP also improved its coding language as organized and readable.
Frameworks and CMS
PHP web development services offer a large number of frameworks like Laravel, Yii, Cake PHP so that the developers can use general purpose and industry specific applications. Such a PHP framework being used by millions of users in the recent era.
While Python does not use such a kind of frameworks and the options in python frameworks are quite limited. Python developers use Django ad Flask in crafting web apps. And the number of Python frameworks is increasing because of its increased mainstream projects.
And when comes to CMS. The Content Management System is software platforms which do the projects in a flexible manner. Whether it may be a blog, or e-commerce store or corporate portal, CMS just offers the unique and comprehensive solution for the developers and end users so that they can focus on business completely rather than building it from scratch.
Such a CMS , Wordpress, Open Source E-commerce, Magento and WooCommerce is built in PHP. Whereas Python offers Django powered CMS which has limited features.
And from the above cases PHP is a winner in the recent era than Python because it does something special for developers often.
Learning Curve
In a programming language, learning curve defines the ease or difficulty in a particular language. Also it deals with complete fluent with syntax and then translates the design into functional code.
But although new of versions PHP are growing, Python has a slight edge over it. Python is very ease to read the code and also understandable. PHP is quite difficult to understand for the beginners. Rules are less tough and has room for mistakes. Whereas Python is tolerable to mistakes and code will not break suddenly with minor mistakes. As it is great for beginners to understand many of the CS schools opt for Python as their fundamental language.
PHP gurus and many communities trying to make language much easier to understand as easy as Python. And also making great efforts to make it beginner friendly.
Final Words
The toughest decision in the software world is choosing the right programming language! Both PHP and Python is worth learning for beginners and offers many learning opportunities via user-friendly syntax validation tools. Also ease out many clients' projects for the start ups and enterprises and allows for a firm foundation of the language.
From my view, I recommend, beginners should try both the languages and then choose as their targeted one as they wish to enter. Again Python appears to be user friendly language to learn and PHP open up better job portals and technical resources.
Whether it may be a Python or PHP, you can hire developers from one of the top PHP web development company in India who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules. Get cost effective PHP web development services and save your time with the fellow experts.
Offcourse, in the next article we sahll discuss about React Native Mobile App development which rules native Android and iOS platform.