Python vs. Java vs. .NET: Choosing the correct programming language for your business from multiple options can be challenging. And even after hours of internet browsing and counceling with experts you may be left with at least three choices:
- Python
- Java
- .NET
Python vs. Java vs. .NET is one of the most common discussions among developers. Wondering who is the winner? Let’s take a look at some of the key considerations and find out.
Overview of Python, Java & .NET
Before comparing Python, Java, and .NET, let’s learn some key points about the three frameworks.
Python
Python, created in 1991 by Guido van Rossum, is a general-purpose language used to create complex programs with ease. It’s now one of the most popular languages used in data science and machine learning due to its versatility and ability to scale quickly.
It is an interpreted, open-source, high-level language that provides an excellent object-oriented programming approach. With its powerful library of packages, such as NumPy and SciPy, Python has become the first choice among professional data scientists.
Python is commonly used to develop software and websites, analyze data, visualize data, and automate tasks.
Java
Java is a high-level programming language primarily used to design Internet-based applications. It has been one of the most popular languages since it was released in 1995. Programs written in Java are compiled into bytecode, then translated into machine code by a virtual machine. One of its main advantages over other languages is that it offers a rich library for file input/output operations, making programming more accessible.
Developers use Java to build applications in data centers, scientific supercomputers, cell phones, laptops, game consoles, and other devices. You can also hire java developers from reputed companies to get your work done in a more effective way.
.NET
.NET is basically a software framework created by Microsoft to allow programmers to build robust and stable applications. It was released in 2002 as a successor to ActiveX technologies. The language has become very popular in web development because of its HTML-like syntax and object-oriented approach.
The language behind .NET is C# which uses Unicode text encoding and UTF-8 encoding by default. It also supports all the features of C++, such as operator overloading, classes, inheritance, etc. To get scalable web and mobile applications for businesses, hire .NET developers from the best software development companies.
You can use .NET for web, mobile, desktop, games, IoT, and more.
Python vs. Java vs. .NET: Comparision
After briefly explaining all three programming languages, let’s explore their striking features and compare them.
Speed & Performance
In speed and performance, Java has always been a game-changer because of the JIT Compiler (Java’s In-Time Compiler ). With the JIT Compiler, compiling bytecode into native machine code becomes easy as the compiler skips the whole processing time and reduces memory usage. It will improve the speed and performance of your application.
The workload of Python interpreters is comparatively very high, which limits the speed and performance of Python applications. Moreover, the Python interpreter consumes a lot of memory.
.Net features an easy-to-use programming language that includes checking arrays against bounds and garbage collection while being more efficient than Java and durable than Python. Other than that, Java and .Net have similar performance and speed.
Stability
When we discuss developing web or mobile applications that are highly stable, we need to keep a close eye on how tough it is.
The fact that Java is continuously updated and upgraded by the libraries and community makes Java-based applications more stable. Stability is one of the significant reasons why enterprises rely on Java for application development.
In contrast, Python is a highly versatile programming language continuously upgrading.
Several new features and functionalities have been added to Python 3.10, making it as stable as Java-based applications.
In .Net, the Windows Web Server alerts stakeholders whenever any problems are detected. By using it, .Net applications become more stable and transparent.
All three languages offer high levels of stability, so there is no winner here.
Frameworks
When developing a cross-platform application, Python is often paired with the Django framework.
However, Python developers mostly opt for the Flask framework when building a cross-platform application.
In contrast, Java developers use Spring, a highly versatile and easy-to-use framework with outstanding functionalities and features.
.Net developers use the .NET framework with Visual Studio to create and run software applications. The Visual Studio is an IDE, Integrated Development Environment offering various development productivity and debugging tools.
Developers use Visual Studio to create and run software apps as part of the .NET framework. Basically, Visual Studio is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that provides a range of other development debugging and productivity tools.
There is no winner here, either. All three languages have superior frameworks.
Popularity
Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. With a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that can be used with the language, it’s easy to see why. The simplicity of its syntax makes it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced programmers.
Python has recently gained popularity because it’s a simple language that’s easy to learn but still has some powerful features. It has a huge following due to its readability and simplicity.
On the other hand, .NET has also gained popularity recently.
According to a survey result on stack overflow, 43.51% of developers and professionals prefer Python compared to .Net (36.41%) and Java (33.4%).
Language Support
Java offers a wide range of languages such as scripting, object-oriented programming, concurrent programming, etc. This language has a large community and users will find many free tools to help them with their development process.
The JVM (Java Virtual Machine) can run on all major operating systems, including Windows 7/8, Mac OSX 10.6+ x86 64-bit, Linux x86 32-bit, or x86 64-bit.
Python doesn’t have some features found in other languages like C# or Java, but it has built-in support for object-oriented programming (OOP).
The framework was designed to allow developers to create dynamic web applications. It was released in 2001 as an open-source platform supported by Microsoft. It can be used on Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems.
In recent years, Microsoft has also opened up its development tools to work with other languages such as Python or C++ if you don’t want to work exclusively in C#.
Developers typically use Visual Studio to build their apps because it includes a debugger and supports a wide range of plug-ins that make developing web applications more accessible.
Programming Language Learning Curve
Java is not as easy to learn and implement as Python and .Net.
Java coding is complex and requires technical expertise. A beginner might end up creating code that is functionally incorrect and full of bugs.
Privacy & Security
Since Java and Python are open-source platforms, there are some security concerns. However, Microsoft, the owner of the .Net framework, ensures the security of the applications it develops.
Even though Python and .Net applications are considered to be more secure than their counterparts, it is still advisable to implement security measures to prevent attackers from taking advantage of any vulnerabilities that might exist.
Protection can be implemented using cryptography or performing authentication checks at various points within an application. Finally, one must ensure that all credentials are stored securely, which can be achieved by keeping them encrypted on a device or in a cloud storage service like Amazon S3.
Comparison Table of Python Vs. Java Vs. .Net
Take a look at the comparison table provided below for a better understanding:
| Features | Python | Java | .Net |
| Web App Frameworks | Django, Bottle, Flask, web2Py | Apache Wicket, Angular, Grails | ASP.Net MVC, ASP.Net Core, ASP.Net Razor |
| Performance | Medium level | HIgh level | High level |
| Operating Systems | macOS, Windows, Linux | Windows, Ubuntu | Windows |
| Database Support | Weak | Stable | Stable |
| Security | Moderate level | Moderate level | High level |
| Community Support | Larger | Larger | Larger |
| Learning Curve | Simpler | Harder | Simpler |
Final Words
All three frameworks, namely Python, Java, and .Net, offer top-level features and facilitate the construction of top-notch web apps. Your selection will purely depend on the requirements and preferences of your business. If you want to develop agile web applications for a large company, go for Java.
Moreover, we would like to tell you that Java is a popular programming language, but Python and .Net are widely used technologies.
In case you want to develop a fantastic web application, we recommend you hire python developers or .Net developers.
