{"id":3766,"date":"2020-04-21T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/uncategorized\/is-python-a-good-language-to-learn\/"},"modified":"2023-08-30T13:05:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T11:05:30","slug":"is-python-a-good-language-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/data-analytics\/is-python-a-good-language-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Python a Good Language to Learn?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may have heard that Python is the fastest-growing programming language. <\/strong>You\u2019ve probably also heard that it\u2019s heavily in-demand. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019re even considering learning it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But before you do, it\u2019s natural to want to know: is Python really a language worth learning? Or is it all just hype?<\/p>\n

In this blog post, we\u2019ll explore the evidence behind Python\u2019s popularity. We\u2019ll then look at some of the reasons why it\u2019s a good language to learn, to help you decide if it\u2019s the right skill for you. To make things easier, we\u2019ve broken this down into the following sections:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Why is Python so in-demand?<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Why should I learn Python?<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Five reasons to start learning Python right now<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Summary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Without further ado, let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

    1. Why is Python so in-demand?<\/h2>\n

    There\u2019s no doubt about it: Python is booming. This isn\u2019t just hearsay.<\/p>\n

    In the 2023 Stack Overflow developer survey<\/a> (which had over 87,000 respondents) Python was second-top of the rankings for most desired language, coming in just<\/strong> behind JavaScript. 45% of professional developers also said that Python was their preferred programming language.<\/p>\n

    Meanwhile, the TIOBE index\u2014a renowned industry measure of the popularity of programming languages\u2014charts a similar rise.<\/p>\n

    \"A
    Source: Tiobe<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    According to TIOBE, Python is now<\/strong> the<\/strong> most popular programming language in the world <\/strong>as of Dec 2023<\/a>, having surged ahead of C and C++.<\/p>\n

    So, all the evidence suggests that Python is here to stay. But why?<\/p>\n

    Python is very straightforward to use<\/h3>\n

    Python\u2019s syntax (the set of rules that govern its structure) is wonderfully intuitive. Because it is easy to code and read, this makes it especially popular with new data analysts<\/a> and developers alike (also reflected in the Stack Overflow survey). In addition, Python is easy to debug, making it ideal for inexperienced developers.<\/p>\n

    Python has an excellent standard library<\/h3>\n

    Python\u2019s standard library includes tonnes of commonly-used functionality. Databases, graphic user interfaces, common mathematical equations (such as logarithms, square roots, and trigonometric functions), and more. Rather than coding from scratch, this means that developers can save time and effort using pre-existing code. Bonus!<\/p>\n

    Python is open-source and community-driven<\/h3>\n

    Python\u2019s code is open-source (free to distribute and adapt). As a result, there are now thousands of freely-available third-party libraries available. This has had a positive feedback effect, too. More functionality means more users. More users mean stronger online communities, which further boosts Python\u2019s popularity. It is only growing!<\/p>\n

    Python is platform-independent<\/h3>\n

    One of Python\u2019s most useful features is that it is compatible with many operating systems. This includes Windows, Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD. It\u2019s also compatible with other architectures (you can find a full list in their official documentation<\/a>\u00a0). The ability to run on different systems with minimal changes to its code makes Python extremely versatile. For instance, it is often used to \u2018glue together\u2019 other pieces of software (another key reason for its burgeoning popularity).<\/p>\n

    2. Why should I learn Python?<\/h2>\n

    We\u2019ve established that Python is in demand, and we\u2019ve covered some of the reasons why. But is Python the right language for you?<\/p>\n

    As in any situation, the answer is: \u201cit depends\u201d. However, as a general-purpose language, Python has a number of compelling applications in the field of data analytics and beyond. You can learn more about how data analysts use Python in this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    In this section, however, we\u2019ll focus on some other reasons why adding Python to your skillset might be a good idea.<\/p>\n

    Python is a good gateway language for beginners<\/h3>\n

    Python\u2019s easy syntax (i.e. its readability) doesn\u2019t only make it easy to learn; it also makes Python an excellent \u2018gateway\u2019 language.<\/p>\n

    As a highly abstract language, it is very intuitive for new learners as it allows you to focus less on the code and more on the programming concepts themselves. These skills are transferable if you ever decide to dip a toe into more complex programming languages.<\/p>\n

    Python is also good for experienced developers<\/h3>\n

    For experienced developers, Python might not seem worth learning, especially if you\u2019re accustomed to the speed and precision of lower-level languages.<\/p>\n

    That said, even if your role requires complex or memory-intensive tasks (such as intensive CPU functions) you may still need Python to port code from other applications.<\/p>\n

    Back- and front-end developers, working with languages like Java or JavaScript, often use Python\u2014web frameworks like Django<\/a> and Flask<\/a> make it easy to link backend services to frontend web apps.<\/p>\n

    Python is good for productivity<\/h3>\n

    Like other general-purpose programming languages, Python is object-oriented.<\/p>\n

    This means it easily allows you to create applications using pre-existing objects (types of data structure). You can read in-depth about object-oriented programming in our guide<\/a>, but for the sake of this post, what\u2019s important to understand is that Python is versatile and fast to use.<\/p>\n

    This makes it excellent for quick prototyping and improved productivity.<\/p>\n

    For some tasks, its drawbacks outweigh its benefits<\/h3>\n

    We\u2019ve waxed lyrical about Python\u2019s benefits. Time to fess up\u2014Python isn\u2019t perfect for everything!<\/p>\n

    For instance, it\u2019s not really suited to memory-heavy tasks, such as running native computer hardware. And because it is dynamically typed (meaning its type-checking takes place at execution, rather than being precompiled) it also often requires more debugging.<\/p>\n

    On measure, though, while Python may be slower for some jobs, its coding speed generally outweighs the drawbacks of its execution speed (which are minimal).<\/p>\n

    To illustrate this, check out this command written in Java, versus the same code in Python<\/a>. Which one looks quicker to write? You guessed it\u2014Python!<\/p>\n

    \"Data<\/h2>\n

    3. Five reasons to start learning Python right now<\/h2>\n

    We\u2019ve shown that Python is a) in-demand, and b) worth learning.<\/p>\n

    But you\u2019re busy\u2026 Python can wait, right? Don\u2019t be so sure.<\/p>\n

    Here are five compelling reasons to make hay while the sun shines, and start learning Python right away.<\/p>\n

    1. Python is huge in data analytics, machine learning, and AI\u2014and it is only growing<\/h3>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Python\u2019s use in data analytics<\/a>, machine learning, and AI is expanding by the day.<\/p>\n

    These disciplines are growing at an exponential rate, and an increasing number of data analysts use Python. While its popularity is a good thing, it does mean the competition is getting stiffer. Lay the foundations now, and you\u2019ll keep pace with future change.<\/p>\n

    2. Learning Python will improve your job prospects<\/h3>\n

    Global organizations like Spotify, Netflix, and Google all use Python.<\/p>\n

    When Google was just starting out, their software engineers even declared that they would use \u201cPython when we can, C++ when we must.\u201d With Python so ubiquitous, proficiency using it is no longer a nice-to-have for many companies. It is fast becoming a staple.<\/p>\n

    3. It is easy to download, install and learn<\/h3>\n

    Python comes pre-installed on many operating systems. And what better way to decide if it\u2019s the right language for you than by playing around with it?<\/p>\n

    If it\u2019s not pre-installed (or you have an old version) the latest release is a click away. Version 3.8 is a critically important release for developers\u2014so that’s why we’ve gone into the cool features of Python 3.8<\/a> in more depth. And as it\u2019s so simple, you can get straight into the concepts, rather than fretting about how to make your code run.<\/p>\n

    4. Python\u2019s libraries make it easy to become an expert<\/h3>\n

    Python has one of the most mature package libraries of any programming language.<\/p>\n

    There are thousands of libraries on the Python Package Index. These ready-to-go modules are designed to solve problems from working with databases to automating machine learning, and more. Get the basics down and you can quickly dial up your expertise in almost any field of your choosing.<\/p>\n

    5. Python skills are highly transferable<\/h3>\n

    We\u2019ve touched on Python\u2019s benefits for data analytics and machine learning.<\/p>\n

    However, its applications don\u2019t stop there. Python can be used for anything from basic computer science, to building websites, running scripts, creating computer games, and all sorts of general-purpose coding.<\/p>\n

    Basically, you can apply it in almost any industry, and for any task that doesn\u2019t require huge amounts of speed or memory. Beyond that\u2014the world is your oyster!<\/p>\n

    Curious to know how much you could earn if you learn Python? Check out this comprehensive Python developer salary guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    4. Summary<\/h2>\n

    You\u2019re now armed with everything you need to decide if Python is a good language to learn:<\/p>\n