• Node.js vs. Python: Which One to Choose for Your Project?
  • Saul Gallegos
  • The Nuggets translation Project
  • Permanent link to this article: github.com/xitu/gold-m…
  • Translator: kamly
  • Proofread by: Kimhooo, PassionPenguin, Miigon

Node.js versus Python: Which one to choose for your project?

Node.js and Python are two of the most frequently compared back-end technologies on the web. Since both are very popular in Web application development, it is important to compare them thoroughly before choosing between the two. In this article, we’ll explore which of the two techniques is best suited to your development needs and in which situations.

What is a Node. Js?

Node.js is event-driven, and its extensibility brings great development efficiency to projects. Its asynchronous design allows it to handle concurrent requests without blocking I/O operations. Most development teams prefer Node.js in order to develop both the client and server side using JavaScript.

What is a Python?

Python, on the other hand, is a mature, high-level object-oriented language. Its nearly 30-year history also means that it has a large number of libraries, apis, and accessibility tools available. Python is friendly to many programming paradigms and is widely used in business applications.


Its community, libraries, and support platforms are extensive. Therefore, it is an ideal programming language for most enterprises that need to develop applications for different and often unrelated scenarios.

Node.js and Python popularity

The popularity of a back-end technology plays a key role in whether it will be used in your project.

First, from the company’s perspective, the development team must determine which language has a significant talent pool in the market. From a programmer’s perspective, they have to think about whether they want to learn languages that are heavily used by many companies.

In terms of website popularity, SimilarWeb reports that Node.js enjoys the title of “the most used tool in the top 10,000, 100,000, 1,000,000 websites and” All Websites “category.

According to Stack Overflo2019, Python is the most “loved” programming language, while Node.js is the most preferred tool for professional programmers.


Based on industry adoption, Node.js is the leader in 16 categories, including computer electronics & Technology, Lifestyle, arts & Entertainment, and others. Python is a popular choice in science and education, engineering, and other industries.

Node.js and Python performance comparison

As your application scales, every improvement in execution efficiency helps reduce operating costs. Therefore, performance and speed are important when evaluating a programming language or environment.

Node.js

We’ve already looked at the non-blocking architecture of Node.js. With this advantage, it is easier and faster to implement. On top of that, there’s another advantage that makes Node.js a solid choice: it can execute code outside of a web browser.

As a result, applications running on a browser process faster and, as a result, perform better on efficiency metrics. This feature also allows applications to use features that would otherwise not be available in browsers, such as TCP sockets.

Python

Python’s architecture does not inherently support multithreading, so this is also a problem. Because task processing does not run in parallel, processing speed is slowed down. While Python’s syntax is easy to learn and run, it is not fast enough for applications that frequently call data from a Web server.


Python’s syntax is easy to learn, but it is not optimized for speed or performance. Here, too, Node.js is a clear winner.

Node.js and the Python community

A community is a group of users and developers who are involved in technology. Because of their activity, they are constantly updating popular libraries, performing debugging exercises, and even adding new features. In general, the most effective communities are those where a single, specialized organization manages the corresponding language or programming environment.

The Node of the community

You might think that because Node.js is a relatively new form of technology, you might be mistaken for a small community. In reality, however, the node.js community can be surprisingly large, with many experienced Node.js developers active around the world. It’s super easy to find talent in the Node.js community.

The Python community

Python, as the big brother of the two languages, naturally has a larger community. From junior to senior contributors, Python has no shortage of talent. One of the biggest advantages of such a large community is the ease of finding developers. It is the active participation of these developers that has resulted in a quick solution for Python and an overall improvement of the language.

When should YOU use Node.js

Node.js is a runtime environment suitable for running applications that require a reliable connection between the server and the browser.

An easy way to consider whether you need Node.js in your application is to evaluate the real-time nature of your application. If real-time data transfer is critical to the availability of your application, Node.js is just what you need.

It’s also worth noting that Node.js is available on both the server and client sides. This reduces deployment time and makes it feasible for teams to maintain code in collaboration.

Because of its efficient processing power, Node.js is the platform of choice for companies that frequently interact between cloud servers and client applications. Netflix, LinkedIn, Medium, Trello, and Paypal are just a few of the well-known tech companies using Node.js as a platform.

When should YOU use Python

Python has an ample supply of talent, in part because of its uncomplicated syntax. It’s no surprise, then, that Google and Facebook, two of the biggest consumers of technical talent, use Python heavily to build their technology.

In addition, some of the most popular data science training courses use Python as the default language for teaching students. As a result, the supply of Python talent continues to grow.

Further, Python’s popularity makes it strategically important to learn and use it. Its rich libraries allow you to create and deploy an MVP design pattern very efficiently. This also ensures the best use of developer resources.


There are! The Python interpreter responsible for executing the code is super efficient. It requires no compilation, which makes Python an ideal language for rapid deployment and iteration.

conclusion

Choosing between Node.js and Python can sometimes be tricky, especially if you want to develop a complete product, not just a side project. The features and advantages of both sides can be overwhelming and can cloud your judgment.

The best way to address this dilemma is to focus on the end use of the product. List all the features of your product and how you plan to design them. A language or runtime environment that will ultimately help your design is your best bet.

If you find yourself still confused or wondering if you made the right decision, feel free to post your questions in the comments section below, as we and the nuggets community are happy to help you out

If you find any mistakes in your translation or other areas that need to be improved, you are welcome to the Nuggets Translation Program to revise and PR your translation, and you can also get the corresponding reward points. The permanent link to this article at the beginning of this article is the MarkDown link to this article on GitHub.


The Nuggets Translation Project is a community that translates quality Internet technical articles from English sharing articles on nuggets. The content covers Android, iOS, front-end, back-end, blockchain, products, design, artificial intelligence and other fields. If you want to see more high-quality translation, please continue to pay attention to the Translation plan of Digging Gold, the official Weibo, Zhihu column.