Programming languages let you create programs and various online solutions like web apps, games, mobile apps, etc. There are multiple computer languages online that you can use to automate, assemble, interpret, and manage data processing. Programming languages like Bash and Python are prevalent among developers.
Mainly system administrators use Bash because this programming language is used to perform repetitive tasks accurately. On the other side, Python is a structured language specifically used to complete tasks efficiently. Hence, Bash and Python are developed for different purposes, but many users always need clarification about which is better. So this guide will answer whether Bash Script is better than Python or not.
What is Bash Script?
Bash (Bourne Again Shell) is the command language/command interpreter introduced as the shell (Bourne Shell) replacement. Brian Fox developed it in 1989 for the GNU Project. A Bash script contains a set of commands to automate the task execution.
It also includes imperative programming, such as conditional constructs, loops, functions, etc. Hence, Bash is a powerful tool in Linux used for data crunching, automated backups, system administration, custom script creation, web development, and many more. A Bash script is a text file having the .sh as the extension.
Also Read:
Why is Bash Script Popular?
You can create the Bash script easily, even if you are a beginner in programming. If you understand commands, you can create any Bash script, whether simple or complex. Bash script offers high flexibility, which means you can start your programming journey through it.
A bash script helps you to automate tasks through a simple script. Moreover, debugging and auditing Bash scripts is very easy because tracking the activities on the command line is simple.
Benefits and Limitations of Bash Script
The following table will give you a brief about the major benefits and limitations of the Bash:
| Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Simple to write and portable | Slow execution speed |
| Can execute multiple commands easily | Includes a little lesser data structure than other programming languages. |
| Supports interactive debugging | Limited and a specific usability |
| Available in almost every Linux distro | Issues with the implementation and the design of the script |
What is Python?
Python is one of the most famous programming languages developed by Guido van Rossum and initially developed in 1991. This high-level programming language is used to create apps, software, and websites and can automate tasks and data analysis. Python is beginner friendly and versatile and turned out to be the replacement for Java because it easily handles the complexity for the user.
It is an open-source language, meaning independent programmers can easily build the libraries. Python can benefit in reducing the maintenance costs of the program due to the easy-to-learn and highly readable syntax. Moreover, Python includes the module and package modules that ease code reuse.
Why is Python Popular?
As mentioned earlier, Python is a popular language for various reasons, such as simple syntax, cross-platform support, beginner-friendly programs, etc. Due to its modular program support, you can easily separate the different segments of a single project. In Python, programmers can write a complete program with fewer lines than in other computer languages.
This programming language runs on the interpreter system, which means you can execute the program right after writing. Python is a widely used language by well-known organizations such as Intel, Netflix, Spotify, Pixar, NASA, IBM, and many more.
Benefits and Limitations of Python
Although Python is a well-known programming language, it has some benefits and limitations, such as:
| Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|
| User-friendly and embeddable | multithreading is complex |
| Portable and highly scalable | Memory consumption is high |
| Large library support | Design related issues |
| Massive community | Slower than some compiled languages |
Bash Vs Python: A Brief Comparison
Now, let’s take a look at the brief comparison between Bash and Python as per the various factors:
|
Factors |
Bash |
Python |
|---|---|---|
|
Basic Information |
Command-line interpreter | Programming language |
|
Based on |
Based on Linux Shell | Based on OOPS (object-oriented programming language) |
|
Purpose |
Designed for Linux and macOS to automate tasks. It is suitable for simple and small scripts. | Designed for developing web and apps. It is suitable for in-depth programs. |
|
Installation |
It comes as the pre-installed utility in almost every Linux distro | Requires installation from the third-party platform |
|
Maintenance |
Easy to maintain Bash | Hard to maintain Python |
|
Ease of Use |
Tough to use and write the script. However, having a bit of knowledge of commands can be beneficial. | Simple to use and powerful programming language. However, it requires a little knowledge to write a program. |
|
Efficient |
Tough to sustain as compared to Python. | Effective than Bash and famous for readability. |
|
Usability |
Suitable for creating small scripts | Ideal for a large codebase |
Is Bash Script Better Than Python?
Bash was developed for system administrators to perform automated tasks. Conversely, Python was created for programmers to develop web and app development. Hence, both programming languages were created for different purposes. If you are a Linux user, undoubtedly, Bash is more important than Python because you can use Linux without knowledge of Python.
However, Python is more flexible than Bash because you can run its scripts on different platforms, such as macOS, Windows, Linux, etc. Python is designed to create a simple-to-read program, while Bash is the command-line interpreter to execute commands automatically. Therefore, whether Bash is better than Python depends on your requirements.
Bash Script Vs. Python: Which Should I Choose?
So this was all about the significant differences between Bash script and Python with the clearance on whether Bash script is better than Python. The simple answer is “NO” because Bash is limited to Linux only, but Python has higher usability.
If you are a Linux user and a programmer, it would be amazing to learn both Python and Bash simultaneously. With Bash, you can learn ways to automate tasks through commands. However, learning Python will deepen your understanding of the programming fundamentals. That’s why we recommend you go for both languages to be an expert programmer in Linux.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Python?
Python is a general-purpose high-level programming language and is widely used among the developers’ community today, and was developed by Guido van Rossum in 1991. Python was mainly developed to emphasize code readability, and its syntax allows programmers to express concepts in fewer lines of code.
2. Is Bash Popular?
Bash script offers high flexibility, which means you can start your programming journey through it. Besides this, debugging and auditing scripts is easy because tracking the activities on the command line is simple.
3. Does Bash have a compiler?
The user will need to make some add-on changes to run this script into Bash. The reason is, Bash is a command-line interpreter which directly converts scripts into binaries.
