There was a time when the word “Python” meant a particularly large snake but now it is a programming language that is all the rage!!! According to the TIOBE Index, Python is the fourth most popular programming language in the world currently and this extraordinary growth is only set to increase as observed by Stack Overflow Trends. So the question arises…Why is Python the Fastest Growing Programming Language?
Well, there are many factors that contribute to the success of Python. One of these is its popularity in web development. Many top companies such as Google, Facebook, Mozilla, Quora, etc. use Python Web Framework. Another well-known factor for the rapid growth of Python is its use in Data Science. But let’s study all these factors in detail to understand the popularity of Python and its astounding growth rate.
So Why is Python So Popular?
We have already established that Python is the fastest growing programming language and also well on the way to becoming the most popular programming language in the world. Now, let’s try to understand the reasons for this incredible phenomenon.
1. Python is Easy To Use
Who likes excessively complicated things? No one, that’s who. And that’s one of the reasons for the growing popularity of Python. It is simple with an easily readable syntax and that makes it well loved by both seasoned developers and experimental students. In addition to this, Python is also supremely efficient. It allows developers to complete more work using fewer lines of code. With all these advantages, what’s not to love?!!
2. Python has a Supportive Community
Python has been around since 1990 and that is ample time to create a supportive community. Because of this support, Python learners can easily improve their knowledge, which only leads to increasing popularity. And that’s not all! There are many resources available online to promote Python, ranging from official documentation to YouTube tutorials that are a big help for learners.
3. Python has multiple Libraries and Frameworks
Python is already quite popular and consequently, it has hundreds of different libraries and frameworks that can be used by developers. These libraries and frameworks are really useful in saving time which in turn makes Python even more popular (That’s a beneficial cycle!!!).
Some of the popular libraries of Python are NumPy and SciPy for scientific computing, Django for web development, BeautifulSoup for XML and HTML parsing, scikit-learn for machine learning applications, nltk for natural language processing, etc.
4. Python has Corporate Support
Did you think that a language becomes popular just like that? No….Corporate support is a big part of it. Many top companies such as Google, Facebook, Mozilla, Amazon, Quora, etc use Python for their products. In fact, Google has practically adopted Python for many of its platforms and applications. It also provides various guides and tutorials for working with Python in Google’s Python Class.
In short, a large part of the success and growth of Python is due to the corporate support of multiple institutions that have devoted a great deal of money and effort to ensure the language’s success (With great results!).
5. Python is used in Big Data and Machine Learning
Big Data and Machine Learning are the hottest trends in modern times. And Python is used for much of the research and development in these fields. Python is also crucial in related fields such as Artificial Intelligence. So it stands to reason that this would be a huge factor in the rapid growth of Python.
There are many Python tools for analytics and data science such as Scikit-Learn, Theano, etc. Also, Python is used with big data using tools such as Pandas, PySpark, etc.
6. Python is used in Web Development
Python is very popular in Web development. It is easy enough to learn and yet capable of powering some of the most popular sites in the world like Spotify, Instagram, Pinterest, Mozilla, Yelp, etc. (It’s a win-win situation!!!).
There are many famous Web Frameworks in Python that can be used according to the project requirements. If the project is complicated with multiple features, it is better to use a full-stack framework such as Django, Pyramid, TurboGears, etc. In case, the project is comparatively simpler, a microframework such as Flask, Bottle, CherryPy, etc. is a better option.
7. Python is used in Academics
When a language is taught in coursework, it has ARRIVED!
This means that Python is such a fundamental part of the programming world currently that it is even taught in schools and colleges as a core language requirement. This is because Python is in trend with its myriad uses in data science, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, etc. And since so many of the current students are learning Python, it is obvious that its importance will increase even more in the future.
So what’s the Conclusion?
It is not possible to quantify the success of any language. So there is no one reason that can be specified for the increasing popularity and astounding growth rate of Python. However, the multiple reasons specified above coalesce together to provide a broad picture as to why Python is such a big deal today.
