The founders and app owners have frequently asked us whether they should opt for Node.js or Python for their mobile application development. Well, choosing between Node.js and Python actually depends majorly on your project needs and the kind of expertise of the developer’s team. Node.js creates excellent real-time applications due to its event-driven architecture. With its versatile and extensive libraries, Python can build complex applications that need machine learning and data science technologies.
Backend development has evolved to a great extent after the innovation of serverless architecture and microservices. Enterprises and startups hire dedicated developers to build mobile app that are now more scalable and flexible. Node.js and Python are especially picking up more attention due to their immense success. The blog covers crucial information about the role of Node.js and Python in building robust architecture for mobile apps. Also, it explains the key differences and major benefits of choosing one over the other for a particular reason.
So let us explore!
What is Node.js?
Built on the Google V8 engine, Node.js is a synchronous event-driven JavaScript runtime environment for building scalable applications. It leverages I/O execution by having a synchronous method in its standard library. With Node.js, developers from a trusted mobile application development company can build seamless applications backed by an event-driven prototype to create two-way connection applications with free data transfer. Node.js allows code execution outside the browser, streamlining real-time applications. It can manage innumerable connections at the same time with enhanced performance and better response time. Node.js is one of the most prominent technologies empowering websites and web apps with powerful UI/UX and robust features that give engaging user experience. 85% of business owners worldwide use Node.js for web app development. Moreover, with node.js, companies can reduce 50% of development costs and enhance their app performance by 50%. You can partner with a reputed web development company that provides Node.js development services for your project execution.
What is Python?
Python is a multi-level language with a built-in data structure and dynamic typing and binding features. Developers can quickly build applications and learn the techniques easily due to its simple syntax. Hence, it can be maintained at a meager cost. Python supports packages and modules that enhance code reusability and program modularity. Python was made to handle challenges and allow Python code to be rendered into readable format. It comes with a sound ecosystem of a robust community having standard libraries, modules and packages, all this can used with the coding. Nowadays, any experienced web development company prefers Python for building mobile applications that need data analysis and task automation. Python is the third most preferred and widely used programming language for building mobile applications.
Differences between Node.js and Python
Both languages have dynamic functionalities, but they have similar concepts and features. They are ideal for backend web development, automation, scripting, and data processing. Both have large community support and can function on multiple operating systems. Both are open-source and highly scalable.
Apart from the above similarities, they are extremely different in several other ways. So let us find them out.
Performance and Speed
Node.js is a non-blocking architecture and executes streamlined processes quickly. It executes code outside the web browser and can run on web-browser with better productivity. It can pull features like TCP sockets.
Python is slower than Node.js and is not compatible with parallel projects. Due to its natural architecture, it does not provide multithreading and takes its own time to process.
Architecture
Node.js is a runtime environment with server-side asynchronous programming. Node.js enables you to run parallel operations and can provide faster app implementation. It can take immediate action.
Python does not offer multithreading and needs to run the process before calling in the other process. However, with the help of other tools, Python can build asynchronous applications.
Development tools and libraries
Node.js comes with Node Package Manager (NPM), Debugger and Build Tools like Grunt and Gulp.
Python comes with Python Package Index, Debugger, and Build Tools like setuptools and tax for managing dependencies.
Error Handling
Node.js provides multitasking features and is easy to handle errors and solve them, including bug fixing.
Python does not have such multitasking features and has the simplest code and syntax. Hence, it becomes more convenient to solve the errors.
Scalability
To develop a server-side application part, you need scalability. Node.js allows this, as it needs a single thread to manage non-blocking I/O calls. Node.js offers scalability on various servers and provides improved performance.
Python’s scalability is not as great as Node.js’s. The drawback is that it does not allow multiple tasks at the same time. Hence, only one task is done at a time, which becomes quite difficult when working on large application development projects.
Documentation
Node.js provides official documentation that is detailed and well-maintained. It also facilitates community contributions with extensive resources like npm and Stack Overflow.
Python provides official documentation from the Python Software Foundation. It also has a rich ecosystem of tutorials, community forums, and examples that help developers find various solutions.
Extensibility
Node.js has a large repository of modules for various functionalities. It can create modules and even use them for various performance-oriented tasks.
Python has an extensive collection of packages for diversified tasks. It can also write and integrate C extensions for performance optimization.
Learning Curve
The learning curve of Node.js is easy and requires only a basic understanding of JavaScript. However, due to the event-driven architecture, it can sometimes be difficult to follow the steps of installation and documentation.
Python is easy to understand and uses simple syntax and small-length code for application development.
Community
Node.js has a large community of highly experienced and skilled users with a 23.4K Fork and 87.4 Stars on Github.
Python is an old programming language with an active community of developers around the world. It has 23.1 Forks and 44.7 Stars on Github.
Support and Maintenance
Node.js provides frequent updates and releases from Node.js foundation. It has commercial solid backing from companies like Microsoft and Joyent.
Python has stable releases and long-term support from the Python software foundation. Its extensive community contributes to ensuring robust maintenance and updates.
Cost-effectiveness
Node.js is an open-source runtime environment that does not require licensing fees. It is an affordable backend development solution that can host applications on different cloud platforms, such as AWS and Microsoft Azure.
Python is an open-source language and does not require licensing fees. It is not a lightweight framework and requires more memory and processing power. Application hosting requires an additional budget related to server administration and other software and hardware expenditures.
When to use Node.js over Python
-
To build real time applications with node.js like chat apps, streaming platforms, and gaming servers
-
To build microservices architecture that needs scalability and high responsiveness
-
To create JavaScript full stack extensively for frontend development
When to use Python over Node.js
-
For building data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning tasks with extensive libraries like NumPy and Pandas.
-
For a multi-paradigm approach and readability
-
To integrate with existing legacy systems and with its robust ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.
Use Cases
Node.js
You can hire node.js developers to implement the below applications or anything similar to this.
-
Web streaming applications
-
Single page application
-
Real-time chat applications
-
Real-time collaborative tools.
For example, you can contact us to build a logistic solution with Node.js, as we have a proficient team of Node.js developers. We build applications similar to Netflix, Uber, PayPal, and LinkedIn, all of which are built on the Node.js environment.
Python
You can hire Python developers to build applications similar to the below use cases.
-
Online game development
-
Automated testing
-
AI/ML applications
-
Software and web development
-
Optical character recognition and image processing
-
Web crawlers
-
Data Science
Some of the most popular applications built with Python are Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and Quora.
Conclusion
It is crucial to choose the right technologies, especially for building mobile applications that cater to the needs of large audiences. Node.js and Python are both excellent in their ways and have unique features and functions that may fit your business needs. We recommend you first understand the basics of each language and then make the decision. Whitelotus Corporation is a known mobile application development company that can help you know the exact functionality of each technology according to your project requirements. We provide the most trustworthy and viable solution that will scale your business and improve your brand credibility in the future.
