Python is widely regarded as the most popular programming language today. According to the PYPL (Popularity of Programming Language Index), Python holds around 28% of the market share, while Java, the second most popular language, accounts for only 17%. Golang (Go), on the other hand, is less commonly used but is gaining traction rapidly due to its unique advantages.

The differences between Go and Python are substantial. While both are beginner-friendly and easy to use, they serve distinct purposes. This article aims to explore these differences, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each language.

What is Python?

Python, created in 1991, is a dynamically typed, high-level, interpreted programming language with a strong focus on object-oriented programming. Although it didn’t achieve immediate popularity, Python has become a dominant force in the programming world, particularly in fields like data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning. By 2017, it had already climbed to the 4th most used language, thanks to its extensive libraries and robust support for data-driven applications.

Key features of Python include:

• Beginner-friendly: Its simplicity and readability make it accessible to newcomers.

• Readable syntax: The absence of semicolons and brackets makes Python code easy to follow.

• Extensibility: Python allows integration with code written in other languages.

• Cross-platform compatibility: It can run on multiple hardware platforms with the same interface.

• High-level language: Developers don’t need to worry about system architecture.

• AI and machine learning: Python is a top choice for these fields due to its extensive libraries and frameworks.

• GUI support: Libraries like Tkinter and PyQt5 make it suitable for building graphical user interfaces.

• Rich library ecosystem: Python’s libraries save time by reducing the need to write code from scratch.

• Interoperability: Python can integrate with code from other languages and vice versa.

• Open source: Python is free to use, making it accessible to everyone.

What is Golang?

Go, developed by Google in 2009, is a procedural language designed with modern technological needs in mind. Initially created to streamline backend services, Go has since expanded beyond its original purpose and is now used in a variety of applications.

Key features of Go include:

• Modern design: Built for cloud computing and microservice architecture.

• Portability: It compiles to a single binary, eliminating the need for virtual machines or dependencies.

• Open source: Like Python, Go is free to use.

• Readability: Its clean syntax makes it easy to understand.

• Performance: Go is significantly faster than Python, often compared to C++ and Java.

• Efficiency in containers: Widely used in container technologies like Docker.

• Concurrency support: Goroutines enable efficient concurrent programming.

• Standard library: While smaller than Python’s, Go’s libraries are powerful and well-suited for modern applications.

Advantages of Python and Go

To better understand the strengths of each language, here’s a comparison:

Python:

• Beginner-friendly: Easy to learn and use.

• Versatility: Offers a wide range of libraries and frameworks for various applications.

• Mature ecosystem: As an older language, it has a large community and extensive resources for troubleshooting.

• Dynamic typing: Allows for flexible coding.

• Object-oriented: Supports functional programming concepts.

• Less code: Requires fewer lines of code compared to Go.

• Garbage collection: Automates memory management.

• Open source: Free and accessible to all.

Go:

• Speed: Outperforms Python, with performance comparable to C++ and Java.

• Transferable skills: Familiar to those with experience in C# or C++.

• Garbage collection: Also features automated memory management.

• Scalability: Excellent for large-scale applications due to lightweight goroutines.

• High demand: Currently one of the most sought-after languages by employers.

• Concurrency: Strong support for concurrent programming.

• Profiling tools: Allows fine-tuning of CPU and memory usage.

Disadvantages of Python and Go

While both languages have numerous advantages, they also have limitations:

Python:

• Speed: Slower than languages like C# and C++.

• Memory management: Lacks robust memory management features.

• Scalability: More challenging to scale compared to Go.

• Mobile development: Limited support for mobile applications.

Go:

• Boilerplate code: Requires more time and effort for repetitive code.

• Young language: Less community experience and fewer resources for troubleshooting.

Performance and Speed

Go’s performance is one of its standout features. Designed with speed in mind, it consistently outperforms Python in benchmarks. For example, in a test where a program counted to 1 billion, Go completed the task in less than a second, while Python took several minutes. This is because Python, being dynamically typed, must determine variable types at runtime, which slows it down. However, this limitation applies primarily to CPython; other implementations like PyPy or Jython may not face the same issue.

For performance-critical applications, Go is often the better choice.

Web Scraping

In a 2021 test comparing Go and Python for web scraping, Go demonstrated superior performance. The task involved scraping stock prices from Yahoo Finance. Python used the BeautifulSoup library, while Go utilized Goquery with goroutines for multithreading. In both small and large-scale tests, Go was more than twice as fast as Python.

This makes Go a more suitable option for performance-driven web scraping tasks. For those who prefer a ready-made solution, tools like the Web Scraper API offer an efficient alternative.

Scalability

When it comes to scalability, Go has a clear advantage. Its lightweight goroutines make it easier to scale applications without overburdening memory. Python, while versatile, struggles with scalability in comparison.

Machine Learning

Python is the undisputed leader in machine learning (ML) due to its simplicity, extensive libraries, and high efficiency. However, Go’s strengths—such as its speed, concurrency support, and single binary compilation—make it a viable alternative for certain ML applications. While Python remains the go-to choice, Go’s unique features can be beneficial in specific use cases.