Which is better to learn, Python or Node.js? - Complete review

Python is a programming language; Node.js is not. The language here is JavaScript, while Node.js is a runtime environment for JavaScript.

When you write in Node.js, you use the same language for both the frontend and the backend.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of both choices.

1. The advantages of Python

• Python is much friendlier for junior developers.
• Most Python frameworks don’t require a very high skill level from the developers. A good example of that is Django, which has a mature ecosystem and allows you to write quality code fast.
• Python is more universal and versatile. While it can also be used for desktop apps, the main use case for Node.js is the web. The applications of Python, on the other hand, go far beyond the web.
• Python is more compatible with other programming languages. If your software project has highly complex demands that require a lot of additional speed, Python can be more easily backed up by different languages, such as Cython, if need be.
• Python is simpler to use, better covered, and better documented. This gives Python an edge over Node.js, even though both technologies are admittedly very fast to write in.

2. The advantages of Node.js

• Node.js developers generally have a more universal skillset. Because they have the same language on the frontend and the backend, they need to be a JavaScript developer to use Node.js. This interdisciplinarity can come in handy when you least expect it, especially when there’s a fire you need to put out quickly.
• Node.js developers are more flexible and versatile. Node.js is more demanding and requires a higher level of advancement on the developers’ side than what it takes to write simple code in Python. It’s a bit ironic, when you think about it. Universality and versatility are qualities you can apply to both Python and Node.js. The difference is that with Python they relate to what is being written, as opposed to who is doing the writing in Node.js.
• With Node.js, you can use JavaScript to code everything. Node.js allows you to code both the frontend and the backend using JavaScript. This means you don’t need that many different technologies.
• The Node.js community is large and JavaScript is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing programming languages out there. Python no longer has the advantage of numerous libraries and frameworks it used to enjoy for many years, as JavaScript has caught up to it on that front by now.

3. The problem with Node.js and JavaScript

JavaScript may be developing super fast now, but that wasn’t always the case.

In the beginning, the language was written haphazardly, and to this day it is still struggling with issues caused by its old versions and their compatibility.

JavaScript’s recent rise in popularity has brought with it another curious downside.

So many developers have turned to the language in such a short period of time lately that it’s pretty difficult to keep up with all the new updates and tech intricacies. See for yourself!

The rapid growth of JavaScript libraries brings with it documentation problems, which consequently results in poor quality for Node.js. That is precisely why more skilled developers are necessary for the backend—handling it well requires more preparation beforehand.

Sadly, this is nothing new for JavaScript; it’s actually quite typical. If history has taught us anything, it’s that Python has always been more reliable.

Crucial aspects to consider

Comparing technologies is always a challenge, and the question of Python vs. Node.js is no different.

Here are 2 main points, each focusing on a different side of the story, that will help you make an informed decision.

Speed and performance

Here’s the thing about Node.js: it can’t do too many things at the same time unless you write very well in it. Both Python and Node.js only pretend to be able to do a whole lot of stuff at once—Python just pretends better.

Use Node.js poorly, and you might easily end up with a slow-working, low-performance product. If your project involves a particularly time-consuming task, it’ll put all the focus there while other functionalities will lag behind.

When written correctly, your software will send information to the operating system that it needs to perform a certain function and move on, while the system works on that. But if you write that poorly, the app will wait for the system to complete that task, doing nothing else in the meantime.

For the end user, this will seem like your software is slow. Such problems notoriously occur when a lot of people use your product at the same time.

A huge benefit of Python is that some of its frameworks are specifically designed to spare you that trouble. Django, for example, has built-in solutions to handle high overload. That is why Python puts fewer technical expectations on the developers.

The main difference is that Node.js is designed to use a small number of workers. This is why it may slow down easily when some of the workers hang. However, it may also perform much better due to not wasting time on context switching between them.

The opposite approach is to use many workers. In this case, when some of them hang, the users served by the rest of them don’t suffer.

New technologies

Python is perfectly suited for new technologies, especially machine learning.

Here’s why:

• Python offers several tried and tested libraries that support ML;
• it’s easier to find machine learning experts who are well versed in Python than JavaScript;
• more devices service Python, which allows you to limit the costs of distribution to the market;
• MicroPython—a lighter and smaller version of Python—can be run with less power, making it more efficient than JavaScript.

On the other hand, Node.js is more comfortable to use for the Internet of Things, when you compare the most popular libraries for Python or JavaScript. Golang is also an excellent choice for new technologies.

As always, the choice is yours, and it depends on what you’re trying to build.

At the end of the day, it doesn't make that much of a difference whether you choose Python or Node.js.

Some Python frameworks, like asyncio, allow you to work in Python the same way you would in Node.js. It’s possible to make the experience really similar if you care about it enough.

The journey may differ, but the destination can be very much the same.