Python was developed in 1991 and has gradually become one of the most popular programming languages. If you take a poll, asking random developers the best programming language to learn as a complete beginner, chances are that Python will lead that poll. Python is loved by many; researchers, developers, software engineers, etc. In September 2021, Python led the TIOBE’s index in the #1 spot, toppling the long reign of C and Java. It has become as though one cannot go wrong learning Python.
But why is this so? Why is there a lot of buzz about Python? Is Python the right programming language to learn in 2022? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. By the way, if you wish to learn Python, then consider joining a good project-based online Python training.
Let’s jump into it.
Why is Python so Popular and in High Demand?
You may be wondering. What is the root cause behind the explosive growth of Python? The answer is not far-fetched.
- Python has a simple and easy-to-learn syntax.
When Python was created by Guido van Rossum, he looked to create a programming language that was as close as possible to the human language. He wanted the language to be extremely beginner-friendly, yet can be used for expert applications. It is safe to say Python achieved that. Python is perhaps one of the simplest programming languages as it can be read like plain English. Its syntax is void of unnecessary special characters such as semicolons to end a line or curly braces to specify a block of code.
While Python has a simple syntax, it can still perform complex operations. This is perhaps the major reason why Python is so popular and it is a great language for beginners.
2. Python has detailed documentation.
It can be extremely frustrating to have untidy and haphazard documentation. To put it lightly, understanding the potentials available in the language would be difficult. Python, however, has robust and extensive online documentation. Contents in its documentation are well structured and easily accessible. You’d also find coding examples for many of the functionalities in the documentation, which is a good way to master how to use that function or method.
As a beginner, this is exactly what you need – documentation that is detailed and well structured.
3. Python has a lot of libraries.
Libraries are chunks of code (classes, functions, or methods) created by third parties that are used to perform specific activities. In other words, you do not have to create every functionality from scratch. For instance, if you want to perform advanced numerical computation, libraries such as Numpy and Pandas are available. If you want to do data visualization, you can exploit the possibilities in Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Plotly libraries.
By and large, whatever the topic, you will have a library that does the crude computations for you. This allows you to get off the ground quickly as you do not have to reinvent the wheel for every needed functionality.
4. Python has a wide community.
As you may know, Python is an open-source language and it thus has a rich and welcoming community. Individuals and companies have put in the time to create numerous learning materials on and offline. If you encounter any issue with your code, you can be confident that you’d find similar issues online with a solution. This is important if you are getting started in a language. You can literally get stuck in a project if the community is not large enough and you have a unique case. Even for unique issues in Python, the tight-knit ecosystem has a solution for you.
5. Python can be used for several applications.
This is another key reason why Python is so popular. Learning Python exposes you to a lot of opportunities as the language can be used for several applications. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to learn Python if you have not decided on what exactly you want to do with coding. This is because, when you specify in the end, your Python skill may still come in handy.
Let’s discuss some of the applications of Python.
What are the uses of Python?
- Web development: Python can be used for creating backend applications. With its robust libraries such as Django or Flask, you can create a server-side application with only a few lines of code.
- Machine Learning: This is arguably one of the applications that skyrocketed the application of Python in 2020 and 2021. Python has grown to become the most used language for machine learning applications thanks to libraries such as TensorFlow, Keras, and Pytorch. Machine learning and artificial intelligence is one field with a lot of prospects in 2021. Many companies are fast incorporating artificial intelligence in their products for better customer satisfaction and income generation. Netflix uses it to recommend the next movie you should watch. Banks use it to determine whether or not you are worthy of a credit card or not. Google Mail uses it to classify spasms in your inbox. Facebook uses it to recommend friends that you’d like to connect with. The list goes on and on.
- Software testing: Python can be used for software testing as well. A popular software testing tool, Selenium, works with Python. Other testing tools that can be used with Python include Appium, TestComplete, PyUnit, PyTest, Python Robot framework, etc.
- Game development: Python can also be used for game development. Some popular tools for game development include Kivy, Pygame, PyKara, Cocos2d, etc. If you want to build simple lightweight games, Python is a great option.
- Data science and data visualization: Python is another great language that can be used for data science, analysis, and visualization. Some of the popular libraries used in this regard are Numpy, Scipy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly, and so on. You can sanitize unclean data, and distill insight with a few lines of code using these libraries. You can also create good-looking and insightful graphs for various visualization and storytelling processes.
How to get started with Python
There are different ways to learn programming depending on the kind of learner you are. You could decide to use textbooks. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Albert Sweigart is a good start. If you prefer to watch videos, you can check Python YouTube tutorials. If you want to get a more robust understanding, then consider enrolling in a project-based online Python course.
There, you will work to learn theoretical concepts and work with real-life projects to hone your skill.
In conclusion,
Python is a great beginner-friendly tool for programmers. In this article, you have seen that it is a great language to learn in 2022. If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section and we’d do well to answer you.
