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Swift Vs Python: Which Language is Better?

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05th Sep, 2023
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    Swift Vs Python: Which Language is Better?

    Programming Languages: Their Popularity 

    Every passing year witnesses changes in the preferences of programming languages. Some of them get knocked off the perch, while others continue growing. In recent years, two programming languages have stood out from the rest and are rapidly growing in popularity. Those two are Swift and Python. Click here to learn more about sys.argv command line argument.  

    In this article, we will talk about the attributes of Swift and Python, their pros and cons, and how they are similar to each other. Read along to know more. Also, check out the details on Self in Python here.

    Swift and Python: What are They?

    Swift and Python. One is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm, object-oriented, functional, imperative, and block-structured language, while the latter is a widely-used general-purpose, high-level programming language.  

    Python was originally designed by Guido van Rossum in 1991 and further developed by Python Software Foundation. It was developed to stress code readability along with its syntax, enabling programmers to code less to express their concepts. It helps coders to speed up the workflow and integrate systems more efficiently. In a survey by Stack Overflow in 2017, Python was the fastest-growing programming language. 

    This resulted in numerous companies prominently using Python as their programming language, the list including Quora, Netflix, Dropbox, Reddit, Facebook, Spotify, Instagram, etc.  

    Usage of python

    In terms of Python’s usability shown above, Data analysis goes first, followed by web development, machine learning, and DevOps. However, Python is less used for educational purposes, prototyping, and Quality Assurance Services. 

    Now talking about Swift was designed and released in 2014 after conducting fresh research on programming languages and by using a modern approach to safety, software design patterns by Apple Inc. It is a completely new programming language for iOS applications, macOS applications, watchOS applications, and tvOS applications. Needless to say, it quickly grew to be one of the top 5 programming languages and became the most used programming language among the Apple developer community within a short span of 5 years, also effectively replacing the previously used Objective C. 

    Let us share an important piece of information with you. According to a survey done on the most popular programming languages, Python takes the first spot with overwhelming popularity, with a share of 25.36%. In contrast, Swift is climbing up the ladder at the 9th spot with a 2.69% share. 

    The table is mentioned below:

    Table for courses

    Swift vs Python: Table of Difference 

    Swift Language 

    Python Language 

    Swift is primarily used for creating applications for iOS systems. 

    Python is primarily used for back-end development, machine learning and creating games. 

    Swift is comparatively faster than Python. 

    Python language has a high processing time as compared to Swift, C++ or Java. 

    Swift is a general-purpose, powerful and compiled programming language. 

    Python is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language. 

    Demand for Swift language is comparatively lower with only 2.69% of developers using it. 

    Python is the most demanded programming language in the world and is used by 25.36 % of programmers. 

    The tools used for Swift language are Airbrake, Imgix, Sonatype Nexus, Cocoa Touch and many more. 

    The tools used for processing Python are Pycharm, Django, Sentry, CircleCL, Flask, Datadog and many more. 

    Swift supports programming languages such as Python, Javascript, C, C++, Ruby, C#, GO and Rust. 

    Python supports programming languages such as Java, Javascript, Anaconda, PHP, R, Scala, Perl, Ruby and many more. 

    Swift is used by major companies such as Uber Technologies, Slack, Robinhood, Delivery Hero SE, Lyft and many more. 

    Python is used by major companies such as Google, Netflix, Dropbox, Facebook and many more. 

    Swift vs Python: A Detailed Comparision

    1. Swift vs Python: Code and Readability 

    In terms of readability, Python outmatches Swift. This is because Python is dynamic and has richer string support than Swift. How? Python has the feature to support upper and lower case strings and works with all types of data structures such as Arrays, Linked Lists, Lists, graphs, Trees, and many more.  

    The language uses short snippets that avoid declaring variable types multiple times. Furthermore, the syntaxes for Python are majorly in the English language, like the for loops, if statements, print statements, import functions, input functions, and many more. 

    Meanwhile, the syntaxes of Swift are also based on English, which makes them more expressive; however, Python is not a repetitive language and hence is easy to follow. 

    2. Swift vs Python: Domains Used 

    As discussed above, Python is used in a variety of domains, including: 

    • Artificial Intelligence  

    Python uses libraries like Numpy, Scipy, Scikit-Learn, Theano, Tensorflow, Keras, Pytorch, Pandas, and many more for creating an artificial intelligence algorithm. This makes Python superior to Swift as it has a great library ecosystem, good visualization options with a low entry barrier, and the most active community support. 

    • Desktop GUI 

    In this application, GUI frameworks such as Tkinter are integrated with Python to many cross-platform solutions. These solutions include PyQT or wxPython, which can be used for downloading third-party applications to make the GUI more user-friendly and responsive. 

    • Data Analytics And Visualization 

    Python is one of the most advanced languages that is scalable and flexible. It delivers many libraries like TensorFlow, NumPy, SciPy, PyTorch, Panda, and others for manipulating graphics to build data plots. 

    • Web Development 

    Python can be used with Front-end development languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, React JS, etc. It can serve as a significant server-side scripting language (back-end development) and aid in URL routing, HTTP requests and responses, database access, and various web security applications. 

    • Game Development 

    Due to its simplicity and vast libraries, Python is an excellent choice for prototyping. Python can deliver add-on game functionalities in gaming by creating 3D graphics and various game parts. 

    • Embedded Systems 

    Since Python supports machine learning, it allows users for automated testing in different states, set configurations, and real-world cases. 

    Meanwhile, Swift majorly supports Apple OS products such as iOS, MacOS, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. It uses a multi-paradigm approach and can be used for manufacturing MAC-compatible applications. 

    3. Swift vs Python: Demand 

    Python is the most popular and demandable programming language among developers, with 15.7 million active programmers. This is because Python has the most simple and readable code that obeys both subject-oriented and procedural forms of language.  

    The language is extensible and has open-source library support making it a vast language to learn. A python developer earns an average salary of $99,525 per year which can increase with experience. 

    Meanwhile, Swift only has 58k developers in the United States, making it one of the least demandable languages. The percentage of programmers engaged with Swift is only 2.69% worldwide. An average swift developer can earn up to $87,191 per year. 

    4. Swift vs Python: Tools Used 

    Python can be used with IDLE, Sublime Text, Atom, Visual Code Studio, Jupyter Notebook, Spyder, PyCharm, PyDev, Keras, Pip Package, Vim, and Selenium. Sublime Text and Sphinx. Each tool provides an integrated environment that helps the programmer write clean code. These tools offer suggestions like auto-suggesting variable names, syntax errors, and formatting errors and explain each variable's functionality. 

    Meanwhile, Swift uses tools such as SwiftLint, Sourcery, BartyCrouch, SwiftGen, Carthage, SwiftFormat, Fastlane, SourceKitten, Xcode, and AppCode. These IDEs help in software editing, building, testing, and debugging, thus delivering an all-in-solutions. 

    5. Swift vs Python: Supporting Programming Languages 

    Swift supports various programming languages, such as Python, Javascript, C, C++, Ruby, C#, GO, and Rust. Meanwhile, Python supports languages like Java, Javascript, Anaconda, PHP, R, Scala, Perl, Ruby, and many more.  

    These combinations of Swift Vs. Python can be used in web development, iOS app development, server-side scripting, artificial intelligence, and many more. Comparatively, Python has more supporting languages than Swift due to its vast set of libraries. Hence, Swift might be your choice if you want to create an application; otherwise, if you are interested in machine learning, web scraping, or data modeling techniques, then Python is the best choice! 

    6. Swift vs Python: Memory Management 

    Swift 

    Swift uses Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) to manage your app's memory usage. 

    When you create a new Swift class, ARC automatically increments that object's reference count when it's created. You don't have to worry about manually releasing or deleting the object to keep it around. 

    If you have a variable that refers to an instance of your class, ARC will increment its reference count every time you assign it to another variable or return it from a function. If you ever assign nil to an instance variable of your class, ARC will decrement its reference count accordingly. 

    When an object's reference count reaches zero, ARC will deallocate the object and free up the memory it was using. This helps prevent memory leaks in your app by ensuring no orphaned objects are taking up space in memory that isn't being used anymore. 

    Python 

    Python manages memory usage by keeping track of variables and their values in a list. Each time you run a Python program, it creates a new list that holds all variables and their values. This list takes up space on your computer's memory. 

    If you have many variables, this list can get very long. If you have too many variables in one program, Python will run out of space to track them all. This is called an out-of-memory error. 

    You can prevent out-of-memory errors by using functions that allow you to store your variables away from the main program code. You can also use lists within lists so that each item only has one value instead of many different ones. 

    7. Swift vs Python: Performance  

    Swift was released in 2014 as a replacement for Objective C, which had been used to program applications on Apple products since the 1980s.  

    The main reason Swift is faster than Python is that it's compiled, not interpreted. Compiled languages are ones where the source code is converted into machine-readable instructions before it can be run. In contrast, interpreted languages are converted into machine-readable instructions at runtime (when the program begins running). 

    A compiled language will always be faster than its corresponding interpreted counterpart because there's no need for an extra step of converting the source code into machine-readable instructions at runtime. 

    Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Python  

    Advantages and disadvantages of using Python

    Advantages 

    In this section, we will focus on the criteria that make Python a truly developer-friendly language. As we learned that Python has its uses in numerous lines of work, we will find out how it ticks the checkboxes of the required criteria. 

    1. Simplicity and readability 

    One of the prime benefits of using Python is that it is simple to code and read. Of course, it is not a repetitive language to follow but is very similar to English and hence is easy to follow. Moreover, Python is a good choice for beginners in programming. 

    2. Multi-paradigm 

    It is a programming language that is object-oriented as well as procedural. Its procedural paradigm allows the reuse of code, and object-oriented methodology allows varied inheritances and summarizing data and functions as one. 

    3. Open-source 

    As Python is open source, you can download and modify its source code. This versatile feature led to the formation of a strong community that keeps growing stronger. 

    4. Integration with other languages 

    Being an extensible and embeddable language, programmers can easily integrate Python into Java applications, C, and C++. 

    5. Portability and compatibility 

    Python is compatible with various platforms. If required, users do not require to change the code before moving the project. to be moved to another platform 

    6. A vast collection of libraries 

    Being in the game for a long time, Python boasts having a strong community with a vast range of libraries and frameworks for different purposes. providing programmers with a wide spectrum of opportunities. Additionally, libraries like Pandas, Plotly, NumPy, Pipenv, and others are included as well. Django, Flask, CherryPy, and PyTorch are. among the most famous frameworks. 

    Disadvantages 

    With the pros come the cons. There is also the other side of the coin that needs attention. In spite of having a long history in the programming world, Python still has several weak sides. 

    1. Not ideal for Mobile development 

    Python is not a good solution for mobile developers. However, a come-around solution with a few challenges is Kivy - a cross-platform Python framework for developing mobile apps. 

    2. Design restrictions 

    There are specific design limitations in Python. Being a dynamically typed language using duck typing, Python automatically identifies a type of a variable and can cause runtime errors Although it is not frequent, it does make errors at times.  

    3. Memory consumption 

    Python consumes high memory and is definitely not a good option for running intensive memory tasks. 

    Swift Pros and Cons 

    Swift pros and cons

    Being a relatively new programming language, Swift was launched at the WWDC conference in 2014. According to Apple, the primary features of Swift are that it is fast, modern, and interactive. Swift's creator Chris Lattner his creation was a result of ideas inspired by different languages such as C#, Ruby, and especially Python. That's why we can easily find a couple of similarities between Swift and Python. 

    Nevertheless, let’s see what the pros and cons of Swift are. 

    Advantages 

    1. Easy to read and maintain 

    The Swift program codes are based on English as it acquired syntaxes from other programming languages, thus making the language more expressive. 

    2. Scalable 

    More features to Swift, so it is a scalable programming language. Swift has already replaced Objective C, and Swift is what Apple relies on 

    3. Concise 

    Swift does not include long lines of code, and that favors the developers who want a concise syntax, thus increasing the development and testing rate of the program. 

    4. Safety and improved performance 

    Almost 40% better than Objective-C, Swift is handier in tackling the bugs that lead to safer programming when speed and performance are concerned. 

    5. Cross-device support 

    This language can handle a wide range of Apple platforms such as iOS, iOS X, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. 

    6. Automatic Memory Management 

    This feature prevents memory leaks and helps optimize the application’s performance, which is done using Automatic Reference Counting. 

    Disadvantages 

    1. Compatibility issues 

    The updated versions of Swift are observed to be a bit unstable, with the newer versions of Apple leading to a few issues. Switching to a newer version of Swift is the fix, but that is costly. 

    2. Speed Issues 

    This is relevant to the earlier versions of the Swift programming language 

    3. Less in number 

    The number of Swift developers is limited as Swift is a new programming language 

    4. Delay in uploading apps 

    Developers will be facing delays over their apps written in Swift to be uploaded to the App Store only after iOS 8 and Xcode 6 are released. The estimated time for release is reported to be September-October 2014. 

    Common Attributes of Swift and Python 

    Swift and Python are predominantly contrasting languages. Despite that, they do possess some common traits. Let’s see what they are. 

    • Both Swift and Python have distinct syntaxes and are very similar to English. Missing semicolons while coding in either Swift or Python will not result in errors. 
    • Both languages have a REPL environment that aids in detecting errors in code and debugging. 
    • Both are multi-paradigm programming languages. 
    • They have additional tools to facilitate learning. 

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    What Makes Swift and Python Different from Each Other? 

    From the previous discussions in this article, it is crystal clear that Swift and Python are fundamentally different from each other. Apple’s Swift is ideal for developing software for the Apple ecosystem, while Python can be utilized for use cases but is mainly applied in back-end development. Moreover, as Apple claims, Swift is 8.4x faster than Python in terms of performance. 

    Choosing between Swift and Python depends on the intent of the programmer. If the purpose is developing mobile applications that need to work flawlessly on the Apple platforms, then Swift is the ultimate choice. However, if the intentions are to develop artificial intelligence, design a prototype or build the backend, then Python is the one. 

    Conclusion

    So now we see that choosing Python or Swift for coding mostly depends on your purpose. If you are fond of developing mobile applications that will work seamlessly on Apple operating systems, you should definitely choose Swift. Python is good if you want to develop your own artificial intelligence, build the backend, or create a prototype. 

    There is no hiding the fact that both Swift and Python are good at what they do. While Python has been a game-changer for years, Swift has been rapidly rising up the ranks. Comparing the two directly is a bit unjust as each one of the two has its own uses. 

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