Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
About Julia
3.
About Python
4.
Julia Vs Python in  Popularity
5.
Key Differences
5.1.
Community
5.2.
Speed
5.3.
Dynamically Typed
5.4.
Libraries
5.5.
Supporting Tools
5.6.
Versatility
5.7.
Working with Shell
5.8.
Conversion of Code
5.9.
Use in Data Science
5.10.
Array Indexing
6.
Frequently Asked Questions
6.1.
Is Julia for machine learning faster in speed than Python?
6.2.
What distinguishes Julia from Python?
6.3.
Is Julia an interpreter or a compiler?
6.4.
Is Julia dynamic or static?
6.5.
Why is Python more popular than Julia?
7.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Difference between Julia and Python

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Introduction

Hello Techies!

If you like the field of Data Science and Data Analytics, you might have come across languages like Julia and Python, and we are sure you would like to know more about how these languages differ. So let’s see Julia vs Python in this article and discuss their fundamental differences.

Introduction

Before we see Julia vs Python, we should briefly discuss these programming languages. So without taking any more time, let’s dive deep into Julia vs Python.

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About Julia

Jeff Bezanson, Stefan Karpinski, Viral B. Shah, and Alan Edelman developed Julia in 2012. With Julia, they aimed to combine all the benefits of numerous programming languages, including R Programming Language, C, Matlab, Python, and Ruby, while minimizing their shortcomings in terms of "scientific computing, machine learning, data mining, large-scale linear algebra, distributed and parallel computing." If your use case fits into one of these categories, it can be quite a powerhouse because it was designed with these applications in mind.

 

It is a computer language with a flexible syntax like Python, and a fast execution speed like C. Open-source Julia is mainly used for statistical computation and data analysis. Even Big Data and cloud computing can use it. Python and R both have slower execution speeds than Julia.

Julia Logo

 

The Julia programming language has the following distinguishing qualities:

  • Quick commands can be added using Julia's interactive command line and Read Eval Print Loop (REPL).
  • In addition to being a compiled language, Julia uses just-in-time (JIT) compilation. Julia's fast execution comes from using the LLVM framework during compilation.
  • Julia has straightforward syntax.
  • It can easily use external libraries to import and interface Fortran, C, and Python code.
  • Julia provides static and dynamic typing. It implies that you can define a function that accepts a variable without declaring it or declaring the variable before using it.
  • Its debugger enables programmers to set breakpoints and examine the results.
  • Because of Julia's support for meta-programming, programs written in Julia can produce Julia apps.
  • Julia's syntax is similar to mathematical equations for people working on mathematics-based coding, making it simple to use.

About Python

Python is an interpreted language that is object-oriented. It is a versatile programming language that enables programmers to create dynamic code in just a few lines. It is a very rapid and effective programming language with features like dynamic typing, high-level data structures, and dynamic binding. Python is a scripting language for speedy application development and is well-liked in the community thanks to all these capabilities.

 

Features of Python:

  • It is a developer-friendly, high-level programming language that is simple to understand and code.
  • Since it is a free and open-source language, downloading it online is simple.
  • The language supports all object-oriented concepts.
  • Python is a flexible language, and C or C++ can be used to write and compile its code.
  • Since it is an interpreted language, no compilation is necessary. Line-by-line execution makes it simple to debug the code.
  • Since this is a dynamically typed language, the data type of each variable is determined at run-time rather than having to be declared before usage.
  • Python includes a large collection of libraries that may be imported to make developing in Python easier. So programmers won't have to write that particular code again.
  • Python is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, Macintosh, and others. Thus, Python can be referred to as a portable language. By writing a single program, it allows programmers to create software for a variety of competing platforms.
  • It is used for GUI (Graphical User Interface) development for desktop applications.

Julia Vs Python in  Popularity

Julia loads data more quickly, which is crucial for data scientists. Additionally, Julia may interact directly with third-party libraries written in Python, C, and Fortran. Julia is superior to Python by default in memory management because it offers more precise control.

Many data scientists prefer working with Julia because it is speedier, makes greater use of multi-processing, and has a more mathematical appearance. Regarding performance, Julia is unquestionably more effective than Python for data research.

In light of this, why do three out of four data experts advise individuals who want to become data scientists to study Python? Could Python prevail in a data science match between Julia and Python?

In the world of machine learning, Python is genuinely ubiquitous. Pytorch and Tensorflow are the industry leaders in this field. Additionally, Python's adaptability and all-around usefulness benefit data scientists more, from gathering the data in the first place to showing their discoveries.

Stay with Python if you're fresh to the data science field. Master the fundamentals by learning them well. Once you've gotten your foot in the door of data science, you may add Julia to your arsenal because it's more like the cherry on top in the professional world. You'll be able to increase your performance and broaden your skill set as a result.

On the one hand, where Julia comes with so many qualities better than Python; on the other hand, Python wins the battle of Julia vs. Python when it comes to popularity.

You can also read about the Multilevel Inheritance in Python,and  Convert String to List Python

Key Differences

Let us now see Julia vs. Python in terms of some critical points. This section will consider points like community, speed, versatility, Code conversion, libraries, supporting tools, working with the shell, and much more for a clear Julia vs Python insight.

Community

For any programming language, community support is crucial. With a large community, there are many resources available to tackle issues. Since Julia is a new language, it has a modest but rapidly expanding and enthusiastic community. On the other hand, Python has a large community because it is a long-established language. Python is more favorable than Julia when comparing community support because it has a larger community, and Julia's is more in its infancy. The Python programming language has a sizable community that makes it easier to find additional experts who can fix problems and clear up coding-related confusion.

Speed

When writing code, execution speed is an important consideration. The speed of Julia's execution is comparable to that of C. It was developed to produce a quick language. Because Julia is not an interpreted language, it executes more quickly. The LLVM framework is utilized in Julia to compile programs. Without using complex profiling and optimization methods, Julia resolves the performance issues that give speed. Julia is the ideal solution for problems based on Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Big Data, and Statistical Computing. If we do Julia vs Python in terms of speed and performance, it is evident that Julia is superior to Python.

Dynamically Typed

Because Julia and Python both use dynamic typing, variables need not be explicitly declared before being used in code. But because Julia is a dynamically and statically typed language, programmers can utilize it in whichever best suits their needs. Due to this, Julia outperforms Python.

Libraries

With its extensive library system, Python makes it simple to code by simply importing these libraries and utilizing their features. Julia's lack of a substantial library collection is one of its weaknesses when compared to Python. In addition, Python is supported by lots of other libraries. Julia also needs help with poorly maintained libraries that are included in packages. Although Julia can communicate with C language libraries, plotting the data takes some time. Julia requires more established libraries to develop because it is a new language. So in this matter, Python wins the Julia vs Python game.

Supporting Tools

A programming language that provides excellent tool support for any software development project will be preferred by all programmers. Python defeats Julia in terms of tool support. Python has excellent tool support, but Julia's tool support is currently under development. As a result, Julia language does not have as many tools for troubleshooting and fixing performance issues as Python does. The likelihood of an unsafe interface is higher in the case of Julia because it is a new language with native APIs.

Versatility

Python is a flexible language as it is simple to read and coding-friendly. Python's adaptability makes it suitable for various programming jobs, including automation, web scripting, web development, and many others. Python is the top choice for developers because it can carry out tasks and reduces development time thanks to its extensive collection of libraries and frameworks. Python is more adaptable than Julia, even though Julia is excellent for solving scientific programming issues.

Working with Shell

Julia is a language that works significantly better with the shell. Julia is well-integrated with the shell, which is why. The environment variable format is an easy way to export the variables used in Julia to the shell. A file's content can be viewed and modified using shell commands. Overall, Julia offers an effortless way to interact with and integrate with the shell.

Conversion of Code

In the case of Julia, code conversion is straightforward and well-supported. Julia can be easily translated from Python or C code, but the reverse is invalid. It is challenging to convert code from Python to C or C to Python. Julia makes it simple to interact with C or Fortran-written libraries. Python can also share Julia's code, thanks to the Pycall library.

Use in Data Science

Due to her assistance in resolving mathematical programming issues, Julia is more well-known in the scientific community. The Julia community is distinct from the Python community, which focuses primarily on application programming. Julia is superior in terms of data science usability. Because Julia's syntax is more akin to mathematical formulae, programmers find Julia to be simple to use when coding and solving mathematical problems. Even though Python is more user-friendly than Julia, the scientific community prefers Julia.

Array Indexing

Julia arrays are 1-indexed, meaning they begin with 1-n rather than 0-n. It could be problematic for programmers who are accustomed to utilizing other languages.

Arrays in Python have a 0 index. Most languages support 0-indexing for arrays.

Also see, Fibonacci Series in Python

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Julia for machine learning faster in speed than Python?

Julia takes great delight in its speed. Julia is a compiled language that is mostly written on its basis, as opposed to Python, which is an interpreted language. Julia is compiled at run-time, as opposed to traditional languages, which are compiled before execution, unlike other compiled languages like C.

What distinguishes Julia from Python?

Python is an interpreted language, whereas Julia is a compiled language, allowing applications to be run directly on a computer processor. Its grammar is appropriate for arithmetic. In contrast to Python, Julia has math-friendly syntax because it was created using R, Matlab, Octave, and other tools with the scientific community in mind.

Is Julia an interpreter or a compiler?

Because Julia converts all code (by default) to machine code before running it, Julia utilizes a just-in-time (JIT) compiler known as "just-ahead-of-time" (JAOT) in the community. So, it is a compiler.

Is Julia dynamic or static?

The dynamic type system in Julia gains some of the benefits of static type systems by allowing values to be marked as belonging to particular types.

 

Why is Python more popular than Julia?

Python has been in the tech industry for quite a long time and has gained a lot of trust and confidence from its users. Packages like TensorFlow or PyTorch of Python are even more popular than Julia as a language. Python's data science and machine learning environment is larger and more developed. Python has about 110k registered packages, compared to over 7k in Julia.

Conclusion

The Julia Vs Python battle can continue, but in this blog, we highlighted the key differences between the two languages. We started off with a brief introduction to these languages and went on to discuss their features. We then looked at the level of popularity these two languages have in the tech community. We then explored Julia vs Python in detail across various points. We hope this helped you get a clear idea about which language to use according to your needs.

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