Why python is popular and how to make a career in python

In this article, we will understand why Python is popular and whether can we make a career in Python. Like other programming languages (C, C++, Java) python is also one of them. Each of the languages has plus points and negative points, this is why new languages are introduced. It doesn’t mean that our older languages are not sufficient to do the same as we are doing with newly introduced languages. But in a few languages, it is a simple and fast process to do the same and Python is one of them. Here I am trying to explain the features of Python, it doesn’t mean that other languages are not good.

Let’s have a look at the facts about which programming language is popular.

Here are some facts according to different sources:

As per the survey of Stackoverflow, here are the top programming languages: (https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#section-most-popular-technologies-programming-scripting-and-markup-languages)

Python is on number 4^th

In 2021: https://octoverse.github.com/2022/top-programming-languages

Python is listed in 3^rd position.

According to Github, the most popular language in 2022 (https://octoverse.github.com/2022/top-programming-languages)

Python is in 2^nd position.

Gitgub: The top programming languages in 2023 are (https://madnight.github.io/githut/#/pull_requests/2023/1)

Here python is in 1^st position.

As per analytics insight (https://www.analyticsinsight.net/top-10-programming-languages-in-2023-with-the-largest-developer-communities/)

1. JavaScript
2. Python
3. Java
4. C/C++
5. PHP
6. C#
7. Visual Dev Tools
8. Swift
9. Kotlin
10. Go

According to Northeastern University (https://graduate.northeastern.edu/resources/most-popular-programming-languages/)

Top 10 Most Popular Programming Languages

1. Python
2. JavaScript
3. Java
4. C#
5. C
6. C++
7. Go
8. R
9. Swift
10. PHP

There are many sources to get such information. The best way to simply ask Google “The popular programming languages” or “Best programming language to learn” etc. You will come to know the facts. Now coming to our topic python and why it is popular? To understand this, let’s know about python.

One study conducted by GitHub in 2018 found that Python is the second most popular language for beginners, after JavaScript. The study also found that Python is the fastest-growing language, with a growth rate of 151% between 2017 and 2018. Java, on the other hand, was ranked third in popularity, after Python and JavaScript.

What is Python?

Python is
– interpreted,
– object-oriented,
– high-level programming language,
– high-level built-in data structures,
– combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding,
– open source

which makes it
– easy to learn,
– fast to develop,
– scripting or glue language to connect existing components,
– reduces the cost of program maintenance,
– extensive standard libraries 

Programmers fall in love with Python because of the increased productivity it provides. It was first released in 1991 by Guido van Rossum and has gained popularity due to its simplicity, ease of use, and readability. Python code is written in a way that is easy for humans to understand, and it has a large library of pre-built modules that can be easily incorporated into programs. It is an interpreted language, meaning that code is executed line by line rather than being compiled beforehand. Python is used by developers, data scientists, and researchers worldwide and has become one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. The Python programming language is over 30 years old and still experiencing a 22% growth in popularity year over year.

Why Python is popular

Python has gained tremendous popularity over the years due to several reasons:

1. Easy to Learn: Python is a high-level programming language that is easy to learn and understand. Its syntax is simple and straightforward, making it accessible to beginners. With Python, you can create complex, multi-protocol applications while maintaining concise, readable syntax.
2. Versatile: Python is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of applications, including web development, data analysis, machine learning, and scientific computing. It has a large library of pre-built modules and packages that can be easily integrated into applications.
3. Large Community: Python has a large and active community of developers, which means that there are plenty of resources and support available online. This community also contributes to the development of new libraries and packages.
4. Open-Source: Python is an open-source language, which means that its source code is freely available to anyone who wants to use or modify it. This has led to the development of a vast ecosystem of tools and frameworks built on top of Python.
5. High Demand: Python is one of the most in-demand programming languages in the job market today, with a high demand for skilled Python developers in various industries.
6. Large Library Ecosystem: Python has a vast collection of libraries and modules that make it easy to perform complex tasks with minimal coding. The libraries range from web development frameworks, data analysis tools, and scientific computing libraries to machine learning and artificial intelligence libraries.
7. Cross-Platform Support: Python is a cross-platform language, meaning that code written on one platform can run on another with minimal modifications. This feature has made Python a popular choice for developers who need to write applications that can run on multiple platforms.
8. Extensible: Python is an extensible language, which means that developers can use other programming languages like C, C++, and Java to write Python modules, which can be easily integrated into Python code.
9. High Salaries: Python developers are among the highest-paid in the software development industry. According to recent surveys, Python developers earn an average salary that is higher than developers working with other programming languages.
10. Support for Big Data: Python has emerged as a popular language for big data processing and analysis due to its support for libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and SciPy, which provide efficient and effective ways to work with large datasets.

These factors, among others, have contributed to Python’s popularity and made it one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, and this is why Python is more popular.

Why Python is easy to learn

Python is designed to be an easy-to-learn language, and there are several reasons for this:

1. Simple Syntax: Python has a simple syntax that is easy to read and write. The language is designed to be easily understood by both beginners and experienced developers.
2. Readability: Python code is highly readable due to its use of whitespace and indentation. This makes it easier to understand the structure of code and makes it less prone to errors caused by missing brackets or semicolons.
3. Large Standard Library: Python has a large standard library that provides many pre-built modules and functions that can be used to perform common tasks. This means that developers can write complex programs using a smaller amount of code.
4. Interpreted Language: Python is an interpreted language, meaning that code is executed line by line rather than being compiled beforehand. This makes it easier to write and test code, as errors can be identified quickly.
5. Beginner-Friendly: Python is an excellent language for beginners due to its clear and concise syntax. It also has a large and supportive community that provides plenty of resources and support for beginners.

Let’s have a look from a coding point of view to understand why Python is easy to learn. We have to write a program to print “Hello World” in different languages:

Print “Hello World” in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   printf("Hello, World!\n");
   return 0;
} 

The printf() function is used to print the message “Hello, World!” to the console. The \n at the end of the message is used to add a newline character, which makes the output easier to read. The return 0; statement is used to indicate that the program has finished executing.

Print “Hello World” in C++

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main() {
   cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;
   return 0;
}

The cout object is used to output the message “Hello, World!” to the console. The << operator is used to insert the message into the cout object. The endl manipulator is used to add a newline character to the output, which makes the output easier to read. The return 0; statement is used to indicate that the program has finished executing.

Note that in C++, you need to include the iostream header file to use the cout object. Also, the using namespace std; statement is used to avoid having to prefix cout with the std:: namespace.

Print “Hello World” in Java

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

In Java, a program consists of one or more classes, each of which can contain one or more methods. In this example, the class is called HelloWorld, and it contains one method called main. The main method is the entry point of the program, and it’s where the program starts executing.

The System.out.println() statement is used to print the message “Hello, World!” to the console. The println() method automatically adds a newline character to the end of the message, which makes the output easier to read.

Print “Hello World” in Python

print("Hello, World!")

In Python, the print() function is used to output messages to the console. In this example, the message “Hello, World!” is passed as an argument to the print() function. The print() function automatically adds a newline character to the end of the message, which makes the output easier to read.

So, from above, you will come to know why Python is easy to learn. Now have another program to check how it can be done in different programming languages. So here is our question:

Write a program to print the Fibonacci series in C, C++, Java, and Python

In C

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
   int a = 0, b = 1, c, i, n = 10;
   for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
   {
      if (i <= 1)
         c = i;
      else
      {
         c = a + b;
         a = b;
         b = c;
      }
      printf("%d ", c);
   }
   return 0;
} 

In C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
   int a = 0, b = 1, c, i, n = 10;
   for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
   {
      if (i <= 1)
         c = i;
      else
      {
         c = a + b;
         a = b;
         b = c;
      }
      cout << c << " ";
   }
   return 0;
}

In Java

public class Fibonacci {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      int a = 0, b = 1, c, i, n = 10;
      for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
         if (i <= 1)
            c = i;
         else {
            c = a + b;
            a = b;
            b = c;
         }
         System.out.print(c + " ");
      }
   }
}

In Python

a, b = 0, 1
while b < 1000:
    print(b, end=' ')
    a, b = b, a + b

If you are new to Python, you might be not able to understand the code, but just have a look at the line of code written in different programming languages to do the same task. You will identify the lines of code in Python are very less in comparison with other languages. So in Python, you can solve complex problems in only a few lines of code.

I hope from the above details you come to know why Python is becoming the most popular language in IT industries. Now let’s come to our second topic.

How to make a career in Python

Python is a versatile programming language that is easy to learn. It is becoming increasingly popular and is widely used for building web and computer-based applications. As a result, there is a growing demand for Python jobs in the job market.

Required qualification for Python development

If you are interested in becoming a Python developer, then there is no minimum requirement. But it will be good if you are from a science and math background (bachelor’s or Master’s degree in science). This will help you to understand the logic properly and quickly. You can learn Python from any source and try to get a certification in Python.

What are the courses and certifications in Python?

There are many sources from where you can learn Python, both online and offline. It’s good, if you search on Google, you will get a list of websites to learn Python. There are several certifications available for Python, some of the popular Python certifications are:

1. Python Institute Certifications: The Python Institute offers several levels of certification, including the entry-level PCAP (Certified Associate in Python Programming), followed by the PCPP (Certified Professional in Python Programming), and the highest level, the PCAP-31-03 (Certified Expert in Python Programming).
2. Microsoft Certified: Microsoft offers a Python certification called “Microsoft Certified: Azure for Python Developers Associate”, which is aimed at developers who use Python to develop and deploy applications on the Azure platform.
3. Oracle Certified Associate: Oracle offers the “Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 11/SE 8 Programmer” certification, which includes a section on Python programming.
4. Certified Data Science with Python: This certification is offered by IBM and covers topics such as data manipulation, data analysis, data visualization, machine learning, and natural language processing using Python.
5. Cloudera Certified Associate: Cloudera offers a certification for data analysts who work with Python, called “Cloudera Certified Associate (CCA) Data Analyst.”
6. AWS Certified Developer: The AWS Certified Developer certification covers a broad range of AWS services and development practices, including Python, which is often used to develop serverless applications on AWS.
7. Google Cloud Platform: Google offers several certifications, including the “Google Cloud Certified – Professional Data Engineer” certification, which includes a section on Python programming for data analysis and machine learning.

These certifications can be useful for individuals who want to demonstrate their skills to potential employers, and for organizations that want to ensure that their employees have the necessary skills to work with Python effectively.

What are the Scope of Python development?

Python is used by many companies worldwide for different purposes such as web development, machine learning, data science, automation, and many more. Here are some of the well-known companies that use Python:

1. Google
2. Facebook
3. Instagram
4. Netflix
5. Dropbox
6. Spotify
7. Uber
8. Airbnb
9. Reddit
10. Pinterest
11. Quora
12. NASA
13. Mozilla
14. Intel
15. IBM
16. JPMorgan Chase
17. Goldman Sachs
18. Bloomberg
19. Deutsche Bank
20. Citigroup

We can’t write all the companies here. This list is not exhaustive, and many other companies use Python for their software development needs. Python’s versatility, ease of use, and extensive libraries make it a popular choice for developers and businesses worldwide. Python is a very useful tool that can be used in many different areas, like making computer programs, doing scientific research, artificial intelligence, creating art, running a business, teaching, and helping the government. Because of its many uses, Python has been successful in all these fields. So overall, the scope of Python is very good in the market and will be in demand all the time.

Why Python development are in demand?

1. Since Python is becoming the most popular language year by year, so the demand for Python developers is also increasing gradually.
2. There are various fields like web development, data science, machine learning, automation, and more where Python is in demand due to industries recognizing the benefits of using Python, Python developers are currently in high demand both in India and overseas.
3. The development is cost-effective for companies.
4. The overall development speed is very high in comparison with other languages.
5. Learning Python is not just for developer profiles. Other jobs you can land with Python are DevOps engineer, data analyst, data scientist, and software engineer.
6. Nowadays Machine Learning and AI are increasing its popularity and Python is the programming language used to do that.
7. Python is free and open-source software, which means that it can be used, modified, and distributed freely.
8. Python has a vast and active community of developers who contribute to the language and develop useful libraries and tools, making it easier and faster to develop applications.
9. Python can be described as a client-side scripting language. It enables web developers to add some interesting dynamic functionality to their websites without learning complex programming languages like C++ or Java.

Because of these reasons, Python development has become more popular, and the demand for Python developers has increased in recent years and will continue.

Numbers of Python jobs in India

Here are the number of Python-related jobs in India as of now.

Python Developer(35.4k): NAUKRI (7.6k), INDEED(5.5k), MONSTER(14.8k), LINKEDIN(7.5k)
Python Web Developer(16.5k): NAUKRI (7k), INDEED(2.3k), MONSTER(1.2k), LINKEDIN(6k)
Software Developer(236.6k): NAUKRI (108k), INDEED(51.6k), MONSTER(2.8k), LINKEDIN(74.2k)
Data Science(11.7k): NAUKRI (5.2k), INDEED(516), MONSTER(125), LINKEDIN(5.9k)
Business Analyst(16.3k): NAUKRI (9.4k), INDEED(334), MONSTER(2.1k), LINKEDIN(4.5k)
Machine Learning(12.2k): NAUKRI (6.4k), INDEED(156), MONSTER(188), LINKEDIN(5.5k)

Average Python job salaries

Different job roles using Python

Career paths of Python developer

Here are some common ways:

1. If you have a bachelor’s degree in Science/Engineering

Path 1:
A. Get a degree in software engineering
B. Complete relevant projects using Python.
C. Apply for web or software developer positions.

Path 2:
A. Get a degree in computer science.
B. Get certifications in working with Big Data and/or Data Analytics.
C. Join as a Data science or engineer at a firm.

Path 3:
A. Get a degree in physics.
B. Take online courses in Python and complete projects.
C. Collect professional certifications in Data Science and/or Machine Learning.
D. Intern or get a job as a Data Scientist or Machine Learning Engineer.

2. If you don’t have a Bachelors degree in Science/Engineering

Career Path 1:
A. Get a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
B. Learn Python online and complete projects.
C. Opt for a Master’s degree in Data Science or Marketing/Business Analytics.
D. Intern or find a job as a Business Analyst

Career Path 2:
A. Get a degree in any discipline.
B. Learn Python through online or classroom courses.
C. Complete projects using Python.
D. Build a portfolio and apply for jobs as an independent Python developer.

Note: The above-given career paths are just examples. There is no fixed career path to start a career in Python development. It may vary according to your background, interests, and skills.

List of popular Python books

Here are the top 10 popular Python books that you might find useful:

1. “Python Crash Course” by Eric Matthes – A beginner-friendly book that covers Python fundamentals and programming concepts. You can purchase this book from here
2. “Automate the Boring Stuff with Python” by Al Sweigart – A practical book that teaches you how to automate repetitive tasks using Python.
3. “Fluent Python” by Luciano Ramalho – An intermediate to advanced level book that covers Python’s features and programming paradigms in-depth.
4. “Python for Data Analysis” by Wes McKinney – A comprehensive guide to data analysis using Python and its libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib.
5. “Python Cookbook” by David Beazley and Brian K. Jones – A collection of recipes that demonstrate various Python programming techniques and best practices.
6. “Learning Python” by Mark Lutz – A comprehensive book that covers Python’s core concepts and advanced topics.
7. “Head-First Python” by Paul Barry – A beginner-friendly book that uses visual aids, puzzles, and games to teach Python.
8. “Effective Python” by Brett Slatkin – A practical guide to writing high-quality, efficient, and maintainable Python code.
9. “Python Tricks” by Dan Bader – A collection of Python tips, tricks, and techniques that can help you write cleaner and more efficient code.
10. “Data Science from Scratch” by Joel Grus – A beginner-friendly book that covers data science concepts and programming techniques using Python.

These books cover a wide range of Python-related topics, from fundamentals to advanced concepts, and can be helpful for beginners and experienced Python developers alike.

List of popular Python blogs

Here are the top 10 popular Python blogs that you might find interesting:

1. Real Python – https://realpython.com/
2. Python Insider – https://pythoninsider.blogspot.com/
3. The Mouse Vs. The Python – https://www.blog.pythonlibrary.org/
4. Full Stack Python – https://www.fullstackpython.com/blog.html
5. PyCoder’s Weekly – https://pycoders.com/
6. Planet Python – https://planetpython.org/
7. Talk Python To Me – https://talkpython.fm/
8. Python Central – https://www.pythoncentral.io/
9. Dan Bader – https://dbader.org/blog/
10. Python for Data Science – https://www.datacamp.com/community/tutorials/python-data-science-handbook

These blogs cover a wide range of topics related to Python, including tutorials, news, best practices, libraries, frameworks, tools, and more.

List of popular Python Libraries

Python has a vast ecosystem of libraries and packages that can be useful for various purposes. Here are some of the most popular and useful Python libraries:

1. NumPy – A library for numerical computing, providing powerful tools for working with arrays and matrices.
2. Pandas – A library for data manipulation and analysis, providing data structures for efficient data handling and manipulation.
3. Matplotlib – A library for creating visualizations and plots, providing tools for creating various types of charts and graphs.
4. Scikit-learn – A library for machine learning, providing tools for data preprocessing, model selection, and evaluation.
5. TensorFlow – A library for machine learning, particularly for deep learning, providing tools for building and training neural networks.
6. Pygame – A library for game development, providing tools for creating games and multimedia applications.
7. Requests – A library for sending HTTP requests, providing a simple and efficient way to interact with APIs and web services.
8. Flask – A micro web framework, providing tools for building web applications and APIs.
9. Django – A complete web development framework to build web applications rapidly. There is another library called DRF (Django Rest Framework) used to create API.
10. BeautifulSoup – A library for web scraping, providing tools for parsing HTML and XML documents.
11. Pillow – A library for image processing, providing tools for reading, manipulating, and saving various types of image files.

These libraries are widely used in various domains such as data science, machine learning, web development, game development, and more. They can help developers build applications more efficiently and effectively, save time, and reduce errors.

From where to get all Python libraries

The Python Package Index (PyPI) is a repository of software for the Python programming language. You can download all Python libraries from https://pypi.org/. PyPI helps you find and install software developed and shared by the Python community.

FAQ

Conclusion

Python is popular because it is easy to learn, has a large community of developers, and is versatile for various applications. To make a career in Python, you can start by learning the language and building practical projects to showcase your skills, contributing to open-source projects, networking with other Python developers, and pursuing relevant certifications or higher education degrees.

Here are Top 40 Python Interview Questions & Answers that will help you to prepare for your interviews.