This article will help you to choose the best programming language for Data Science in 2022.
Let’s settle this once and for all !!
Which Programming Language Is Best For Data Science: Python or R?
This is probably the most asked question by beginners starting out their Data Science career. And it’s a very valid question because the fact is, which ever programming language you choose while starting out will become more or less yourlifestyle,and you don’t want amiserable lifestyle.
All these confusion comes from the glut of information out there on the internet trying to prove a point.
For instance if you check onUdemy, Coursera, Edx, etc. for Data Science courses, you will find tones of courses, some taught in Python and a couple of them taught in R. Even if you try to do a mere search on Google, you will find tones of Python Data Science resources as well as R Data Science resources.
You can be very much confused if you are a beginner.
Now, in order to answer the question:Which Programming Language Is Best For Data Science: Python or R?,am not just going to say something based on some personal bias statements. I will rather useFacts and Figuresto answer the question in order for both of us to be at the safer side.
THE FACT
Le’s see the data…
According toStackOverFow report 2020, Python is themost preferredprogramming language by industry professionals. The report also emphasis that employers preferPython programmersand are willing to pay them more than any other programming language professionals.
Below are the snapshots of the report.
As you can see,30.0% of industry professionals preferPythonto any other programming language. If you check all the way down there you will find out that only5.1%professionals responded saying they will want to use R programming language. I think I don’t need to talk much here, the report has said it all.
Yeah I know the report is shocking but it is what it is. The industry lovesPythonand that’s it!!
Don’t worry, R programming is not that disgraceful…lol
Now we know what is preferred by the industry.
What about theSalary,after all that’s what we ultimately want. If not the money then what the hell will we even care aboutPythonor R?
THE FIGURE
let’s see some figures below…
Let’s check onsalary.com
$92,694 on Average for a Python Developer
$79,580 on Average for a R Programmer
We can clearly see from the above that Python programmers carry the big check home.
JOB DESCRIPTION/REQUIREMENTS
Now let’s consider what programming language employers look for when hiring a Data Scientist:
We will be looking at the programming languages that the employers are looking and as mentioned in their JD(Job Description).
Do you see any R programming language there? NO!!
screenshot from IBM Careers
Yes you read that correctly, “Programming skill in python is preferred”. It is categorically mentioned that Python is preferred.
Screenshot from FB Careers
I know by now if you have already studied R programming language, you will be feeling like collapsing-what the hell did I waste my time learning R.Well, all hope is not lost, there are lots of companies that will embrace R while you enter the job and later ask you to learnPython.
screenshot from Google Careers
We can see that in this JD, both R andPythonhas been mentioned and it’s the applicant’s choice to present himself/herself as a Python developer or R programmer.
BUT ifPythonis always there wherever R is mentioned, but R is not always there whenever Python is mention, the why not just learn Python?
Ready To Learn Python? Start Here:Python Crash Course on Udemy
THE MEDIA
Let’s also find out what the media is saying about these two languages:
screenshot from ZDNet
screenshot from TechRepublic
Python is everywhere!!
THE TIOBE INDEX
The TIOBE Programming Community index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated once a month. The ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers world-wide, courses and third party vendors. Popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube and Baidu are used to calculate the ratings. It is important to note that the TIOBE index is not about thebestprogramming language or the language in whichmost lines of codehave been written.
The index can be used to check whether your programming skills are still up to date or to make a strategic decision about what programming language should be adopted when starting to build a new software system. The definition of the TIOBE index can be foundhere.
screenshot from TIOBE index
We can see thatPythoncontinues to grow over the past years and this growth has even been more incremental after the 2018.
screenshot from TIOBE index
We can observe that R programming had an increamental grow and after 2018, there has been a sharp drop in the usage of R programming.
GOOGLE TREND
Google Trends is a website by Google that analyzes the popularity of top search queries in Google Search across various regions and languages.
screenshot from Google Trend
The trend indicates a continuous growth in the mentioning and search of Python than R programming.
COMPANIES USINGPYTHON
Companies use Python
Companies use R
There are a fair number of companies that uses either of these two languages.
The other reason why Python is wining is itsrobust librariesthat makes the programming language more powerful especially when it comes to Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence in general. Python is used 90% of the time so far as Data is involve.
So in a nutshell,Which Programming Language Is Best For Data Science: Python or R?
The simple answer isPYTHON!!
That’s it!
If you are starting out your career as a Data Scientist or Analyst and you are thinking of which programming language to use, simply go for Python.
Conclusion:
Python is the easiest programming language to learn and has a variety of scope than any other programming language. Whether you have a background in programming or not, Python is easy to get started with.
If you are ready to start your Python journey, then check this new beginner to advancedPython Crash Course on Udemyto easily get started.
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