Coding blockchain is one of the more complex coding tasks out there. However, even though the process is complicated, there are ways to lighten the load by choosing the proper tools for the job.
The programming language is one of the most basic and essential tools for coding blockchain. In this article, we'll go over why Python is one of the best programming language for coding blockchain. It's a programming language with many different models, ready-to-use tools, and a huge library of knowledge.
Main Python Features
There are a few key features of Python that make it uniquely suited to coding blockchain projects. These are also why Python is one of the most used programming languages. Before we jump into it, here are some of the most important Python features:
- It's open source. Compared to other programming languages such as C++, Java, and Vyper, which aren't fully open source, Python is free and open to anyone wanting to learn how to use it.
- Python can save a lot of time for a user. Languages such as C++ and Java expect users to assign values to variables manually. Python also has features that help a user when it comes to data processing and cleaning.
- C++ can also host Python, making it the more interoperable option.
Benefits of Developing Blockchain with Python
Developing blockchain on Python comes with many benefits. It allows the programmers to write slick and efficient code. We'll dive deeper into some of the biggest benefits that Python has to offer.
Easy-to-understand syntax
There's very little fluff with Python syntax. There's no extra software and tools a coder needs to install; Python will do the job on its own.
Most of the terms and symbols used in Python come from the basic English language and math. The syntax provides a broad range of tools that the user can take advantage of without having to delve into the complex new language.
Python syntax does not modify itself, nor do the commands randomly change. Many other languages aren't as consistent. Python also adds punctuation marks to it, making the code cleaner.
Free Packages and Tools for Blockchain Development
Python is valuable for blockchain development because it leverages dynamic cryptography and encryption. It's easy enough to access open-source libraries using the Python Pip installer. Hashing algorithms like SHA-256 for Bitcoin and Ethhash for Ethereum are integral parts of the blockchain system. Python has a library of hashlib codes that are used for this purpose.
Python is also used for both front-end and back-end development, which works well for blockchain's decentralized features.
Great Documentation Systems
Cryptocurrencies that rely on blockchain are used in countless ways, especially now when important crypto publications such as Cryptomaniaks discuss how traditional finance institutions are merging with crypto. All of this means that blockchain development teams are vast and complex as they need to consider various uses.
Pythons is the right tool for that job, partly because of how it provides complex documentation systems to accompany the code. Any high-end coder will tell you that code is read more often than written, and a good set of accompanying documentation helps.
It is an especially useful feature if a large team undertakes a coding project and changes many hands.
Easier to Fix Bugs
Popular coding languages such as C++ aren't the best suited to fixing bugs. A code written with C++ needs to be compiled a lot so that it can be understandable or translated from human syntax to one that programs can read.
For instance, if a programmer makes a mistake while coding a decentralized blockchain application using C++, they need to stop the work and recompile the code before running it again. It happens countless times during the coding process, and it takes time and breaks the concentration coders seek.
With Python, there's no need for complex compiling and wasting time in this manner. As soon as the coder changes the code and fixes the bug, the program can be run once again.
A Language Made for the Future
Python has been one of the biggest names in the industry for the past 30 years, but that doesn't mean it's become stale. The very fact that it's widely used to code blockchain and crypto apps shows how versatile it is.
At this point, there are over 25 million individual Python users. It goes to show that it's a language that will be used for years to come, and that's important for the crypto industry, which has many complex plans for the future.
The coders working in Python come from all generations and create for many industries and fields.
Diverse application
Python is a language that can have countless different applications. This is especially true for app development, which can be a great advantage when making decentralized apps such as the ones that utilize blockchain.
Some of the most important Python applications come in the fields of transaction security, identity protection, and backing up data. All of these are tailor-made to be used in the blockchain industry.
One of the most prominent decentralized algorithms built with Python has nothing to do with crypto, but it's a great showcase for what the language can do. Spotify's algorithm is built in Python, and crypto apps are looking for that sort of predictive ability.
Strong Community
This is often an overlooked feature of a programming language, but it's important for those who work on complex projects. There's a good community around Python; programmers can use it as a resource and help when needed. Programmers need to make efforts to become a part of the community to use it this way, but when they do, the returns are noticeable.
One can join dozens of Slack and Discord channels to get the most out of the community. All of these are free; it takes time and patience to understand these tools fully.
One Major Fault
As we said before, Python is well-suited to building blockchain products, but there's also one major downside to using it. It's probably the reason it's still not the most used language to write blockchain code. Mainly, Python is not perfectly suited to writing mobile apps. At the same time, crypto products are moving towards going mobile wherever it's possible to do so.
This means that until Python coders find a way to fix this problem, there will be some alternatives to using Python, at least for a specific type of code and project. Chances are that trends about going mobile won't change soon.
Conclusion
Python is one of the world's most widely used programming languages, and there are many reasons to use it to build blockchain-based products. The code it uses is slick, and it utilizes a simple syntax. A strong community of users is behind it and can be a resource for other programmers.
Python can also be used for a variety of different applications, and the ways crypto is used are growing by the day. It's important to note that it may not be a perfect language to use for mobile apps, which is its main downside when it comes to blockchain purposes.
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