Deciding whether to use Golang or Python for API is a matter of preference for most people. Golang and Python are popular for building APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). While Python is known for its high level of abstraction and extensive library support, Goland is preferred for developing real-time applications, networks, cloud infrastructures, and microservices. 

In this blog, we will compare these two languages and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using Golang vs. Python for API development. If you are new to programming or API in general, you need to know the terms APIs, Go, and Python in detail.

So without further ado, let's dive in!

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API  and Factors to consider while Choosing a Language

Let's understand API first

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of definitions, rules, and protocols defining how two or more systems can communicate with each other. APIs are software intermediaries that allow two applications to interact with each other and share data or functionality. 

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When developers design new tools or products or manage existing ones, APIs give them flexibility. APIs simplify design, administration, and use; and provide opportunities for innovation.

If you're a developer, it could be challenging for you to decide on what programming language to select for API development. Even though there are many languages that can be used to build APIs, some may be better and more effective to employ.

Here are the three significant factors to consider when choosing a language for building APIs. 

Comfort or Existing Specialization

You will ultimately find it easier to develop, understand the concepts required, and be able to advance more quickly if you already have experience in a particular language. This also results in better code and performance because you can focus more on improving instead of learning a new programming language.

Libraries and frameworks

Another factor to consider is the different options for libraries or frameworks that aid in developing APIs. Due to the functions and objects they contain, libraries and frameworks let you build software more quickly by handling many tedious or repetitive tasks involved in creating an API.

Choosing a language with sufficient frameworks is ideal, making building an API in the programming language faster and easier. 

Support and community

Lastly, you must check the community of developers for the language you have selected. Here are a few questions to look out for when checking the language support:

How active are the developer and user communities?

• Do they regularly or continuously upgrade their software and functionalities?
• Are the changes making security and usability better?
• How clear and available is the documentation?
• Do you have a lot of resources at your disposal?
• Are seasoned developers writing any blog posts on the necessary topics?
• Do these languages and frameworks have any physical sources, like books or journals, that may be used to learn how to use them?
• Are all the questions that get posted on Stack Overflow getting answered?

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Golang/Go for Building APIs

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Go, also known as Golang, is a statically-typed, compiled programming language developed by Google to successfully build and maintain high-performance software projects. It is a relatively young language and was released in 2009. However, it has recently gained popularity due to its simplicity, performance, and concurrency support.

According to reports, developers at Google seemed to have the idea for Golang while they were waiting for a project's code compilation to be finished. GoLang is the only language with all three in-demand features: straightforward coding, effective code compilation, and effective execution. 

There are several pros and cons while using "Go" for building API. Some of them are mentioned below.

Advantages of Using Go for API

1. Go performs very well and can handle several requests at once.
2. It features an easy-to-understand syntax that simplifies writing and maintaining code.
3. The net/HTTP package is one of the many tools for creating APIs in Go's robust standard library.
4. Go has concurrency support built in, which makes it ideal for creating scalable, high-performance APIs.
5. Go contains an automatic memory manager called a garbage collector, which can make writing memory-safe code simpler.
6. It offers robust cross-compiling support, making it simple to create binaries for several systems.
7. The language has over 1.1 million professional Go developers.

Disadvantages of Using Go for API

1. Compared to Python, Go has a smaller developer community, which may result in fewer libraries and frameworks for creating APIs.
2. Go needs more tools and frameworks for data analysis and machine learning tasks.
3. Some people suggest that Go is not ideal for iOS applications (still debatable)

Python for Building APIs

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Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that has been around since the late 1980s. It is also one of the most versatile programming languages designed to handle the rigors of API development. Many developers choose Python for API development due to its simplicity, readability, and many libraries and frameworks available.

If you're considering Python to build API, you must know its key benefits and potential drawbacks.

Advantages of Using Python for API

1. Since Python has a sizable and vibrant developer community, it assists programmers of all experience levels. 
2. Python has a clear and concise syntax, which makes it easy to read and understand. This makes it a good choice for developers who are new to programming or want to build an API quickly.
3. Python is dynamically typed, automatically allocating the data type during execution. The language can facilitate writing short bursts of code.
4. For tasks like machine learning and data analysis, Python has various tools and frameworks to create APIs.
5. Python offers robust testing and debugging support with tools like the unit test module and the PDB debugger.
6. With tools like Sphinx and readthedocs.org, Python has solid documentation assistance.

Disadvantages of Using Python for API

1. Python might not be the most excellent option for creating high-performance and scalable APIs because it is less performing than Go.
2. Python's dynamic typing can make code maintenance and debugging more challenging.
3. On systems with numerous CPU cores, the global interpreter lock (GIL) in Python can reduce the speed of multi-threaded programs.

Golang vs. Python: What to Choose For Building APIs?

Now you know what Go and Python are in building APIs and their advantages and disadvantages. Let's compare the two in various criteria to make better decisions.

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Performance

Go

• ‍Compiled language: This means converting it to machine code that can be executed directly by the computer's CPU. This makes Go programs fast and efficient, especially compared to interpreted languages like Python.
• ‍Support concurrency: Go can handle multiple tasks concurrently using goroutines and channels. This makes it well-suited for building high-performance, scalable APIs that can manage many requests together.

Python 

• ‍Interpreted language: This can make Python programs slower and less efficient than compiled languages like Golang.

The above comparison gives Go a better edge on Golang vs. Python performance. However, if performance is not a priority for your project, Python could be used.

Support 

Go

• ‍Growing Community: With over a million active Go developers, the Go community is still growing owing to its efficiency, multithreaded architecture, and ease of use. 

Python

• ‍Libraries: Being in the industry for over 30 years, Python has attracted a lot of users and companies. It has a huge community, with over 15.7 million developers. 

So, if you prefer better support and vast community help, Python wins in the above comparison.

Suggested Read: Why the community of developers matters?

Syntax

Go

• ‍Simple, easy-to-learn syntax: The language is similar to C and C++ and comparatively easy to learn. It has a small set of keywords and a clear, readable syntax that is easy to understand, especially for developers familiar with C-style languages.

Python

• ‍More Verbose: Python's dynamically-typed nature can make the code more verbose and harder to read. 

Go could be a better option if you are entirely new to coding and want to learn to build APIs using any language.

Backend

Go

Performance: Go is generally faster and performs better than Python, especially when handling multiple requests concurrently.

Python

Speed: Although Python is flexible, it can be slow at times. Being a dynamically typed language, it is slower in terms of delivery speed. 

Therefore, if your primary requirements are speed of response and performance, building APIs in Go is the better solution.

‍Memory Usage

Go

• ‍Automated garbage collector: It automatically manages the memory Go programs use. This can make it easier to write code that is free of memory leaks. However, the garbage collector can also add overhead to the memory usage of Go programs.
• ‍Statically-typed nature: This means that the type of each variable must be specified when it is declared. This can make it easier to reason about the memory usage of Go programs.

Python

• ‍Reference-counting garbage collector: This can be less efficient than Go's garbage collector in some cases.

Again,  Golang is the better choice if you want to minimize CPU and memory overhead.

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Golang vs. Python for API: Which is better?

Both languages have their strengths, weaknesses, and use cases. Here is a quick comparison chart

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Choosing between Go and Python can be difficult for developers. Yet, if they can arrive at a decision when they fully understand their preferences and skills as a developer. For instance, choosing Golang makes no sense if you're proficient in Python and speed and performance are not your priorities. 

Additionally, the choice between Golang vs. Python for API will depend on the specific requirements of your project. Both languages have their strengths and weaknesses, and it's essential to carefully consider your needs before deciding.

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Key takeaways

• Go, and Python are popular programming languages with advantages and disadvantages.
  

• Golang is suitable for high-performance tasks and has fast speed and excellent scalability. Python has many libraries and a strong community of developers who regularly contribute to the language.
  

• Python may be slower than Go. But it is still a popular choice for many projects due to its flexibility and the availability of libraries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Golang a better web scraping language than Python?

In general, the choice between Python and Go for web scraping depends on the specific requirements of your project. If you need to scrape many pages or process a lot of data, Go's performance and concurrency support may be beneficial.

If you need to interact with websites that require JavaScript or cookies, or if you need to manipulate and analyze the data you are collecting, Python's libraries and data analysis tools may be more helpful.

2. Is Golang suitable for creating APIs?

Go is a good choice for creating APIs because it is fast and efficient, has strong concurrency support, and has a simple syntax. It also has a robust standard library and third-party libraries for building APIs. Go's net/HTTP package and libraries like Echo and Gin and Gorilla provide a set of functions and features for building HTTP servers and clients, making it easy to develop and maintain APIs.

3. Is Golang a better backend language than Python?

Go is a good choice for backend development because it is fast, efficient, and has strong concurrency support. Python is a good choice for backend development because it is flexible, easy to use, and has an extensive standard library and community.

Go is for high-performance tasks such as web servers and microservices. Python is for tasks that require data manipulation and analysis. The choice between Go and Python for backend development depends on the project's specific requirements.

4. Does Go Work Well with REST APIs?

Because of its speed, efficiency, excellent concurrency support, straightforward syntax, and robust standard library, Go is a good choice for building REST APIs.

5. Is Python better than Golang?

There is no definite response to this question because it depends on your project's specific needs. Both Python and Go (also known as Golang) are popular programming languages with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Python is a high-level, dynamically typed language. It is easy to use and learn. It is suitable for rapid prototyping and has an extensive standard library and community. Go is for efficiency and concurrency.

It has a simple syntax and a robust standard library and is suitable for projects that require high performance.

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