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Python vs Cython: The Difference

Updated: Jan 12, 2023



What is Python Programming Language?

Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components together. Python's simple, easy-to-learn syntax emphasizes readability and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance. Python supports modules and packages, which encourages program modularity and code reuse. The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are available in source or binary form without charge for all major platforms and can be freely distributed.


Advantages:

  1. It is easy to learn and use, and it has an extensive library.

  2. It is flexible and has a supportive community

Disadvantages:

  1. Because of its elementary programming, users face difficulty while working with other programming languages.

  2. Python is time-consuming language. It has low execution speed.

  3. It is not suited for memory-intensive programs and mobile applications.


What is Cython Programming Language?

Cython is a compiled language that is typically used to generate CPython extension modules. It aims to be a superset of Python, designed to give C-like performance with code that is written in Python. Cython is written in Python and C and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, producing source files compatible with CPython 2.6, 2.7, and 3.3 and later versions.


Advantages:

  1. It allows easy working with C libraries and also supports C++.

  2. Cython Libraries have the same garbage collection as that Python. It is also possible to manage the C-level Structures using malloc/free.

  3. Cython can be used in Python applications and software modules that need extra protection from attacks such as snooping.

Disadvantages:

  1. Cython code is best in its performance when it is written only in the C language.

  2. Cython provides a source code report that illustrates which parts of it are written in Python to avoid performance bottlenecks.

  3. Its complete conversion is not possible which results in several calls to the python interpreter.


Let's see the difference between Python and Cython.


The Difference: Python vs Cython

Python

Cython

Type of programming language

It is an interpreted programming language. Every time the programmer runs a python code, the code need to be parse and interpreted before execution.

It is compiled programming language. It is executed directly by the CPU without using any interpreter.

Goal

It is designed as general-purpose programming language and supports programming paradigms - objects-oriented, procedural and imperative.

It is designed as a superset of python programming language. It also have the capability to generate standard python modules.

Behaviour

Enables programmers to organize the code through modules.

It has the capability to generate standard python modules but translate module code written in python into C.

Performance and speed

Python is slower than Cython

It is faster than Python. It improved python code execution speed by compiling python code into C.

Dependency

Python does not need anything more than the default installation.

Programmers have to install both Python and C-compiler as pre-requisite to run Cython program.

use-case

It is used as scripting language for web development, scientific computing, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and Internet of Things.

It is used in scientific and numerical computing projects.

Interoperability

If you are using Python, you have to stick to the standard Python language specification.

here you can mix Python and C, as required. You need to be careful about the syntax requirement.

Syntax

You can write regular python code and compile using Cython compiler. You don't need to declare the variable.

Here to use Cython over Python, you need to declare the variable.



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