Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Python VS AWK

Compare Python VS AWK and see what are their differences

Python logo Python

Python is a clear and powerful object-oriented programming language, comparable to Perl, Ruby, Scheme, or Java.

AWK logo AWK

Linux users can perform many types of searching, replacing and report generating tasks by using awk, grep and sed commands.
  • Python Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

  • AWK Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-29

Python features and specs

  • Easy to Learn
    Python syntax is clear and readable, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners and allows for quick learning and prototyping.
  • Versatile
    Python can be used for web development, data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, and more, making it a highly versatile programming language.
  • Large Standard Library
    Python comes with a comprehensive standard library that includes modules and packages for various tasks, reducing the need to write code from scratch.
  • Strong Community Support
    Python has a large and active community, which means a wealth of third-party packages, tutorials, and documentation is available for assistance.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Python is compatible with major operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing for easy development and deployment across different platforms.
  • Good for Rapid Development
    The high-level nature of Python allows for quick development cycles and fast iteration, which is ideal for startups and prototyping.

Possible disadvantages of Python

  • Performance Limitations
    Python is generally slower than compiled languages like C or Java because it is an interpreted language, which can be a drawback for performance-critical applications.
  • Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)
    The GIL in CPython, the most used Python interpreter, prevents multiple native threads from executing Python bytecodes at once, limiting multi-threading capabilities.
  • Memory Consumption
    Python can be more memory-intensive compared to some other languages, which might be a concern for applications with tight memory constraints.
  • Mobile Development
    Python is not a primary choice for mobile app development, where languages like Java, Swift, or Kotlin are more commonly used.
  • Runtime Errors
    Being a dynamically typed language, Python code can sometimes lead to runtime errors that would be caught at compile-time in statically typed languages.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies in Python projects can sometimes be complex and cumbersome, especially when dealing with conflicting versions of libraries.

AWK features and specs

  • Text Processing
    AWK is a powerful tool designed specifically for text processing and pattern scanning, making it ideal for handling and manipulating text data efficiently.
  • Pattern Matching
    AWK provides robust pattern matching capabilities, allowing users to search, filter, and extract data based on specific patterns.
  • Built-in Variables
    It comes with numerous built-in variables that facilitate easy access to certain text elements like fields and records, simplifying data extraction and manipulation tasks.
  • Portability
    Being a standard Unix utility, AWK scripts are portable across different Unix-like systems, enhancing the reusability of scripts across various environments.
  • Conciseness
    AWK scripts tend to be concise because it offers built-in functions for common operations, reducing the amount of code that developers need to write.
  • Integration with Shell Scripts
    AWK can be easily integrated into shell scripts, thus enabling the automation of complex text processing tasks as part of larger workflows.

Possible disadvantages of AWK

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Although powerful, AWK has a steep learning curve for beginners, especially for those who are not familiar with scripting or programming concepts.
  • Performance Limitations
    AWK may not be the most efficient tool for processing very large datasets or performing complex computation-heavy tasks compared to more specialized programming languages.
  • Limited Functionality
    While suitable for text processing, AWK does not offer the comprehensive functionality of modern programming languages, limiting its use to specific tasks.
  • Less Intuitive Syntax
    The syntax of AWK can be less intuitive and harder to read, especially for those not accustomed to Unix-like command-line utilities.
  • Decreasing Popularity
    With the emergence of modern scripting languages like Python and Perl, AWK is seeing a decline in popularity, which might mean fewer updates and community support.

Python videos

Creator of Python Programming Language, Guido van Rossum | Oxford Union

AWK videos

Bloc fruit rumble awk showcase! :)

More videos:

  • Review - Techniques with AWK
  • Review - Magma Awk Showcase [Blox Fruits]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Python and AWK)
Programming Language
96 96%
4% 4
OOP
95 95%
5% 5
Generic Programming Language
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Python and AWK

Python Reviews

Pine Script Alternatives: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Indicator Languages
Technical analysis in trading has come a long way, with various programming languages emerging to support traders in developing custom indicators. While Pine Script has been a popular choice for many, alternatives like Indie, ThinkScript, NinjaScript, MetaQuotes Language (MQL), and even general-purpose languages like Python and C++ are gaining traction. Letโ€™s explore these...
Source: medium.com
Top 5 Most Liked and Hated Programming Languages of 2022
No wonder Python is one of the easiest programming languages to work upon. This general-purpose programming language finds immense usage in the field of web development, machine learning applications, as well as cutting-edge technology in the software industry. The fact that Python is used by major tech giants such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, etc. is good enough proof as to...
Top 10 Rust Alternatives
This programming langue is typed statically and operates on a complied system. It works based on several computing languages Python, Ada, and Modula.
15 data science tools to consider using in 2021
Python is the most widely used programming language for data science and machine learning and one of the most popular languages overall. The Python open source project's website describes it as "an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics," as well as built-in data structures and dynamic typing and binding capabilities. The site...
The 10 Best Programming Languages to Learn Today
Python's variety of applications make it a powerful and versatile language for different use cases. Python-based web development frameworks like Django and Flask are gaining popularity fast. It's also equipped with quality machine learning and data analysis tools like Scikit-learn and Pandas.
Source: ict.gov.ge

AWK Reviews

We have no reviews of AWK yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Python seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 290 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Python mentions (290)

  • Complete Beginner's Guide to GenAI Development: From Python to Production-Ready AI Agents
    If you need to install Python, download it from the official Python website or consider using Anaconda or Miniconda, which include essential tools for data science and AI development. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • ๐Ÿš€ Setting Up Python and VS Code: A Beginner-Friendly Guide
    Go to the official Python website: https://python.org. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • A Beginner's Guide to Auto-Instrumenting a Flask App with OpenTelemetry and SigNoz
    If Python is not installed, download it from python.org or use your system's package manager (e.g., sudo apt install python3 on Ubuntu). - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Scraping Infinite Scroll Pages with a 'Load More' Button: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Python Installed: Download and install the latest Python version from python.org, including pip during setup. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Get Started with Python
    First, you'll need to install Python if you don't have it already. Go to the official Python website python.org, download the latest version, and follow the instructions. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

AWK mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of AWK yet. Tracking of AWK recommendations started around Apr 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Python and AWK, you can also consider the following products

Java - A concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, language specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible

Gema - General purpose text macro processor.

JavaScript - Lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions

GNU sed - sed (stream editor) is a Unix utility that parses text and implements a programming language which...

Rust - A safe, concurrent, practical language

GNU M4 - GNU M4 is an implementation of the m4 macro preprocessor.