Why Do Top Applications like Uber, Netflix, & YouTube Use Python?

Estimated read time 10 min read

The Python Programming Language is widely used by businesses and individuals for an extensive range of applications, including the development of web applications, the analysis of data via data science, the automation of operations using DevOps, and the development of scalable and reliable enterprise applications.

In general, Python developers (also called Back-End Developers) use Python to create websites, applications, games, and other software.

Recently, the Python-based language has gained notoriety among top companies. A number of companies, including Netflix, Uber, and YouTube, use Python development to solve problems that they could not solve with other programming languages

Discover more about what makes Python such a great choice among technology professionals today by reading on!

A quick glance at the history of Python!

Python is an open-source, free programming language that is designed to be easy to learn, quick, and convenient to use. By 1991, Python had been released for public consumption by Guido van Rossum. Originally designed to function with Amoebas’s GNU operating system, Python never progressed beyond beta.

In fact, Python is a reference to Monty Python’s Flying Circus. A version of 0.9.0 of the code was published by Van Rossum. Despite this early stage of the project, inheritance, exception handling, functions, and many other data types were present. This led to more growth and use of Python after the language’s userbase was formed in 1994 as comp.lang.python. Right out of the gate, Python had a strong core foundation. Every day, this versatile language’s potential is being pushed further by developers and mobile app development companies alike.

By 1995, Python had become one of the most popular programming languages used by web-based startups. Approximately 2 million people worldwide use Python, one of the most popular languages.

An astounding 200 million Python downloads have been made during its 25-year history!

Top applications build with Python 

1. Uber

As an example of both new and existing taxi services, Uber stands out. Exactly why? Using the app is convenient for users when hailing a cab. Python is being sued by Uber for various purposes, including routing, and service discovery, except for the management of marketplaces. Python is used throughout Uber’s application development, from frontend to backend. Python is used for its ability to perform mathematical calculations by the company.

2. Netflix

In almost every corner of Netflix’s business, which runs largely on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform, Python is used. Netflix developers claim that Python is used throughout the entire content lifecycle, from security tools to recommendation algorithms to its proprietary content distribution network (CDN).

3. YouTube

Initially, most of the Youtube code was written in PHP, however, there were many restrictions and clutters with that, so after Google acquired Youtube, they moved to Python.

There are many Google internal systems and APIs that are written in Python. YouTube uses Python primarily because the language is easy to implement new ideas in, easier to maintain, and more secure than PHP. It is used to view videos, manage website templates, administer videos, visualize data, etc.

4. Instagram 

Having been downloaded by millions of users around the world, this photo-sharing app proudly uses Python. Instagram uses Python to implement its business logic, ensuring that the application can be used by over a billion monthly active users seamlessly. A number of Instagram’s operations are powered by Python, such as profiling Python code, creating HTTP APIs, and more. Engineers at Instagram have stated that Python is used to start with the simple things first and make the application progressively simpler, cleaner, and easier to use.

5. Pinterest

Second, the only to Instagram in popularity is Pinterest. Almost everything we see on Pinterest may have been built with Python because Pinterest has been using Python since day one. Python is used for app layer development, configuration management, and service communication on Pinterest. The fact that they are using a highly modified version of Django, which is also managed with Python, is important to note. As part of the Pinterest application, Pinterest has created PinPy which automates the marketing process for Pinterest users.

5. Spotify 

Using Python, we developed a photo-sharing application that made history. Many popular music streaming apps use Python. In order for Spotify to gain insight into and execute advanced data analytics, it is leveraging Python as a tool. Using this system, Spotify can manage a wide range of functions, such as radio and the discover section, which gives users personalized recommendations. In addition to data analytics, it is used for prototypes, implementation of GraphWalker, and building processes.

6. Disqus

It’s easy to build public engagement on a topic using Disqus, and it’s a popular solution to create public engagement. The platform receives an enormous amount of content every day, which needs to be managed efficiently. They utilize Python to enhance the application’s security features using Django and to update the application’s security patches using Python. A key feature of Disqus’ API is the integration of external functions that extract comments from Disqus, perform social authentication, and manage comments.

The Disqus application is a community-oriented application for sharing comments and creating forums. A real-time web application must ensure that every user is able to interact with it in real-time. With the help of Python software developers, Disqus ensures that applications run smoothly and manage user-generated data effectively.

7. NASA

Python is richly diverse, which makes this an unexpected inclusion on this list. As NASA’s primary language since 1994, Python has been instrumental in solving a diverse range of problems. It’s apparent that the NASA mobile application is not a simple one; rather, it’s a complex one that allows users to access data on space technology, including live streams of satellites that are in orbit. 

There is a company in the field of space exploration called United Space Alliance, which is a major contractor for NASA working on shuttle support. They use Python. Python is being used by the organization as a tool to construct programs. NASA uses Python for creating and managing complex programs, managing data, and integrating with other languages, including C++languages.

Why are these top Companies Using Python?

A key reason why organizations prefer Python for development is its popularity. Aside from keeping application development costs down, Python can also be used to integrate AI and machine learning systems effectively.

Here can be some reasons why top applications use Python for your web development services –

1. Scalability

Application scaling means handling more requests. When the application code has been written, rewriting or modifying it is a laborious task. A Python script can scale from an enterprise application to a small, single-purpose script. Therefore, by hiring a Python developer, these companies can quickly create adaptable codes for their apps. Python’s multithreading abilities and faster language scripting capabilities make it ideal for writing code for simple to complex tasks.

2. Frameworks

Various frameworks are available for Python to enhance development capabilities, from web applications to mobile applications. You can also find a complete list of Python application development frameworks here, such as Web2Py, Numby, and Flask. Today, Python relies on these frameworks and libraries for its power, and these will continue to do so in the coming days. 

3. Learning Curve

A flat learning curve makes Python easier to learn than other programming languages. This explains why many programmers start learning Python first before trying onto other languages. The availability of Python experts means that organizations have many options to hire well-trained and knowledgeable developers. By getting more time and having fewer difficulties learning a language, the developers can ensure this.

4. Diversity

Based on the list of top Python applications, we can conclude that Python is a programming language with a wide range of uses. It increases the use of Python development services while allowing organizations from different industries to use the language. For instance, Python can be used in blockchain, machine learning, gaming applications, AI, administration, and many others.

5. Maintenance of the code

The goal of any programming language is to make working with its code as simple and easy as possible. Likewise, Python code is easier to maintain and update than code in other programming languages. In this case, Python’s concise syntax facilitates the writing of cleaner code. Further, Conda can be used to implement Python dependencies for Pyhton code maintenance. The code can also be tested using Pytest and similar libraries, which makes it cleaner and more efficient.

6. Multi-language

Python supports several mechanisms for integrating with C and C++. This lets Python programmers make use of C libraries whereas users of other languages aren’t able to. As long as Python users don’t rely exclusively on those C libraries, they still enjoy high levels of flexibility.

7. Independence from any particular platform

Python is available on many platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, OpenBSD, NetBSD, OSF1 V3+, HP-UX 11i v3+, Solaris 10, Linux/Unix (including FreeBSD), UnixWare 7 and SunOS 5. 10, RISC OS 4.02, or later.

8. Cost

The Python programming language can be run on pretty much any computer. You only need to make a few configuration adjustments to make it work on your computer.

9. Availability of Python Developers

Python developers are at the same level as those who develop in C and C++. They work not only on application development but also on web development. Developers and Python experts can be selected from a wide network, making the process easier.

10. Experience in the development process

Python makes developing applications faster and easier. It offers a variety of language-based features, such as image processing, OCR, automated testing, and integrations with the latest technologies. By taking advantage of these aspects, Python application development becomes more smooth and more seamless.

11. Cross-platform scripting

There are many advantages to using Python when it comes to writing programs that run on multiple platforms without having to rewrite them. The only thing that you are required to do if you have a script written in Python 2 and wish to run it under Python 3, is to port your code instead of rewriting it from scratch.

How Python Will Change the World?

Python is a powerful programming language. There are hundreds of websites and web apps powered by this platform, from Google, Instagram, and Dropbox to YouTube and Flickr. A growing number of students, researchers, startups, and large enterprise users around the world are using it.

Scientific computing will continue to grow as Python becomes more powerful. A major contributing factor to this growth will be Python’s ongoing development and implementation, as well as new packages that expand Python’s functionality.

Don’t declare Python the winner of a language fight. Our goal should be to understand that languages are constantly changing, and we still have room to discuss what will work best in the future. There may be differences in trends, but Python will continue to be successful in the future.

Wrapping up!

As a result of Python’s flexibility, it is the language of choice for developers who wish to build complex applications and for those who wish to begin a career in software development. Known for its ability to meet the needs of organizations by facilitating rapid development and reducing costs, as well as developers by providing an easy programming environment, Python is an all-time favorite of programmers.

In light of the fact that several global applications are being built using Python, we can only hope that it will progress further and that more use cases will be added. A number of libraries, frameworks, and tools are compatible with it, which further increases its flexibility.

If you want to achieve the best results, you should hire ToXSL’s Python app developers and build the next best application in your field.

You May Also Like