Beginning Python®: Using Python 2.6 and Python 3.1

Chapter 21. Integrating Java with Python

Java is an object-oriented programming language. Java programs are compiled from source code into byte codes. The Java runtime engine, called a Java virtual machine, or JVM, runs the compiled byte codes. Sound familiar? At an abstract level at least, Java and Python are very similar. Like Java, Python programs are compiled into byte codes, although this can be done at runtime.

Despite these similarities, some differences between the languages exist:

• With Python, you can run scripts directly from the source code. Compiling is optional. If you don't compile your Python code in advance, the python command will take care of this for you.

• Java syntax is based on C and C++, two very popular programming languages. This makes it easy for developers using C++ to migrate to Java. Consequently, Java is considered a more serious and businesslike language than Python.

• Python syntax is very simple and easy to learn, but the syntax has diverged far from C.

• With its simple syntax and built-in support for lists, dictionaries, and tuples, you'll find Python code much easier to write than Java code. Generally, Python programs require a lot less code than the corresponding Java code.

• Java has an advantage over Python in terms of standard APIs, though. The base Java language includes a mature database API, an API for parsing XML documents, an API for remote communication, and even an API to access LDAP directory servers. You can do all of this in Python, but Python ...