Both have a relatively simple and concise syntax. Both support a functional programming style. Both Python and Scala are excellent tools that can satisfy a variety of programming and Data Science needs. Learning Scala enriches a programmer's knowledge of several novel abstractions in the type system, new functional programming features and immutable data.
A quick look at the salaries offered by Python and Scala skills shows that Scala as a skill offers more salary in the job market than Python. Let's explore some important factors to consider before deciding on Scala vs Python as the primary programming language for Apache Spark. Last year, in the Tiobe Index report, Scala secured 20th place among the top twenty programming languages with a 0.9% rating. While both of these programming languages are excellent for developing innovative projects in new-age technologies, there are significant differences between Python and Scala.
Scala allows developers to write efficient, readable and maintainable services without hanging program code in an unreadable web of calls. Scala is a combination of object-oriented and functional programming in a concise, high-level language. The choice of a programming language for Apache Spark is a subjective matter, as the reasons why a particular data scientist or data analyst prefers Python or Scala for Apache Spark do not always apply to others. There is a growing demand for Scala developers because big data companies value developers who can master a productive and robust programming language for data analysis and processing in Apache Spark.
Scala was developed to allow common programming patterns to be expressed in a concise, type-proof format. Data scientists often prefer to learn both Scala for Spark and Python for Spark, but Python is often the second-favourite language for Apache Spark, as Scala came first. Refactoring code from a statically typed language like Scala is much easier and hassle-free than refactoring code from a dynamically typed language like Python. Reports have also shown that Scala is securing the 30th position in the list of top 50 trendy programming languages.
Both Python and Scala are general-purpose programming languages that support the object-oriented model for creating applications. However, when there is significant processing logic, performance is an important factor and Scala definitely offers better performance than Python, for programming against Spark.
