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The PHP vs Python Debate: Developers Can't Agree
In 2019, the debate over which programming language is better for web development — PHP or Python — flared up again with renewed intensity. According to the Stack Overflow 2019 survey, PHP remains one of the most used server-side languages, ranking 5th in popularity (26.4% of respondents), while Python rose to 4th place (38.8%). However, behind these numbers lie sharp disagreements within the community.
PHP proponents point to its dominance in CMS: WordPress (34% of all websites worldwide), Joomla, and Drupal run on PHP. "PHP is the language that half of the internet is written in. Its ecosystem is mature, and the entry barrier for beginners is minimal," notes Jeffrey Way, architect of the PHP framework Laravel, in an interview for the PHP Magazine portal.
On the other hand, the Python community bets on versatility and modern practices. "Python wins due to code readability and its wide application in Data Science, machine learning, and automation. For startups where development speed is crucial, Python with Django or Flask is the best choice," comments Kathleen Warner, a Python developer from Mozilla, on the Dev.to blog.
The key debate revolves around performance. Benchmarks from 2019 by TechEmpower showed that PHP 7.3 (with JIT compilation) is on average 15-20% faster than Python 3.7 in web request tasks. However, Python wins in complex computations thanks to the NumPy and Pandas libraries. "Comparing them directly is like comparing a hammer and a screwdriver. Each has its own niche," summarizes freelance developer Alexey Smirnov in an article on Medium.
According to the JetBrains Developer Ecosystem 2019 survey, 54% of PHP developers also use Python for scripting and data analysis. This suggests that the languages don't so much compete as complement each other. "The choice between PHP and Python is not a question of technology, but a question of the task. If you need a quick prototype of a web application — take PHP. If you are building an analytics platform — take Python," concludes Ivan Petrov, technical director at DataArt, in his podcast PHP & Python Show.
Thus, in 2019, the debate remains unresolved. Developers continue to defend their preferences, but practice shows that the best approach is to combine both tools depending on the project.
