Why Python Can Future-Proof Web Development Careers
Predicting the future of technology is always a risky business. But what could be riskier is not to have a conception of where the technology is heading. In the context of web design and development, the consensus is that the next big wave will have something to do with the integration of websites with AI and Data Science to make websites not only more responsive but also self-aware. As this scenario emerges, it would be important for students and professionals to master programming languages that are used in the development of both websites as well as AI & Data Science applications.
Timeline and the next milestone
Web development had its beginning with the launch of the world’s first website, created about thirty years ago – on August 6, 1991, to be precise. Since then, there have been several waves of website technologies. The first websites were static, “read-only” websites. The next major development coincided with the birth of the 21st century – the New Millennium. It was the rolling out of websites with interactive features. Called, Read/Write web, these websites allowed readers to edit what was published. Today, most websites we use belong to the “Social Web”. They come with all social media features, be it the expressions of likes, comments, shares, and importantly customization features.
AI-driven, Data Science-powered
The ongoing quest is to create more responsive websites – not just in terms of fitting themselves with devices of various forms, but also in terms of understanding the visitors better and then delivering them more personalized content and experience. A future website can instantly know your demographic (age, gender, pain points) and psychographic (interests, aspirations, and ideologies) details. Then, it will present you with the most appropriate content that suits your needs. For a website to accomplish such magnificent tasks, it requires to be built on an AI platform and with Data Science.
Enabling Languages
Programming languages and databases are the tools with which websites are built. A static site can be created with simple client-side technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There is no need for server-side (back-end) processing. However, the popular combinations of PHP and ASP.NET, and PHP and MySQL, among others, come into the picture when the need is to build dynamic websites that need to interact with information stored in databases. These programming languages are used to create Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
However, whether it is website development or AI/Data Science app development, or even Enterprise Applications development, Python emerges as one of the most popular languages for coding. According to surveys, over 50% of students and professionals who learn python to code and develop products prefer Python.
Hugely popular social and e-commerce platforms such as Instagram and Spotify are built on Python. These sites allow users to edit, store, and share content like photographs. Significantly, they come incorporated with data analytics to offer more personalized content and experience.
Python Capabilities
Python appeared as a new kid in the block in the 90s. Soon after its launch, it became an open-source project. It continues to enjoy the patronage of a large and growing number of developers who as a community are committed to constantly improving the language’s capabilities.
In web development, Python is extensively used as a server-side scripting language. The key reason is the language’s simple syntax which makes it relatively faster to develop programs. Python code responds to user actions by executing the most appropriate program algorithms. It also supports the graphical user interfaces required in web development.
Python is a top language for developing Machine Learning, AI, and Data Science applications. The key factor is Python’s growing library of pre-written codes that eliminate the need to reinvent the wheel. The libraries also greatly enable continuous data processing in ML projects and data analysis.
Python Training and Courses
Learning Python is a pleasure. For, it is similar to the English language. The learning curve is short. Even people with limited technical backgrounds can also learn it quickly. Since Python is used in a variety of software domains, from web development to AI to software testing, there are many different Python training programs and courses that cover specific Python capabilities.
Many Python certification programs also cover programming styles – be it procedural, object-oriented, or functional. There are Python training programs also on Python web development frameworks such as Django and Pyramid that simplify the development process.
Going by the trends of integration of AI and Data Science with web development, embracing Python will undoubtedly be the best bet for students and professionals to thrive in the web development jobs of today, while also equipping oneself for future career demands in this domain. Python proficiency also provides the option for professionals to get exposure in multiple programming spheres that straddle between web development and AI/ML and Data Science integration.
