Ada vs Python: What are the differences?

Introduction

This article presents a comparison between Ada and Python, highlighting their key differences. Ada is a statically typed programming language known for its strong safety features, while Python is a dynamically typed language with a focus on simplicity and readability.

1. Syntax: Ada uses a structured, verbose syntax that enforces strict rules and guidelines for code organization. On the other hand, Python's syntax is designed to be concise and easy to read, using whitespace indentation for block structure.
2. Typing: Ada is a statically typed language, meaning that variable types must be declared explicitly and are checked at compile-time. Python, on the other hand, is dynamically typed, allowing for more flexibility as types are determined at runtime.
3. Concurrency: Ada has built-in support for concurrent programming, with features like tasking, protected objects, and rendezvous. Python, while capable of concurrency through libraries like threading and multiprocessing, lacks the same level of built-in concurrency support as Ada.
4. Safety and Reliability: Ada is known for its strong safety and reliability features, with strong typing, runtime checks, and extensive compile-time checks. Python, although not as strict, provides features like exception handling and extensive standard libraries that contribute to code reliability.
5. Runtime Performance: Ada is typically compiled to highly efficient machine code, with a focus on performance-critical applications. Python, being interpreted or compiled to bytecode, may have lower runtime performance due to the flexibility and dynamic nature of the language.
6. Community and Ecosystem: Python has a larger and more active community, with extensive libraries and frameworks available for various purposes. Ada, while having a smaller community, is known for its use in safety-critical applications, aviation, and defense projects.

In summary, Ada and Python differ in their syntax, typing, concurrency support, safety features, runtime performance, and ecosystem. Ada emphasizes safety, compile-time checks, and performance, while Python focuses on simplicity, readability, and a vast community and library support.