1. Introduction: From Python to C
1.1 Key Differences Overview
Aspect | Python | C |
---|---|---|
Compilation | Interpreted | Compiled |
Type System | Dynamic typing | Static typing |
Memory Management | Automatic | Manual |
Syntax Style | Indentation-based | Brace-based |
Performance | Slower execution | Faster execution |
Development Speed | Faster to write | More verbose |
Some of you might ask, What does it mean by Static Typing
vs Dynamic Typing
?
Dynamic Typing ( Python ):
- Variables can change their data type during program execution
- Type checking happens at runtime
- No need to declare variable types explicitly
- More flexible but can lead to runtime errors
# Python - Dynamic Typing
x = 5 # x is an integer
x = "Hello" # Now x is a string (allowed!)
x = 3.14 # Now x is a float (also allowed!)
Static Typing ( C ):
- Variables must be declared with a specific data type
- Type checking happens at compile time
- Once declared, a variable cannot change its type
- Less flexible but catches type errors before program runs
// C - Static Typing
int x = 5; // x is declared as integer
x = "Hello"; // ERROR! Cannot assign string to integer variable
float y = 3.14f; // y must be declared as float to store decimal numbers
Advantages of Static Typing ( C ):
- Errors caught during compilation, not during execution
- Better performance (no runtime type checking needed)
- More predictable memory usage
- Clearer code documentation (types are explicit)
Advantages of Dynamic Typing ( Python ):
- Faster prototyping and development
- More flexible for rapid changes
- Less verbose code
- Easier for beginners to learn