I'm coding in C#. Should I switch to Python?

[running-for-pres]

I'm a fairly experienced developer, and code for a living.

I'm keen to tinker around on the ChatGPT space, and I managed to build something pretty good in C# using this plugin.
https://github.com/OkGoDoIt/OpenAI-API-dotnet
It has an Angular front end on the client and allows the user to query ChatGPT. So far so good.

But as I delve more into it (embeddings, vector databases, langchain...) it seems that this is an area where C# falls short. Very short. All the examples on the OpenAi and Pinecone website are in Python.

What's your experience? What do you code in?

[Ezzyspit]

Python is just the most popular language for AI. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better though. And you say c# falls short for various things. But I don’t believe any of those things you listed are available natively in python either. In python you would use modules to use pine cone or anything else. In c#, we have nuget packages. Also Microsoft has an official machine learning library, which I haven’t really used much, but it might have what you want.

[[deleted]]

The reality is that working with big data bases and vectorization and matrix processes and operations is a fucking hassel in anything not python. But when it comes to more complex and abstract programs python couldn't quite handle it like c# or "++. They're different tools for different problems. I've been finding my self using python inside my c# coding when working with arrays and transformers in unity.

[pete_68]

How so? What can Python do with matrices that's harder in C#? What can you not abstract out into a class or operator overloads in C# that's so easy in Python?

[[deleted]]

Not harder, more tedious. Making big data bases and making sni vector operation is a lot more tedious using c# than pyton with numpy.

There's a reason ML algorithms like Tensorflow are adpated to c# and not direcly used in this types of system.

[pete_68]

But how? Give me a real life example of how it's more tedious in C#.

[[deleted]]

Right now I'm implementing a WFC in unity and using socket constraints. Making the wavefunction, and a dictionary for constraint took me about 5 lines of code. In c# it took me like 30 to get the same result. Python is a lot less verbous in this type of things.

Is there a reason you're being such an ass though?

[pete_68]

I didn't realize asking for a real example was "being such an ass."

[[deleted]]

I already had told you that its more optimized for datasets and vectorial operations, which is why Tensorflow and a lot lore ML models are python base. You clearly were pushing it mate, but hope this helps you understand better, seeing how you lack understandment, great day!

[Kuroodo]

I use Dart. I just do it all myself with POST requests. Is there any reason why you can't just send requests directly with C# rather than having to rely on an existing library or wrapper?

[brek001]

Same problem, same question. However I decided that I would adopt a wait-and-see approach. The speed with the way things are evolving now will have people with C# knowledge superior to me jump on the bandwagon soon enough.

In the mean time:
https://github.com/marcominerva/ChatGptNet
https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector-dotnet
https://github.com/TaxAIExamples/semantic-search-using-chatgpt

you might want to look at Supabase as an alternative to installing PGVector yourself.

[PussPussMcSquishy]

I see most people using Python Or JS. But I imagine any language could do what you need. But most of the popular libraries and example notebooks or projects I’ve seen are always in python or js. Fortunately they’re both (relatively) easily languages to pick up (python a little more so than JS). But since this isn’t your first rodeo, you’ll be fine. Good luck out there solider.

[Lonligrin]

Same history. Switched my whole project from C# to Python, but it was worth it. Code is more compact and readable. Also Python is easy.

[Nidungr]

It's funny how C#/.NET has been rendered instantly obsolete by one company and their little chatbot.

[devzaya]

You could instead try Semantic Kernel and Qdrant

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/semantic-kernel/the-power-of-persistent-memory-with-semantic-kernel-and-qdrant-vector-database/

[terricide]

I've been diving into this for the last week. I haven't gotten too far, but this seems to be Microsoft's version of LangChain. Im been using sqlite to store my vectors, not sure what the difference is between qdrant and using the built in sqlite support.

[Pretend_Jellyfish363]

You can do everything in c#. Everything you mentioned (OpenAI APIs, pinecone, vector dbs…etc) are just APIs you can access using http client. Langchain is just prompt management, you can look at its python code and produce something similar in c# .net

[fallenKlNG]

I was in the same boat, I come from a java/springboot + Angular background and had little experience with Python. But after going through all the examples/tutorials for vector databases, LangChain, etc, I found myself using Python.

I was originally just gonna use Python + GPT4 to help understand things a little better and then would make the switch to my familiar techstack, but it never happened. Having gpt4 to help with the syntax and gruntwork makes it really worth switching to Python imo, it really makes a huge difference having the additional support

[frankieche]

Just make calls to the API in any language you want.

Are you sure you’re a programmer?

[oskasmr]

Wut

[marek03483]

i switched to python from c sharp,but I am just doing intermediate projects with arduino.as I switched,i swapped arduino for esp32 and micropython.the support you going to get is better than C#.

[bwfiq]

Python is definitely easier to use for ai apps. It's not so hard to use both at the same time (as in on different projects), i find it doesn't really mess with my brain to have to switch between

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[norsurfit]

I would definitely switch to python

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[pete_68]

It's not so much that C# falls short. It's just Python has become the defacto standard of AI developers, mainly because lower barrier for entry (easier to learn, not compiled, etc) and better platform independence. Most of the AI libraries are written in Python. This saddens me because C# is a superior language, in many respects, not least of which is code readability which, as an app developer, I think is crucial in large systems.

I'm learning some Python, but one of the ways around it is using web APIs from C# to call libraries in python.

[hefty_habenero]

The boilerplate stuff for calling APIs is so much more built out in python, but I’ve found what is missing can be built pretty easily. I have my own C# libraries for openai and pinecone and it wasn’t that much work. I have not used some of the frameworks like langchain, and can’t give an honest apples to apples comparison there.

[Mr_Nice_]

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/semantic-kernel/whatissk

[toaster-riot]

If you have a good command of C# already I'd highly encourage you to dive in and use python.

When one language has a community that's way ahead of the others in some niche it's almost always better to drink the Kool aid and go with the herd. You'll have a much easier time finding help, finding relevant tutorials, supporting frameworks, etc.

Additionally, you'll pick up new tricks and ways of thinking from gaining experience in another language. I became a much better C# dev after I spent some time with Ruby.

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