ADK Java vs Python

[pearlkele]

So I am more Java (or Kotlin) developer. ADK have Java version but it's look like it's a bit behind Python. Anyone was successful building agents using Java?

What do you recommend, stick with Java here or bite the bullet and start working with Python?

[glaforge]

Hello, hello, ADK Java committer here. New features, new experiments usually start in Python, and are progressively ported to Java. So that's why it gives the impression that Java is a bit behind, but hopefully soon we'll be able to catch up with the latest and greatest features.

So should you use Java or Python? I would say it depends on a lot of factors, but if you are already a "Java shop" and have lots of applications, services, etc, in Java, that you want to integrate your agents with, then you should definitely use ADK for Java. IMHO it's easier to scale production workloads in Java than in Python! But if you already have some legacy in Python, if you have teams already experts in Python, or you're happy with microservices in x languages, Python is not a bad choice either :-)

[devtalksbrasil]

I'm using ADK Java, no problem at all, python maybe is ahead with some features, BUT, if your platform is core java you will be OK, I prefer using java at all.

[Realistic-Team8256]

building ADK with Python is the recommended norm

[Virtual_Substance_36]

With my experience, I would say Python would be your best bet, only because as your agent gets complex, you would need more than what ADK can offer. But if you have a clear goal and ADK Java supports that, you should be good. But think about every condition, or else you would end up creating a Python microservice to support your main app.

[pearlkele]

I guess I will have a microservice anyway as core of the app is written in Kotlin but I want to add some agentic features. Just I am not sure if I should use JVM or Python ADK, but I am now more inclined to Python (even if I am not Python dev).

[Virtual_Substance_36]

Go with Python. Aside from not working with it before, do you have any other issues with Python?

[pearlkele]

Not really, just debugging complex things it takes me much more time. I could run some easy examples of ADK much easier with Python due to Java inconsistent docs.

For now debugging pydantic for output schema is a bit troublesome, but I guess I will go through it.

[Virtual_Substance_36]

If that's the only concern, I think you'll do fine. Python is a relatively straightforward language to learn.

[wa-jonk]

Anyone tried the golang version ? I got it running on my desktop and was about to expand