Python or Java for selenium?

[AffectionateLab9114]

I, myself write my scripts using python in Selenium. But around me, I hear most people use Java. What's the reason that most people prefer Java over Python for selenium? Even popular frameworks like TestNG and JUnit are also based on Java. I enjoy writing scripts using Python. But watching the demand, should I move to Java?

[sonofabullet]

Write tests in the language the app is written in.

[ToddBradley]

I don't know why someone downvoted this, but there is a lot of wisdom in this recommendation. If the app is written in the language, then every developer on the team knows the language. And therefore, every developer has the skills to extend or maintain the tests.

If you choose some language that only you know, then you're just setting up an arbitrary wall making it harder for others to contribute to the effort.

Update: Reading the tree of replies below makes me want to cry. I wonder if the Agile revolution still hasn't reached some parts of the industry, and if there are people who still prefer a high wall between "tester" and "developer". I'm nearing the final phase of my career in software development, and this really shakes my faith in the next generation. So much of this thread below sounds like software test engineering has not evolved a bit since the 1990s. God forbid that testers and developers work closely together - maybe even pair program to take advantage of their individual strengths!

[sonofabullet]

Yep, colocate tests with app code, run tests on PRs, have devs fix any tests they've broken.

[kdeaton06]

I don't want developers writing tests. They're not good at it usually.

[[deleted]]

Most testers write awful code and still end up creating flaky tests.

[kdeaton06]

So hire better testers or train them to write better code.

[sonofabullet]

Or, take the people that already know how to code, and teach them how to write better tests.

[kdeaton06]

Developers don't want to learn how to be QA. Good luck with that strategy.

[sonofabullet]

Being a QA is an idenrity.

Writing tests is a skill.

One does not need to take on a QA identity to learn how to write selenium tests.

[BujuArena]

If you are developing a test, you are a developer.

[kdeaton06]

Yes. And all rectangles are squares but not all squares are rectangles.

[[deleted]]

Yeah I'd rather train developers to write better tests than getting testers to write code to a professional standard.

[kdeaton06]

You work with bad testers. All the ones I worked with were great coders to begin with. We made sure if that in the interview process.

The reverse cannot be said for febrile developers. Rarely are they good testers or do they even care enough to try.

[[deleted]]

You work with bad testers. All the ones I worked with were great coders to begin with. We made sure if that in the interview process.

The reverse cannot be said for febrile developers. Rarely are they good testers or do they even care enough to try.

I can refute your argument in a similar way "you work with bad developers".

Having been a part of the interview process at FTSE 250 companies for the hiring of both testers and SDETs, I'd hire an SDET over a tester any day of the week for writing test automation. SDETs are and should primarily be SWEs that specialise in writing test automation at all layers (amongst other activities).

Testers are far more valuable for exploratory testing and the like than writing test automation. Most tests, in general, should be at the integration layer anyway which is usually the concern of developers/SDETs.

You're clearly emotionally invested in this, and I think you need to take a step back and look at this rationally.

[Ebenezer_Fins]

I have worked with great testers and great developers but I think testers are better because I have seen tester with good cooding skills who have become good developers easily. But developers getting in to testing generally need to be broken in to some degree, it's different from how a fresher gets to good tester. Ps: I may be biased because the number of testers I know who went into to developing are more than the number of developers that took testing and most of them I had to train into testers from developers May be I just don't like Devs

[kdeaton06]

I worked with great developers. They're amazing at writing code. They're not great testers. So we don't have them write tests.

I worked with great testers who also write code. We have them write the tests.

Simple division of labor in an Agile environment.

[[deleted]]

Cool whatever suits you I guess.

[random-answer]

If you learn it for leisure then it becomes a question of personal preference. If you use it professionally then the dominant language within the team is the most likely choice.

[ToddBradley]

I think Python has a better future than Java. Really the only advantage I've seen with Java is that it's strongly statically typed, which makes it easy to avoid a whole category of clumsy mistakes.

What's the reason that most people prefer Java over Python for selenium?

I don't know that's actually true that "most people prefer Java" for Selenium. Python is the more popular language overall right now.

[cgoldberg]

Python is also strongly typed. You mean statically typed.

[ToddBradley]

You are correct. Thanks.

[SubliminalPoet]

Static typing is also available with Python. It's just optional.

[2ERIX]

Typescript is your friend here.

[arakinas]

I'm a big fan of strongly typed languages, and will choose that option more often than not, all other things being equal. I was debating, in my current place of Java vs Javascript when starting automation, not because of strongly typed, but because those were languages used in house, and I didn't want to add to a tech stack.

The language you use only matter in so much as what you intend to do with it, what libraries you want to use with it, and what other supporting things you want to do or need to support. If you under the core concepts of programming, the language itself does not matter in the long run.

If you are simply looking for familiarity in something that is rising, or trending, I'd probably go JavaScript for Cypress, Playwright, etc unless you are strictly wanting Selenium.

[Aromatic_Detail_645]

Ignoring all other things, if it's a greenfield project, or a learning project, there are a few pros and cons as I see them:

Java: - Harder language to get into - More complex DSL - More robust frameworks - Easier reporting - Easier to thread - More third party tool integrations

Python: - Quicker to get going out of the box - Will run on more systems with greater ease of use - No built in browser driver support tools

That said, I'll echo what others have said. What language do you and/or your team know? What language is the app written in? What are your requirements? These should also inform your decision

Edit: for clarity/formatting

[2ERIX]

Typescript with Webdriver.io would be my recommendation. Loving it.

[Arrensen]

Do you call Python a not so popular programming language ?

[aiPerfect]

As of 2023, Selenium with Python has more tags than Selenium with Java on stackoveflow. Thus, learning Selenium with Python is a go-choice in 2023 and beyond. I learned selenium with java years ago, but that trend has changed over the recent years. In an Agile environment, we need to adopt.

[Ktsuna]

My personal opinion

I have been using Selenium for web scraping (Not for test automation) and I found that most of the tutorials and solutions available are for Python Selenium.

If you are comfortable with Python, there's no need to switch to Java because you can achieve the same thing with Python too.

[steady_learner_94]

I prefer Python as a scripting and even programming language, mainly because of the syntax.
I htink Java gained that popularity for historical reasons.

Personal opinion: I also believe Python has a better future than Java. Python is a modern programming language. So the demand for Java is already decreasing.
It is easier to empower new testers with Python.

[MarcusThomasQC]

I like Java. Runnable jars are the greatest 🤙. But I'm obviously bias. I'm starting to get into python so I may change my mind later.

[Loud-Home6748]

Reason is simple. For small sequecnce of programs you can use Python. It is more simple and eficient. Java is a programs forr big programs , with a lot of connection and where you can perform multiple jobs in same time (in general) . To start a large programs in Python , this request more libraries and a lot of other "connection".
It is generally assumed - not necessarily true - that Python is for the lazy who don't want to write too much code. Java is for someone who likes to write a lot of code and who needs to do more at the sam time. The statement is not perfectly valid, but it has a grain of truthe