Python in the enterprise: Pros and cons [closed]

Question

I have been exploring and developing an application in Python for mission critical work in the commercial banking arena.

Banks are way conservative in selecting new applications.

I need real proof of stability and others using.

Have looked at the Python site but now I'm hoping this crowd can tell me more.

So far I don't have a development bank partner which I will need next stage, so I'm gathering proof and pitch info. All help and comments appreciated.

Answer 1

There's always ResolverOne.

Answer 2

Sungard Front Arena makes extensive use of Python in its system architecture. This is a trading floor system with quite a substantial market share in its space. And, yes, it is used extensively by investment banks.

Answer 3

I'll try again.

My employer (we're huge) did a study to resolve an internal conflict over what 'platform' to standardize to. Platforms were judged on technical depth, business alignment, and company viability. The one that won was middle of the road technically and had superior business alignment and company viability. The customers don't care about the technical bits; the customer wants to make sure there will be no major strategic roadblocks in 4 years like if the supporting company folded.

All of the links I've clicked on in this thread are not enterprise systems, they're applications. As far as I have seen, no company has the balls to write a mission critical enterprise system in python, except for Eve Online, which is a game--downtime isn't going to get anyone killed or sued.

Answer 4

i know topic is rather old, but anyway. if we talk about mission critical. Python is widly used in Thales software provided with is hardware encryption solutions. and in PayShield application for example, which i believe really mission critical. Although Java is being used there more than Python.

Answer 5

It's not exactly extensive proof, but this blog describes a bit of an overview of how Google is using Python.

I might argue that Google is more "mission-critical" than (almost?) any bank out there.

There's obviously plenty more resources besides that link on how Google is using Python, but if Google, the company indexing virtually the entire internet, can use Python as a core language, surely Python would meet a bank's criteria.

Answer 6

Banca d'Italia (roughly the Italian equivalent of the Fed, except that, since the introduction of the Euro, all countries using euros as their currency, including of course Italy, have "outsourced" monetary policy to the European Central Bank) uses Python, is very happy with it, and plans to extend its use. The talk I'm pointing to is in Italian, but if you search around for the authors I think you can find similar papers of theirs in English.

Sungard's FrontArena, a widespread "next generation cross-asset trading" system, uses Python (e.g., see here).

This post gives a good summary of Python use in banking (as of a couple years ago) with focus on the City of London.

Considering how banks like to "play them close to their vest" I think it's amazing that there's as much information as this about the use of Python in banking -- if these few cases "leak", just imagine how many must be staying under wraps!-)