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

Of course you can implement mission-critical software (whatever that is in your case) using Python. At the end of the day the success of your application is going to weigh more on its capabilities than whether it is written in Python. Some all .NET companies will even bring in Python applications provided that there is a way to talk to the system from .NET.

I would not market your application as being a Python application. This is going to cause you trouble down the road because you will run into roadblocks. This often happens when you satisfy a business customer and he speaks to their IT guy who says "whoa we can't support that" without a full analysis of the cost/benefit to the business. This is the place that references to use of Python in mission-critical systems will arise. Try to avoid this area.

With Python you can always target the popular platforms if you build your application under certain constraints. IronPython runs on .NET and Jython runs on Java. Being able to fire back with info on how to run your application on these platforms might be helpful.

Answer 2

There is a rather famous application heavily used in both banks and hedge funds called FrontArena. I believe that this is written in Python.

Additionally the numpy numeric processing libraries and concise, clear syntax means that Python is very popular with Quantitative Analysts (or quants) within the financial sector.

Answer 3

Python doesn't have anywhere close to as much money backing it as MSFT or Redhat etc. If Guido gets hit by a bus, Python is in trouble.

I <3 python for a lot of things, but a financial transaction system probably wants a real, trusted, stable company backing it.

Edit: this isn't flame bait; this is a major lesson learned from watching a colleague push a platform backed by a small company, and the resulting 'business-strategic' nightmare that ended with his project getting dropped in favor of someone using a far crappier project with lots of money. There's more to project success than the technical bit.

Answer 4

CCP Games uses a version called Stackless Python in their MMO, for both the client and server. A large part of the game is based on a market/trade simulation, and accurately tracks and reports millions of market transactions on thousands of items daily. It may sound odd, but considering how fickle and downright whiny my fellow gamers can be, the decision to use Python in that type of high availability environment should count for something.