Python or PHP for your final year project: which should you choose?

Check what your department expects

Ask your supervisor first. Some departments name a language; many leave it to you, as long as you can explain your code. If the choice is yours, pick the one you can read and talk about. That matters more than which one is newer.

The two choices

• Python: Flask for the pages, SQLite for the database. The database is one file inside the project folder. You start it by double-clicking run.bat.
• PHP: plain PHP with no framework, MySQL for the database. It runs inside XAMPP. You copy the folder into htdocs and open a setup page once.

Both use the same page design, both keep every query readable, and both work with no internet once installed.

Choose PHP if

• your department taught PHP and MySQL, or your supervisor expects them;
• XAMPP is already on your laptop;
• you want to show the database in phpMyAdmin during your defence.

Choose Python if

• your department taught Python;
• your topic involves prediction, machine learning or analysing spreadsheets;
• you want the simplest start: one file to double-click, nothing else to install except Python.

Not sure?

Pick "Choose for me" in the questions. We choose the language that suits your topic and tell you why in the plan. You see the plan, and can ask for the other language, before you pay.