The Impact of Language Syntax on the Complexity of Programs: A Case Study of Java and Python

Kashif Munawar ()
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Kashif Munawar: Department of Computer Science & Information Technology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan

International Journal of Innovations in Science & Technology, 2022, vol. 4, issue 3, 683-695

Abstract: Programming is the cornerstone of computer science, yet it is difficult to learn and program. The syntax of a programming language is particularly challenging to comprehend, which makes learning arduous and affects the program's testability. There is currently no literature that definitively gives quantitative evidence about the effect of programming language complex syntax. The main purpose of this article was to examine the effectsof programming syntax on the complexity of their source programs. During the study, 298 algorithms were selected and their implementations in Java and Python were analyzed with the cyclomatic complexity matrix. The results of the study show that Python's syntax is less complex than Java's, and thus coding in Python is more comprehensive and less difficult than Java coding. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed on the results of a statistical analysis that showed a significant difference between Java and Python, indicating that the syntax of a programming language has a major impact on program complexity. The novelty of this article lies in the formulation of new knowledge and study patterns that can be used primarily to compare and analyze other programming languages.

Keywords: Cyclomatic Complexity; Programming Languages; Syntax; Java; Python (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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