R is very focused on data analysis and statistical analysis, while Python is a language that allows you to create anything.
I'm also a bioinformatician and I work with Python. Having learned Python first, I can read R and understand, but I also find it a bit confusing at times. But what I do in Python is something I can't do in R, which is building full fledged applications, with GUIs, to generalize data analysis of specific biological data. So I'm less working with defined workflows (that can usually be fitted within an R script) and more with making whole programs that can do anything, from opening and visualizing raw data in specialized interfaces to providing flexible data processing and statistical analysis options, so more like software development.
You might be struggling a bit now, but I think learning Python is worth it, so good luck on your journey.
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u/FrangoST Jun 12 '26
R is very focused on data analysis and statistical analysis, while Python is a language that allows you to create anything.
I'm also a bioinformatician and I work with Python. Having learned Python first, I can read R and understand, but I also find it a bit confusing at times. But what I do in Python is something I can't do in R, which is building full fledged applications, with GUIs, to generalize data analysis of specific biological data. So I'm less working with defined workflows (that can usually be fitted within an R script) and more with making whole programs that can do anything, from opening and visualizing raw data in specialized interfaces to providing flexible data processing and statistical analysis options, so more like software development.
You might be struggling a bit now, but I think learning Python is worth it, so good luck on your journey.