Pros of XlsxWriter

• Supports the newer .xlsx file format, which is more widely used and has better compatibility
• Offers more advanced features like charts, images, and data validation
• Actively maintained with regular updates and improvements

Cons of XlsxWriter

• Slightly slower performance for large datasets compared to xlwt
• Requires more memory usage, especially for complex spreadsheets
• Steeper learning curve due to more extensive API and features

Code Comparison

XlsxWriter:

import xlsxwriter

workbook = xlsxwriter.Workbook('example.xlsx')
worksheet = workbook.add_worksheet()
worksheet.write('A1', 'Hello, World!')
workbook.close()

xlwt:

import xlwt

workbook = xlwt.Workbook()
worksheet = workbook.add_sheet('Sheet 1')
worksheet.write(0, 0, 'Hello, World!')
workbook.save('example.xls')

Both libraries provide similar basic functionality for creating and writing to Excel files. However, XlsxWriter offers more advanced features and supports the newer .xlsx format, while xlwt is limited to the older .xls format. XlsxWriter's API is more extensive, allowing for greater customization and advanced spreadsheet creation, but it may require more code for complex tasks. xlwt's simpler API can be advantageous for basic spreadsheet operations.

Pros of pandas

• Comprehensive data manipulation and analysis library
• Supports various file formats beyond Excel (CSV, JSON, SQL databases)
• Powerful data structures like DataFrame for efficient data handling

Cons of pandas

• Steeper learning curve due to extensive functionality
• Higher memory usage for large datasets
• Slower for simple Excel operations compared to xlwt

Code comparison

xlwt:

import xlwt

workbook = xlwt.Workbook()
sheet = workbook.add_sheet('Sheet1')
sheet.write(0, 0, 'Hello')
workbook.save('example.xls')

pandas:

import pandas as pd

df = pd.DataFrame({'Column1': ['Hello']})
df.to_excel('example.xlsx', index=False)

Summary

pandas is a more versatile and powerful library for data manipulation and analysis, supporting various file formats and offering advanced data structures. However, it has a steeper learning curve and may be overkill for simple Excel operations. xlwt is more lightweight and straightforward for basic Excel writing tasks but lacks the extensive functionality of pandas.

Pros of xlwings

• Supports both reading and writing Excel files, while xlwt is write-only
• Allows interaction with existing Excel workbooks and applications
• Provides a more modern and feature-rich API for Excel automation

Cons of xlwings

• Requires Excel to be installed on the system (Windows or macOS)
• Has a steeper learning curve compared to xlwt's simpler API
• May be overkill for basic Excel file creation tasks

Code Comparison

xlwings:

import xlwings as xw

wb = xw.Book()
sheet = wb.sheets[0]
sheet.range('A1').value = 'Hello, xlwings!'
wb.save('example.xlsx')

xlwt:

import xlwt

wb = xlwt.Workbook()
sheet = wb.add_sheet('Sheet1')
sheet.write(0, 0, 'Hello, xlwt!')
wb.save('example.xls')

Both libraries allow for creating Excel files, but xlwings offers more advanced features and flexibility. xlwt is simpler and more lightweight, making it suitable for basic Excel file generation tasks. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of your project and the level of Excel integration needed.

Pros of pyexcel

• Supports multiple file formats (CSV, TSV, XLS, XLSX, ODS) beyond just Excel
• Provides a unified API for reading and writing various spreadsheet formats
• Offers data manipulation and transformation capabilities

Cons of pyexcel

• Larger library size and potentially slower performance for simple Excel tasks
• May have a steeper learning curve due to its more comprehensive feature set
• Less specialized for Excel-specific operations compared to xlwt

Code Comparison

xlwt example:

import xlwt

workbook = xlwt.Workbook()
sheet = workbook.add_sheet('Sheet 1')
sheet.write(0, 0, 'Hello, World!')
workbook.save('example.xls')

pyexcel example:

import pyexcel

data = [['Hello, World!']]
pyexcel.save_as(array=data, dest_file_name="example.xlsx")

Both libraries allow writing data to Excel files, but pyexcel's API is more concise and supports multiple formats. xlwt is more focused on Excel-specific features and formatting options, while pyexcel provides a more generalized approach to working with spreadsheet data across various formats.

Pros of pywin32

• Broader functionality: Provides access to many Windows APIs, not just Excel
• More actively maintained with frequent updates
• Supports newer Excel features and file formats (XLSX)

Cons of pywin32

• Windows-specific, limiting cross-platform compatibility
• Steeper learning curve due to its extensive API coverage
• Requires Excel to be installed on the system

Code Comparison

xlwt example:

import xlwt

workbook = xlwt.Workbook()
sheet = workbook.add_sheet('Sheet 1')
sheet.write(0, 0, 'Hello, World!')
workbook.save('example.xls')

pywin32 example:

import win32com.client

excel = win32com.client.Dispatch("Excel.Application")
workbook = excel.Workbooks.Add()
sheet = workbook.ActiveSheet
sheet.Cells(1, 1).Value = 'Hello, World!'
workbook.SaveAs('example.xlsx')
excel.Quit()

Both libraries allow creating Excel files, but pywin32 interacts with Excel directly, while xlwt creates files without requiring Excel installation. xlwt is simpler for basic tasks, while pywin32 offers more advanced features at the cost of complexity and Windows dependency.