Pros of Telethon

• Written in Python, making it more accessible for Python developers
• Simpler API and easier to get started with for beginners
• More lightweight and suitable for smaller projects or scripts

Cons of Telethon

• Less performant than TD, especially for large-scale applications
• Limited support for some advanced Telegram features
• May require more frequent updates to keep up with Telegram API changes

Code Comparison

Telethon example:

from telethon import TelegramClient

client = TelegramClient('session', api_id, api_hash)

async def main():
    await client.send_message('username', 'Hello!')

with client:
    client.loop.run_until_complete(main())

TD example (using Python bindings):

from ctypes import *
from td import Client

client = Client()
client.send({'@type': 'setTdlibParameters', 'parameters': {...}})

result = client.receive()
if result['@type'] == 'ok':
    client.send({'@type': 'sendMessage', 'chat_id': chat_id, 'input_message_content': {...}})

Both libraries offer ways to interact with the Telegram API, but Telethon provides a more Pythonic interface, while TD offers a lower-level, potentially more efficient approach. TD is generally better suited for large-scale applications or when performance is critical, while Telethon is often preferred for its ease of use and Python-native design.

Pros of Pyrogram

• Easier to use and more Pythonic, with a simpler API
• Faster development and prototyping for Python developers
• Better documentation and community support for Python users

Cons of Pyrogram

• Limited to Python, while TD supports multiple languages
• May have fewer features compared to TD's comprehensive implementation
• Potentially slower performance due to Python's interpreted nature

Code Comparison

TD (C++):

auto client = td::Client::create();
client->send(td_api::make_object<td_api::getMe>());

Pyrogram (Python):

from pyrogram import Client

app = Client("my_account")
me = app.get_me()

Summary

Pyrogram is a Python-specific Telegram client library, while TD is a cross-platform library written in C++. Pyrogram offers a more user-friendly API for Python developers, but TD provides broader language support and potentially better performance. The choice between the two depends on the developer's preferred language, project requirements, and performance needs.

Pros of tdesktop

• Full-featured desktop client with a complete GUI
• Includes additional features like custom themes and local message search
• Actively maintained with frequent updates and new feature implementations

Cons of tdesktop

• Larger codebase and more complex due to GUI implementation
• May have higher resource usage compared to a lightweight library
• Potentially slower to integrate into custom applications

Code Comparison

td (C++ API example):

auto client = td::Client::create();
client->send({{"@type", "getAuthorizationState"}});

tdesktop (Qt-based GUI code snippet):

auto window = new MainWindow();
window->show();

Key Differences

• td is a library for building Telegram clients, while tdesktop is a complete desktop application
• td offers more flexibility for custom implementations, tdesktop provides a ready-to-use solution
• td is better suited for integrating Telegram functionality into other applications, while tdesktop is ideal for users who want a standalone Telegram client

Use Cases

• Choose td for building custom Telegram clients or integrating Telegram features into existing applications
• Opt for tdesktop if you need a fully-featured desktop client with a polished user interface

Both projects are open-source and actively maintained, catering to different needs within the Telegram ecosystem.

Pros of Telegram-iOS

• Native iOS implementation, providing a smooth and platform-specific user experience
• Includes a complete user interface, ready for end-users
• Regularly updated with new iOS features and design guidelines

Cons of Telegram-iOS

• Limited to iOS platform, not suitable for cross-platform development
• Larger codebase, potentially more complex to understand and modify
• Tightly coupled with Telegram's specific implementation

Code Comparison

Telegram-iOS (Swift):

class ChatListController: ViewController {
    func updateChatList() {
        // iOS-specific UI update logic
    }
}

td (C++):

void Client::send_query(td_api::object_ptr<td_api::Function> f, std::function<void(Object)> handler) {
    // Cross-platform API call
}

Key Differences

• Telegram-iOS is a complete application, while td is a cross-platform library
• td offers more flexibility for custom implementations across various platforms
• Telegram-iOS provides a polished, ready-to-use iOS client
• td requires additional work to create a user interface and platform-specific features

Use Cases

• Choose Telegram-iOS for rapid iOS app development or official Telegram client modifications
• Opt for td when building custom Telegram clients across multiple platforms or integrating Telegram functionality into existing applications

Pros of Telegram

• User-friendly Android client with a polished UI
• Includes features specific to the Telegram mobile experience
• Easier to set up for end-users who want a ready-to-use Telegram app

Cons of Telegram

• Limited to Android platform
• Less flexibility for developers who want to build custom Telegram-based applications
• May not have access to all low-level Telegram API features

Code Comparison

Telegram (Java):

public void sendMessage(String text) {
    SendMessage message = new SendMessage();
    message.setChatId(chatId);
    message.setText(text);
    try {
        execute(message);
    } catch (TelegramApiException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

TD (C++):

void send_message(int64 chat_id, string text) {
    auto message = td_api::make_object<td_api::sendMessage>();
    message->chat_id_ = chat_id;
    message->input_message_content_ = td_api::make_object<td_api::inputMessageText>(
        td_api::make_object<td_api::formattedText>(text, vector<td_api::object_ptr<td_api::TextEntity>>())
    );
    send_query(std::move(message), {});
}

Summary

Telegram is a ready-to-use Android client, while TD is a cross-platform library for building Telegram clients. Telegram offers a more polished user experience but is limited to Android, whereas TD provides greater flexibility for developers to create custom Telegram-based applications across multiple platforms.