One significant difference not so far mentioned is the difference between a language like C++ that builds to native code, and a language like Python which by default puts a VM between you and the hardware. For doing low-level work, like coding against the OS kernel, the native language will be the preferred option.
In practise, though, when you're working in that context it usually means dropping all the way down C (in its role as portable assembler) rather than being able to use C++ (and its runtime libraries), for much if not all of the code.
