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Django over Ruby on Rails: which to learn?
Written By andyskogrand on Oct. 21, 2006.
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I am a graphic design student, and at this point I am pretty solid in CSS and XHTML. However, I now want to learn a language like Python or Ruby so I can start creating dynamic websites. I know a little PHP, but I can't really write it, so I have decided I will either learn all I can about Django or Ruby on Rails, because I only have time for one and those seem to be the two which can have the leanest code.
Now, I know that there was a discussion earlier which pitted RoR against PHP, a fight that went nowhere since both are seeminly equally capable. My question, however, is whether it might be easier to learn one (Django/RoR) over the other, or if there is better documentation for one then the other, or whether one of them is kinder to non-programmers. Any help would be great!!
Kyle
Written Oct. 22, 2006 / Report /
On the outside:
Django is python based, RoR is ruby based. Rails has more server support for shared hosts currently, but it's not a large factor. Rails has a larger community, Django has a more tightly-knit community.
Django is geared towards content sites (think managing a newspaper), while Ruby is geared towards "applications" like basecamp, etc that it was extracted from.
Pluses and minuses? Few, nothing of any real value. I'd suggest taking a look at python vs ruby syntax and see which fits your style better. Really, there's no wrong choice -- just take one route and go till the end.
blissdev
Written Oct. 22, 2006 / Report /
I'd like to echo Kyle's thoughts. It really depends on which works better for you, on an application level and on a personal level. I chose Rails because I love Ruby. But Python may be more your thing, so Django would be the choice.
andyskogrand
Written Oct. 25, 2006 / Report /
Unfortuantely, I am not partial to either. It seems to me that there is more out there to help a newcomer learn RoR then there is Django. I am not interested, however, in building web applications, but rather I am interested in a homespun CMS, so I guess Django might be simpler in that respect. Thanks for the tips guys!
weixiyen
Written Nov. 11, 2006 / Report /
The Python community however is much bigger than both the Ruby and Rails communities. You don't need to know much Python to use Django though. I think someone with your background would really enjoy django's advanced templating features.
ThomasJStein
Written Nov. 11, 2006 / Report /
I think you'll be able to find more 3rd-party help and outside information regarding the Python stuff... Ruby is gaining though. Quickly.
Scrivs
Written Nov. 11, 2006 / Report /
I'm not going to say which way you should go, but I think no matter which one you choose you will be safe in your choice because I don't see either one disappearing any time soon. They both have active communities and development teams and provide great frameworks to get the job done. In the end I would say learn both because they are just tools and the more tools you have at your disposal the better off you are. If you don't know PHP don't ignore that one either. It definitely serves its purpose on the web, yet many people forget that RoR and Django do "cooler" things so they completely bypass it.
Even the 37s guys will tell you that, since they use PHP a lot in what they do to bangout the quick stuff. The more tools, the better. Just keep that in mind.
karmatosed
Written Nov. 12, 2006 / Report /
more you learn the more to pick from to find the right tool.