Python v Ruby

For 2023 (and 2024 ...) - we are now fully retired from IT training.
We have made many, many friends over 25 years of teaching about Python, Tcl, Perl, PHP, Lua, Java, C and C++ - and MySQL, Linux and Solaris/SunOS too. Our training notes are now very much out of date, but due to upward compatability most of our examples remain operational and even relevant ad you are welcome to make us if them "as seen" and at your own risk.

Lisa and I (Graham) now live in what was our training centre in Melksham - happy to meet with former delegates here - but do check ahead before coming round. We are far from inactive - rather, enjoying the times that we are retired but still healthy enough in mind and body to be active!

I am also active in many other area and still look after a lot of web sites - you can find an index ((here))

Python v Ruby

Ruby v Python ... I've been asked for a comparison!

• Both are object oriented scripting languages - or rather claim to be scripting languages, but are really compile-and-run via their own virtual machines, in just the same way as Perl and Java are.

• Both are modern, Open Source languages with a wide range of standard classes and methods provided as standard, and lots of other libraries available too.

• Python is a clean, minimalist language which is not cluttered with lots of alternative syntax and special characters @ and $ and the like used in conjunction with variable names, whereas Ruby uses a number of those specials to indicate variables, scope, etc. From the programmer's viewpoint, this means that Python code may be a little longer, but will be easier to read and maintain by a programmer who doesn't spend large amounts of time coding in the language.

• Ruby also provides capabilities such as topicalisation which allow the knowledgeable programmer to shorten code to the confusion of the novice maintainer. No bad thing if you have a small team of Ruby pogrammers who will be responsible for the whole life of the application, but an issue if you use other people to maintain.

• Python's typical applications can be regarded as being very wide ranging. We have trained user on all sort of applications, some (but a minority) of which are web based. Ruby is, to date, very much used in "Ruby on Rails" - a Web framework - so it tends to be very much a language that's associated with web content applications.

Which would I choose for a new project? Given the artificial choice of just these two languages, I would probably go Ruby if I was looking at a web-based content system / shopping cart / on line application, and I would go Python otherwise. But with existing code in either language, or a support team who knew one language but not the other, I would be very comfortable with either language for either type of application.

Oh - and I would be happy to run a Ruby Course or a Python Course for you!
(written 2007-10-02, updated 2009-08-31)

Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles

Y101 - Introduction to Python
  [317] Programming languages - a comparison - (2005-05-20)
  [380] Bridging to the customer requirement - (2005-07-16)
  [382] Central London Courses - Perl, PHP, Python, Tcl, MySQL - (2005-07-18)
  [444] Database or Progamming - which to learn first? - (2005-09-13)
  [629] Choosing the right language - (2006-03-01)
  [710] Linux training Glasgow, Python programming course Dundee - (2006-05-05)
  [712] Why reinvent the wheel - (2006-05-06)
  [745] Python modules. The distribution, The Cheese Shop and the Vaults of Parnassus. - (2006-06-05)
  [753] Python 3000 - the next generation - (2006-06-09)
  [834] Python makes University Challenge - (2006-08-15)
  [846] Is Perl being replaced by PHP and Python? - (2006-08-27)
  [909] Python is like a narrowboat - (2006-10-30)
  [949] Sludge off the mountain, and Python and PHP - (2006-11-27)
  [950] Python and the Magic Roundabout - (2006-11-27)
  [1663] Python in an afternoon - a lecture for experienced programmers - (2008-06-01)
  [4118] We not only teach PHP and Python - we teach good PHP and Python Practice! - (2013-06-18)
  [4298] Python - an interesting application - (2014-09-18)
  [4590] Progress on moving from Python 2 to Python 3 - training for both versions - (2015-12-01)

R202 - Ruby on Rails
  [1050] The HTML++ Metalanguage - (2007-01-22)
  [1302] Ruby, Ruby, Ruby. Rails, Rails, Rails. - (2007-08-13)
  [1745] Moodle, Drupal, Django (and Rails) - (2008-08-08)
  [2605] Ruby on Rails - a sample application to teach you how - (2010-01-30)
  [2607] Answers on Ruby on Rails - (2010-01-30)
  [2609] Scope of variables - important to Ruby on Rails - (2010-01-31)
  [3624] Why do we need a Model, View, Controller architecture? - (2012-02-25)
  [3756] Ruby on Rails - how it flows, and where the files go - (2012-06-08)
  [3772] Hello World - Ruby on Rails - a checklist of each step - (2012-06-22)
  [3777] Multiple views in a single appication - sharing common parts of the template - Ruby on Rails - (2012-06-23)
  [3778] Providing a form to allow the user to add data to the model - Ruby on Rails - (2012-06-23)
  [3779] Adding validation to form entries and sticky fields - Ruby on Rails - (2012-06-23)
  [3780] Ruby of Rails - cleanly displaying model data in the view - (2012-06-23)
  [3919] What is a web framework? - (2012-11-10)
  [4010] Really Simple Rails - (2013-02-17)
  [4013] Web Frameworks - nested templates - (2013-02-22)

R101 - Ruby - Introduction
  [550] 2006 - Making business a pleasure - (2006-01-01)
  [664] Ruby course - oops - it's not happening - (2006-04-01)
  [1027] Cue the music, I'm happy. - (2007-01-09)
  [1041] Learnt in London - Ruby, Martini, Coral and the Core - (2007-01-17)
  [1887] Ruby Programming Course - Saturday and Sunday - (2008-11-16)
  [2286] New to programming? It is natural (but needless) for you to be nervous - (2009-07-14)
  [2287] Learning to program in Ruby - examples of the programming basics - (2009-07-15)
  [4369] Ruby - the second rung of learning the language - (2014-12-28)
  [4498] Ruby - where one statement ends and the next begins - (2015-05-26)

G998 - Well House Consultants - Newsletter Highlighted Box
  [1011] Well House Manor and Beechfield House, Hotels, Melksham - (2006-12-29)
  [1068] ls -l report, Linux / Unix - types and permssions - (2007-02-06)
  [1132] Well House Manor, Melksham, Art Gallery - (2007-04-02)
  [1237] What proportion of our web traffic is robots? - (2007-06-19)
  [1307] Troy, up state New York - (2007-08-17)
  [1475] Tcl/Tk - updating your display while tasks are running - (2007-12-16)
  [1521] Evening drive across the roof of Wiltshire - (2008-01-27)
  [1621] Linux and Java Course in London - (2008-04-24)
  [1629] A short introduction to our courses - (2008-05-03)
  [1751] Public Training Course Dates until July 2009 - (2008-08-13)
  [1843] How many cups of coffee? - (2008-10-17)
  [1967] LinkedIn - Thrice Asked, and joined. - (2008-12-30)
  [2050] Why the Pony Tail? - (2009-02-21)
  [2125] We have lost a regular business guest - (2009-04-10)
  [2222] A (biased?) comparison of PHP courses in the UK - (2009-06-07)
  [2385] Reading all our recent news from a single source - (2009-08-29)
  [2400] Are you wanting to learn PHP? - (2009-09-08)
  [2520] Global and Enable - two misused words! - (2009-11-30)
  [3168] Web Sites - Subject to Advertising Standards from 1st March - check your sites - (2011-02-13)

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Some other Articles

Simple page password protection - PHP
Etag in http headers - what is it?
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Choosing between mod_proxy and mod_rewrite
Python v Ruby
Maidenhead Coffee Challenge
New Month, New Quarter, New Laws
A taster PHP expression ...
Hotel in Melksham at Christmas
Apache Tomcat Performance Tuning

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This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at http://www.wellho.net/horse/ - the diary and writings of Graham Ellis. Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via our main site for current courses, prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth" cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.

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