Ruby Vs Python-Which Is Better For Web Development?
In this post, we will discuss Ruby vs Python's comparison for web development and see their points of similarities, and differences, why they are good for web development, and what the future holds for them.
Two of the most popular programming languages- are Ruby and Python. Both languages possess different philosophies and came around in the mid-90s to address various needs in the programming community. They’re both flexible, object-oriented languages, dynamic, and have a lot of different functionalities, required to empower web development.
Both frameworks provide views, controllers, and models to power your web application and an API that offers endpoints to address your needs.
When you are planning your new web development project this 2021, choose a framework that can provide every tool you need. And both Ruby and Python seem to be the perfect answer to these specific web development needs.
However, Django which uses the python language is rapidly growing in terms of popularity in comparison to Ruby on Rails. Let’s understand both Ruby and Python to find out the best one for web development.
Ruby Vs Python | A Detailed Comparison
Ruby
Ruby was created by Yukihiro Matsumoto and released in 1995. It is a dynamic, open-source programming language with a focus on simplicity and productivity. It has an elegant syntax that is natural to read and easy to write.
Reasons to choose Ruby for web app development
Ruby is one of the most popular development languages which most IT professionals prefer for developing highly interactive applications due to the following reasons:
1. Less coding: Ruby works on the concept of less coding and more functionality. Some of the primary principles of ROR include Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD), convention over configuration (COC), and KISAP (keep it simple as possible).
Also Read | Python IDEs & Code Editors
2. Quick to embrace new things: The programming process is much faster than other languages and frameworks. It is suitable for RAD (Rapid Application Development) as it accommodates changes seamlessly and faster.
3. Based on agile development principles: The task is divided into small parts so that each task can be executed quickly.
4. Easy testing environment: Ruby integrates a reliable testing framework, and automated coding reduces testing time.
5. Free to use: Ruby is an open-source programming language, which means it’s available free of cost. It is an ideal language for start-ups, and simple coding makes it one of the best options available for developers.
Python
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, high-level programming language with dynamic semantics. Its high-level built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing and dynamic binding, make it very attractive for Rapid Application Development, as well as for use as a scripting or glue language to connect existing components.
Python’s simple, easy-to-learn syntax emphasizes readability and therefore reduces the cost of program maintenance. Python supports modules and packages, which encourages program modularity and code reuse. The Python interpreter and the extensive standard library are available in source or binary form without charge for all major platforms and can be freely distributed.
Programmers love Python because of the increased productivity it provides, the no compilation step, and the edit-test-debug cycle being incredibly faster.
Debugging Python programs is easy: a bug or bad input will never cause a segmentation fault. Instead, when the interpreter discovers an error, it raises an exception.
When the program doesn’t catch the exception, the interpreter prints a stack trace. A source-level debugger allows inspection of local and global variables, evaluation of arbitrary expressions, setting breakpoints, stepping through the code a line at a time, and so on.
The debugger is written in Python itself, testifying to Python’s introspective power. On the other hand, often the quickest way to debug a program is to add a few print statements to the source- the fast edit-test-debug cycle makes this simple approach very effective.
Reasons to choose Python for web application development
Python’s popularity is influenced by the countless benefits that it offers, including elegance and simplicity. No doubt, it is one of the best programming languages used worldwide in simple to complex web application development projects.
It has been widely accepted across different domains, including healthcare, finance, travel, transportation, etc. The following are the main reasons why Python is popular among developers for web development:
1. Easy to use and read: Python is easy to use and understand because it is similar to the English language that we use in our everyday life. It integrates simple syntax, and every element has a concise and transparent relationship with each other.
2. Use in Multiple Spheres: Usability, including web development, academia, machine learning, data analysis, and scientific programming such as Python, has highly efficient packages and tools for visualization outputs.
3. Asynchronous coding: Writing and maintaining asynchronous coding using Python saves time as no deadlocks or other concerns exist.
4. Enterprise application integration: Python is undoubtedly the first choice for enterprise application integration as it integrates seamlessly with other highly used programming languages such as Java, .NET, PHP, etc.
5. Server-side scripting: Simple syntax accelerates the application development process, and the credit goes to the server-side scripting attributes of Python.
6. Portability and interactivity: Python can be easily embedded in a wide range of applications, even if they use different programming languages. It is easy to fix modules and extend the Python core vocabulary and connect diverse elements.
Difference
Python and Ruby are the best new-generation high-level languages that focus on simplicity and provide the developer ease of doing things faster ( rather than strict hierarchy and syntax correctness).
Ruby is a dynamic, open-source, object-oriented programming language that runs on all types of operating systems (Windows, UNIX, and Macintosh). Whereas, Python is a powerful, simple, easy-to-learn, high-level, object-oriented programming language ( also an interpreted scripting language).
Also Read | Top 30 Python Interview Questions
Though both programming languages are quite similar, they differ in terms of language, flexibility, web frameworks, and a few other factors.
1. Language
Ruby is a flexible, easy-to-code language for web developers, where they can practice numerous tricks hassle-free for developing web apps. On the other hand, Python integrates a more direct approach where everything is precisely visible to the web developer.
2. Flexibility & Popularity
Ruby offers multiple ways to accomplish a task, which sometimes accelerates the complexity levels. Python works on preferably only one obvious way to do a task. Though Python’s code is not flexible, it is more readable to even amateur programmers.
When it comes to popularity, Python is more popular by being the 3rd most-used language for web development.
3. Testing & Troubleshooting
Testing the code is a must followed and the most crucial step during the development process. Both Ruby and Python possess capable toolsets for effective testing and troubleshooting.
4. Web Frameworks
Both Ruby and Python help you build responsive web applications, they deliver similar performance. Both languages are based on the MVC framework and provide traditional models, controllers, views, and database migrations.
5. Reusable Code
Reusable codes in Ruby are known as “Gems” whereas, in Python, they are called “Modules”.
In Python, the modules are available through PyPI, and the user can search for more than 1,50,000 modules. In Ruby, users can search for around 1,50,000 gems.
6. Usage
Both Ruby and Python are popular for web development. Ruby’s prowess can be seen on popular websites like- Apple, Airbnb, Groupon, Shopify, Twitter, and Github.
On the other hand, Python websites include Instagram, Google, Mozilla Firefox, Pinterest, Washington Post, and National Geographic.
7. Performance
When choosing a programming language for your next web application project, performance must not be a deciding factor as the initial objective of the coding is to solve the proposed problem. If you decide on selecting an open-source programming language, the possibilities are that an optimized library must already exist for achieving the intended goal.
8. Learning curve
Python is hands-down easier & quicker to learn. The syntax is simple to understand, and more readable to the beginner. Ruby might take more time to get used to, but Ruby on Rails has built-in features—like scaffolding and Active Record, to accelerate your development. As soon as you know them, you’ll be able to build a CRUD application with API access in a matter of a few minutes.
Similarities
First the similarities.- Both are high-level, object-oriented languages. Both provide an interactive shell, standard libraries, multiplatform support across Linux, Unix, Windows, and other operating systems, as well as persistence support.
They are both excellent for web development, more so when you take advantage of each language’s purpose-built web frameworks – Django for Python and Rails for Ruby.
The similarities between Ruby and Python are as follows:
- They both are high-level, server-side, scripting languages.
- Both work on an interactive prompt, named IRB.
- They both integrate embedded doc tools.
- Ruby and Python are supported by Emacs modes.
- Both languages integrate GNU Debugger.
- Both work on multiple platforms.
- In both platforms, objects are typed using a dynamic and robust approach.
- Both languages are written in a clean syntax
- Ruby and Python are highly readable.
Also Read | Beginner’s guide to Python
Python or Ruby for the next web development project?
Python, a flexible programming language that is easy to understand, easy to scale, and highly readable across multiple platforms, allows the development of simple and clear applications right from small-scale projects to complex applications.
It is considered an ideal choice for beginners in development to start with, as well as start-ups as it reduces development risks. Also, if you want to use a language that’s widely applicable and proficient in managing data analytics, then again Python is an ideal option.
Henceforth, we can say that Python is the best choice for web development.
What does the future hold for Ruby or Python?
Both Ruby and Python have strong prospects in application development capability. They are definite improvements from the .NET and JAVA frameworks as they speed up the whole application development process.
Moreover, they offer clear design and abstraction attributes, which makes them future-ready application development platforms. To sum up, since Python doesn’t only rely upon web development, it infers better longevity than Ruby.
Ruby Vs Python- At A Glance
| Ruby | Python | |
| Developed By | Created in 1995 by Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto. | Created in 1991 by Guido Van Rossum. |
| Libraries | Smaller range of library than Python | Larger range of libraries. |
| Web Frameworks | Ruby on Rails | Django |
| IDEs | Supported by EclipseIDE | Supported by multiple IDEs. |
| Functions | No | Yes |
| Anonymous Functions | It supports blocks, procs, and lambdas. | Supports only lambdas. |
| Switch/ Case statement | Supported | Not supported |
| Lambda Functions | It supports larger lambda functions. | Supports single line lambda function only. |
| Inheritance | Supports single Inheritance | Supports multiple Inheritance |
| Built-in classes | Cannot be modified | Can be modified |
| Usage | Apple, GitHub, Shopify, Hulu, Basecamp, Groupon, Airbnb, and, Twitter, etc. | Instagram, Pinterest, Google, Mozilla Firefox, Washington Post, Reddit, YouTube, Dropbox, and National Geographic, etc. |
| Pros | 1. Tons of features for web development. 2. Quick to embrace new things | Very easy to learn, diverse community with big ties to Linux and academia. |
| Cons | Can be very hard to debug at times | Often very explicit and inelegant to read |
#!/usr/bin/ruby # Ruby count to 10 $i = 0 $num = 11 while $i < $num do puts("Inside the loop i = #$i" ) $i +=1 End | #!/usr/bin/python # Python count to 10 i = 0 num = 11 while i < num: print("Inside the loop i = " + str(i)) i = i + 1 | |
| The average salary for a Ruby Developer is $134,029 per year in the United States | The average salary of a Python developer is $120,255 annually in the United States. | |
In Conclusion
After doing this Ruby Vs Python comparison, one thing is clear both are equally capable, and which language is better for your project, is the main deciding factor ultimately. Many of the changes and new features in Python are first tested in Ruby.
If you are looking at only building web applications, then consider Ruby on Rails. On the other hand, if you are interested in building web applications but would like to also learn a language that’s widely applicable and proficient in handling data analytics then Python is the best bet.
Also, when looking to add more features to your web application, like machine learning or other areas, Python is a perfect choice as it has libraries that support other fields.
Ruby focuses on giving developers the freedom to do whatever they want and staying out of their way, whereas Python developers are somewhat conservative and value stability over change. (developments and new features are slowly added)
Both Ruby and Python are fast and simple programming languages. For projects that include a lot of data computing, processing, and analytics, Python is probably the best option. However, Ruby suits projects that are traffic-heavy and involves rapid prototyping.
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FAQ's
Which is easier Ruby or Python?
Ruby is well-known for its great syntax and it employs simple English words that are much easy to grasp. However, Python is just as easy and uses language which is more natural. Hence, easier than Ruby due to its syntax.
Is Ruby on Rails really dying?
No, it's not true, Ruby on Rails is not dead, and it is now also a splendid choice for creating web applications.
Is YouTube built with Python?
YouTube is a hefty user of Python and its whole website uses Python for various purposes such as controlling templates for the website, viewing videos, administering videos, accessing canonical data, etc. So, Python exists everywhere on YouTube.