Ruby vs Python

[njf]

What do u guys think about these two languages?

I practise OOP and I find that Ruby is better in this respect, whereas Python OO support seems hackish and very c-ctyle (ugh) like.

[Patrick]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Well, I started with Ruby, then went to Python which I found slightly nicer, then went back to Ruby and got annoyed with it because I could do things in Python that I couldn't do in Ruby.

[sebastianw]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Python
- more popular
- more things can be done in Python
- better (i think) documentation and tutorials for neewbies

[lmilano]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Python
- more popular
- more things can be done in Python
- better (i think) documentation and tutorials for neewbies

I never used Ruby. The one thing I love about python is the number of very useful modules:

http://docs.python.org/modindex.html

(and as you said, how nicely documented)

[Hestia]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Ruby is a beautiful language and personally I prefer ruby. But python is so much more popular and better documented in english so I guess it will remain the language of choice for many people for quite a few years yet.

[nko]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Both are great. I prefer Ruby's OO stylings and Python's breadth of available modules (and the syntax is pretty, too). They've both got their places. Personally, I make sure both are available on my systems.

The real question is Perl, which has an astounding amount of pre-written software available, but a syntax that can make you wonder if the perl script you just opened really is a perl script, of if you're having disk errors and the file you're looking at is really random garbage.

[lmilano]

Re: Ruby vs Python

The real question is Perl, which has an astounding amount of pre-written software available, but a syntax that can make you wonder if the perl script you just opened really is a perl script, of if you're having disk errors and the file you're looking at is really random garbage.

Good point. I think some languages tend to make you code in a certain way. In this regard, I think Python tends to lead to clean, lean, readable code (no idea about Ruby, I'd love to try it). Perl is the other way around. I am very critical of the coding practices you typically see in perl code. It's like the programer is always trying to show off. Python code looks always simpler, and I think, in the end, it boils down to a clear design philosophy view in either camp (Guido and Larry). I don't mind. It's all there for our use, and I am grateful to both communities. But I would personally never suggest perl for a project I care about (for the reasons above).

Cheers!

[ppibburr]

Re: Ruby vs Python

I started scripting in perl, i got petty good at it, i then tinkerd in python, found it was too c-ish
Then i found ruby, now i live by ruby and forgotten most of perl

ruby is a clean ool, its nice becuase you can code rather sloppy but effective or implement a nice clean ool structure. it is very powerful, cross platform and is gaining more popularity everyday, as ruby on rails and e-ruby are proving.

there are a number of graphical tool kit bindings and other bindings avaible, which i found that are easier to pick up on than other languages

[yanom]

Re: Ruby vs Python

I vote for Ruby for its simplicity. Python is very C-ish, but they both have there own pros and cons.

proof of c-ishness (sorta):
Integer input statement on ruby:
variable = gets
Integer input statement on python:
variable = input()

also, python requires indenting, which i find very annoying.

[yanom]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Even though I only know a tiny bit, I definately love Ruby because of its simple and elegant nature. Extreamly high-level, When I code in Ruby I feel more like I'm talking to a human than a computer! From what I know of Ruby it's an absolutely briliant language, 5 stars.

[*****]

[yanom]

Re: Ruby vs Python

But python is so much more popular and better documented in english

Not realy, try Why's Poingant Guide to Ruby. It's really funny.
<http://poignantguide.net/ruby/>

[v_override]

Re: Ruby vs Python

Like I've said.... .

A discussion that could go on for several years