Django vs Ruby on Rails: Which Framework is Better?

Choosing the right web development framework can be a challenging task, especially for beginners. Django and Ruby on Rails are two popular web frameworks that are used by many companies. In this article, we will compare Django and Ruby on Rails to help you decide which one is better for projects.

Main key points to consider when comparing Django and Ruby on Rails respectively:

• Language: Python vs Ruby
• Architecture: MVT vs MVC
• Speed and Performance: Django is relatively slower than Ruby on Rails
• Stability:
  Django is more opinionated while Rails provides flexibility and stability
• Usage and Popularity:
  Django is popular among Python developers and used by popular websites such as Instagram and Pinterest, while Ruby on Rails has gained a place among prominent companies such as GitHub and Twitch, as well as numerous startups, due to its ability to facilitate rapid application development.

In the following sections, we will explore these frameworks in more detail.

What is Django?

Django is a high-level web development framework based on the Python programming language. It is a powerful and flexible framework that can be used to build a wide variety of web applications.

• Django follows the Model-View-Template (MVT) architectural pattern, which separates the application into three components:
  • Model:
    The model represents the data and business logic of the application. It is responsible for handling data storage, retrieval, and validation.
  • View:
    The view is responsible for processing user requests and generating responses. It acts as an intermediary between the model and the template.
  • Template:
    The template is responsible for rendering the user interface and displaying data to the user. It receives data from the view and formats it for display.
• Django encourages developers to be explicit in their code by making their intentions clear and avoiding ambiguity. This can involve using clear and descriptive variable and function names, adding comments where necessary, and avoiding shorthand or cryptic syntax.
• Django has a robust and flexible Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system that allows developers to interact with the database using Python objects, rather than raw SQL queries. This can make it easier to work with databases and reduce the risk of SQL injection attacks.
• Django has a large and active community, which means there are plenty of resources and support available for developers who use the framework.

What is Ruby on Rails?

Ruby on Rails is a powerful and elegant web application framework written in Ruby. It follows the principle of Convention over Configuration, promoting simplicity and productivity. Here are some key points to help understand what Ruby on Rails is:

• Ruby on Rails follows the Model-View-Controller(MVC) architecture, where:
  • Model:
    The model represents the application's data and its business logic. It handles the data storage and retrieval and provides an interface for working with the database without SQL queries.
  • View:
    The view is responsible for presenting the data to the user in a human-readable format. It receives data from the controller and generates the HTML that is sent to the browser.
  • Controller:
    The controller is responsible for handling user input and updating the model. It receives requests from the browser, performs any necessary processing or validation on the input, and updates the model accordingly.
• Ruby on Rails is often referred to as a "batteries-included" framework, meaning it includes a lot of in-built features out of the box, such as support for databases, caching, and testing.
• Convention over Configuration:
  Ruby on Rails has pre-defined conventions for how things should be done, rather than requiring developers to specify everything explicitly. For example, the framework will automatically infer the name of a database table based on the name of a model class, rather than requiring the developer to specify it explicitly.
• This framework can help developers create web applications quickly and with less code than other frameworks, while still maintaining good coding practices.

Similarities Between Django and Ruby on Rails

Django vs Ruby on Rails: Comparison Chart

Django vs Ruby on Rails: Detailed Comparison

Below are the major differences between Django and Ruby on Rails:

Language – Python vs Ruby

• Django is based on Python, while Ruby on Rails is based on Ruby.
• Python is a versatile language used for developing a range of applications such as games, machine learning algorithms, data analytics, and AI features. On the other hand, Ruby is primarily used for web development, offering web services such as web APIs and web servers.
• Python is known for its simplicity, readability, portability, and versatility, making it one of the most user-friendly programming languages. Arguably, Ruby is one of the easiest to learn and most beginner-friendly languages as well.

Architecture – MVT vs MVC

• Django uses the Model-View-Template (MVT) design pattern, while Ruby on Rails uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture.
• In the MVT pattern, the Model handles database interactions, the View handles the business logic between the Model and the Template, and the Template handles rendering HTML templates.
• In the MVC pattern, the Model handles data storage and retrieval, the View handles rendering the user interface, and the Controller handles user input and application logic.

Speed and Performance

• Speed is a critical factor in web development frameworks such as Django and Ruby on Rails. While Ruby on Rails is marginally faster than Django and Python, both frameworks have speed and performance issues.
• According to Django vs Rails Performance, Rails is 0.7 percent faster due to its vast repository of libraries and plugins that can boost the framework's speed and performance. Python, on the other hand, is comparatively slow, and Django inherits it.

Stability

• Django and Ruby on Rails have different approaches to stability.
• Ruby on Rails provides a balance between flexibility and stability, enabling developers to reuse code and implement innovative features. Rails utilize the Convention over Configuration approach, reducing the workload for web developers while maintaining a high degree of customization.
• Django, on the other hand, is more opinionated, allowing only one way of doing things. It can take a lot of time to try out new implementations in Django, which can affect the creativity and flexibility of developers.

Usage and Popularity

• In terms of usage and popularity, Django and Ruby on Rails have their unique strengths and user base. Django has been widely adopted by popular websites and services like Instagram, Pinterest, and Mozilla due to its simplicity, and ease of use, making it a preferred choice among Python developers.
• On the other hand, Ruby on Rails is commonly used by small businesses, startups (like Scaler Academy, BlogVault, etc), and also individual developers due to its flexibility, rapid development capabilities, and strong community support.
• According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, Django ranks 9th in popularity, while Ruby on Rails ranks 15th. Nonetheless, both frameworks have a significant user base and active communities, with thousands of developers contributing to their development and maintenance.
• Moreover, Django offers a larger number of plugins, and libraries, which simplifies the development process and reduces the time and effort required to build complex web applications. Ruby on Rails, although with a smaller repository of plugins and libraries, often offers specialized and high-quality ones to its users.

Django vs Ruby on Rails: Which Framework to Choose?

When to Choose Django?

• For complex, database-driven websites, Django's ORM system can help us handle large databases with ease. This makes it a good choice for enterprise-level applications with heavy data processing needs.
• For data visualization and analysis projects, Python's libraries such as Pandas and NumPy can help us process and analyze data efficiently. This makes it ideal for scientific or research applications that require data analysis and processing.
• For building RESTful APIs, Django's Django REST framework can help us create APIs quickly and easily.
• For highly secure web applications that protect against common vulnerabilities, Django's built-in security features can help ensure the safety of our application.
• For large projects with multiple team members, Django's standardized coding practices and built-in tools can help ensure consistency and efficiency throughout the development process.
• For modern web applications that utilize new technologies such as AI or ML, python's powerful libraries such as TensorFlow and Keras can help us integrate these technologies easily.

When to Choose Ruby on Rails?

• If we have tight deadlines, Ruby on Rails can help us speed up the development process with its easy-to-use scaffolding and convention over configuration approach.
• For real-time web applications that require scalability, Ruby on Rails has built-in support for WebSockets and server-side events for applications that require real-time updates such as chat applications or social media.
• When developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), Ruby on Rails can help us get our product to market quickly and efficiently.
• Startups and small businesses can benefit from Ruby on Rails' scalability and performance, which can handle high levels of traffic and large amounts of data.
• For e-commerce projects that require stability and security, Ruby on Rails' strong security features can help protect against common vulnerabilities.
• If we need to create a quick prototype, Ruby on Rails' built-in libraries and code generators can help speed up the process.
• For projects that involve popular frontend frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue, Ruby on Rails' APIs can easily integrate with these technologies.
• For complex projects that require unique features and functionalities, Ruby on Rails' flexibility and rapid development capabilities can help us deliver custom solutions.

Learn More

• Django Tutorial
• Python Frameworks
• Popular Django Projects
• Ruby Tutorial