Ruby on Rails vs Python What are the Differences?

Ruby on Rails and Python are two popular technologies that are widely used for web development. Both have their strengths and are used in different contexts. In this article, we will compare Ruby on Rails and Python and explore their key differences.

Ruby on Rails vs Python: A Comparison

To better understand the differences between Ruby on Rails and Python, let's take a look at the following chart:

Ruby on Rails vs Python: Key Differences

Understanding Frameworks and Languages

It's essential to know the differences between languages and frameworks while developing websites. Therefore, it's important to create a common ground before we begin the comparison.

• A programming language is a set of syntax and rules used to create instructions that a computer can comprehend. It offers the basic building pieces required to create software.
• On the other hand, a framework is a collection of pre-built tools, libraries, and conventions that provide a structure and set of functionalities to simplify and increase the development process. It is built using a specific programming language and provides a framework for organizing and implementing code.
• Ruby on Rails is a ruby-based full-stack web development framework that is built using the Ruby programming language. It offers a robust set of tools and conventions for developing web applications.
• Python, on the other hand, is a versatile and powerful programming language. It is not limited to web development but can be used for a wide range of applications such as scripting, data analysis, machine learning, and more. Python offers multiple web frameworks, including Flask and Django, which provide the necessary tools and functionality to build web applications.

Creating APIs

• Ruby on Rails emphasizes convention over configuration, providing sensible defaults and an intuitive interface for building APIs. It includes features like Active Record ORM and built-in JSON serialization, which streamline database interactions and API response rendering.
• Python provides a versatile ecosystem for API development, with frameworks like Django and Flask leading the way. Django is a comprehensive framework that includes built-in support for API development. It offers features like an ORM, authentication, request parsing, and serialization.

Creating APIs with Ruby on Rails:
Ruby on Rails has built-in support for creating RESTful APIs, making it a convenient choice for building APIs. With Rails, you can define routes, controllers, and models to handle HTTP requests and responses.

Here's an example of creating an API endpoint for retrieving a list of users:

In this example, we define a route for /api/v1/users that maps to the index action of the Api::V1::UsersController. The controller retrieves all users from the database and renders them as JSON.

Creating APIs with Python framework (Django)

In this example, we define a view function called users that returns a JSON response using the JsonResponse class provided by Django. It returns a list of users as JSON data.

To connect this view to a URL, you would need to define a URL pattern in your Django project's urls.py file:

In this example, we map the URL pattern /api/users to the users view function. When a request is made to /api/users, Django will invoke the users function and return the JSON response.

Frontend Development: Ruby on Rails vs. Python Frameworks

• Ruby on Rails includes built-in tools and conventions to handle front-end development. It utilizes the asset pipeline, which provides a framework for managing static assets such as stylesheets, JavaScript files, and images. RoR integrates popular frontend libraries like jQuery and Bootstrap easily. Additionally, RoR offers a templating language called ERB (Embedded Ruby) to generate dynamic HTML views.
• Python frameworks, such as Django and Flask, also offer features and tools for frontend development. Django provides a templating engine called Django Templates, which allows developers to write HTML templates with embedded Python code. It supports template inheritance, making it easier to create reusable and modular front-end components.
• RoR can be a suitable option if you prefer a more integrated approach with preset conventions and tools. The asset pipeline and ERB templating are provided to simplify front-end development.
• On the other hand, Python frameworks like Django and Flask enable you to select and integrate frontend libraries and tools by your preferences if you value flexibility and want to work with particular frontend technologies.

Ease of Use

• Both Ruby on Rails and Python are considered beginner-friendly languages. However, Ruby on Rails often requires less boilerplate code, thanks to its convention-over-configuration principle. This makes it faster to develop web applications with Ruby on Rails compared to Python.

Popularity

• In the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, Python was ranked 2nd, while Ruby was ranked 18th.
• Google Trends is a service that tracks the search interest for different topics. In the most recent data, Python has a higher search interest than Ruby on Rails.
• This information makes it obvious that Python is more widely used than Ruby. It's crucial to remember, though, that popularity is not always an indicator of quality. Ruby and Python are both top-notch programming languages and which one is right for you will depend on your individual needs and specifications.

Scalability

• Both Ruby on Rails and Python are capable of building scalable applications. However, Python is often preferred for larger projects due to its robustness and performance optimizations.

Performance

• Speed is a critical factor in web development frameworks such as Django (python's framework) and Ruby on Rails. While Ruby on Rails is marginally faster than Django, both frameworks have speed and performance issues.
• Rails is 0.7 per cent 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.
• It's crucial to note that the overall performance of web applications is influenced by various factors beyond the language or framework used, such as database operations, network latency, and algorithmic efficiency.

Learn More

To explore more about Ruby on Rails and Python, check out the following articles:

• Metaprogramming in Ruby
• Python Tutorial