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IMO Python has more libraries, more developers (people who might want to work on your project with you), and a more simple and intuitive syntax (easier to onboa

IMO Python has more libraries, more developers (people who might want to work on your project with you), and a more simple and intuitive syntax (easier to onboard people). Ruby is a fairly quirky language, eg functions aren't first-class values.

joelbluminator 6y ago
> and a more simple and intuitive syntax That's the crux of it here. People really differ about this and OP should check it out for himself. Yes Python has more usage, I hardly think it really affects one's work in any meaningful way. Javascript has tons of developers using it, many times this is a con actually. An explosion of libraries and conflicting views and philosophies.
vidarh 6y ago
> eg functions aren't first-class values. Ruby doesn't have functions, but you can obtain a first class value for any method by calling the method `method` on any object.
oezi 6y ago
I would say that Python is quirky for having functions at all and as a Rubyist it is confusing why some things are functions in Python when they could be methods. This leads to a much simpler mental model in Ruby. The syntax in Python also leaves much desired (e.g. use of underscores) and most of Ruby's quirks are Perlisms such as $1.
- jonnytran 6y ago
  Yes. Why the f is len() a function in Python? From a design perspective, it makes absolutely no sense. You have to implement the __len__() method in order for the len() function to work. Why isn't it just a method?! And that is the one "right" way to do it. Drives me crazy. And there are countless other examples like that.
betwixthewires 6y ago
That's another consideration I forgot to mention. A lot of what I do is small FOSS tools and it seems most of the people interested in using and contributing to stuff like that are proficient in Python, whereas the Ruby community seems to circle around Rails and is very small.

joelbluminator 6y ago

> and a more simple and intuitive syntax That's the crux of it here. People really differ about this and OP should check it out for himself. Yes Python has more usage, I hardly think it really affects one's work in any meaningful way. Javascript has tons of developers using it, many times this is a con actually. An explosion of libraries and conflicting views and philosophies.

vidarh 6y ago

> eg functions aren't first-class values. Ruby doesn't have functions, but you can obtain a first class value for any method by calling the method `method` on any object.

oezi 6y ago

I would say that Python is quirky for having functions at all and as a Rubyist it is confusing why some things are functions in Python when they could be methods. This leads to a much simpler mental model in Ruby. The syntax in Python also leaves much desired (e.g. use of underscores) and most of Ruby's quirks are Perlisms such as $1.

jonnytran 6y ago
Yes. Why the f is len() a function in Python? From a design perspective, it makes absolutely no sense. You have to implement the __len__() method in order for the len() function to work. Why isn't it just a method?! And that is the one "right" way to do it. Drives me crazy. And there are countless other examples like that.

betwixthewires 6y ago

That's another consideration I forgot to mention. A lot of what I do is small FOSS tools and it seems most of the people interested in using and contributing to stuff like that are proficient in Python, whereas the Ruby community seems to circle around Rails and is very small.