Python and Ruby are very similar. Here are some of the differences that I see: Python's design and community encourages a more object oriented style. Ruby enco

Python and Ruby are very similar. Here are some of the differences that I see: Python's design and community encourages a more object oriented style. Ruby encourages a more functional style. Python lacks some support for closures and inline functions. Ruby has good support for both. Python has libraries for almost everything. Ruby's libraries are more web focused. It also has libraries in other areas, but not as much as Python. Ruby is a little more flexible, which leads to some of the DSL's and metaprogramming that seem to be common in the Ruby community. Ruby has more syntax than Python. Ruby has a few ways to do things, while Python tries to stick to one way. Both are good. It might help to skim through a tutorial for each first, and see which one you like better. Between Python and Ruby, I think it mostly comes down to taste.