Re: [tlug] ruby and python in Japan

["Micheal E. Cooper" <mcooper@??>]

Jason Hall wrote:
> With all these comparisons between scripting & web application type
> languages, could some of you knowledge types throw in some commentary on PHP
> as well? I'd like to also see how it compares with the others. Is there some
> reason it's specifically not being mentioned?
> - Jason
>
>
>   
Because my initial question was asked from the point of view of a PHP 
user who is looking at Ruby (for Rails) and Python (for Django) and 
trying to choose.

I use PHP everyday, and I like it. It does most of what I need right 
now, but I don't feel it is my "native" language. I am not satisfied 
with my skills in any programming language yet, though I have studied 
Java and C++ and have used Perl, Javascript, PHP, and bash quite a bit. 
I am looking for a platform that will allow me to really program 
creatively, both at work and privately, and coding everything in PHP and 
keeping up with the versions and changes made by the PHP maintainers is 
driving me nuts. Both Rails and Django sound really good, but I have not 
gotten around to trying them, so I was wondering what the TLUG landscape 
looks like before I spend time on either.

I wanted to find a language and go really deep and master it. I was 
thinking of moving from PHP to Python because:
1 - can be used in Jython for Java applets;
2 - can create self-contained programs, even GUI apps that run on the OS 
without web server;
3 - namespaces;
4 - Django, Zope, etc.;
5 - the IDLE interactive shell;
6 - can be used like a shell script (bash) or sysadmin scripting 
language (perl) on Unix, Win, or Mac.

So my interest in Python is only one part due to Django. It just seems 
like there is more room to grow and more reason to really "get into" it. 
If I master Python, I can automate sysadmin, make applets, and do web 
dev with Django/ Zope, in addition to writing full-fledged GUI applications.

On the other hand, Moodle is written in PHP, and that is a big reason to 
master PHP right there.

However, as a bilingual in Japan who translates J to E, it seems like 
Ruby would be a good match for me because I could benefit from both J 
and E communities and maybe contribute as a translator. But I don't know 
anything about Ruby, so I thought I would ask TLUG.

While I have seen names and webpages for ROR-like web application 
frameworks in PHP, I have not heard from anyone who is really using one, 
but I would love to hear from that perspective.

I am maintaining a system created by my very talented predecessor Larry 
with a very early (predates ROR by quite a bit) framework called ERW 
which uses PHP, and though it has its brilliant points, it is not easy 
to maintain (especially since it is PHP4) and development of the 
framework itself has stopped. I might be the only person still using it.

But to get back to the point, the thread began as a comparison of Python 
and Ruby, and I did not want a language flame-war.