[Tfug] Seeking advice: Language choice

[John Gruenenfelder]

Greetings TFUG,

This is the first in a short-ish series of emails where I wish to seek the
advice of the learned group (I got a lot of problems...).

I'm still pursuing my adventure in learning/re-learning the basics of web
development as they've changed so dramatically since the last time I did
anything in this area.  I already know enough PHP that I could continue to use
that, but I'm interested in expanding my horizons, as it were.

My first impulse was Ruby and, by extension, Ruby on Rails.  One of my friends
swears by it and there is certainly plenty of chatter online about Rails.  The
alternative would be Python.  From reading and digging around the Debian
repository, it looks like Django and maybe Twisted are the Python equivalents
to Rails.

So, what would your choice be any why?  Right now I'm leaning towards Python
for a couple of reasons.  The language and syntax, to me, reads and writes a
bit easier than Ruby's.  Also, while there are some noted exceptions, Ruby
seems almost entirely focused on Internet related programs whereas Python is
much more widely used with libraries for all sorts of tasks.


As a random aside, I just started using 'apt-cacher-ng', a caching proxy for
apt related tools (aptitude, apt-get, etc.).  I've got three machines that are
all using the amd64 version of Debian so it made sense to have some way of
sharing their apt downloads.  It works really well, and the default setup
didn't need any tweaking for my uncomplicated usage.  Which is a good thing
because the documentation is terrible.  I don't have a problem with
not-so-good English, but this manual had that in spades *and* was really
confusing, too.  A special cache program like this is necessary, or at least
more efficient, because it understands the whole updating process including
the index files, the incremental index updates, and the actual package files.
It also builds a functional partial mirror from the indices and packages (that
is, it creates the proper directory structure for a Debian repository).


-- 
--John Gruenenfelder    Systems Manager, MKS Imaging Technology, LLC.
Try Weasel Reader for PalmOS  --  http://weaselreader.org
"This is the most fun I've had without being drenched in the blood
of my enemies!"
        --Sam of Sam & Max
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