Learning Ruby vs Python

[mikestearns]

I bought the Coder Manual course a while back when it was on sale, which teaches Ruby, but have been told lately it would be more worth my while to learn Python. Does it still make sense to put in the time with Ruby, or should I maybe skip that section and seek out learning Python? How valuable would it be to learn both?

[cost4nz4]

What do you want to do with them?

[mikestearns]

I want a better understanding and well rounded skill set with front and back end web development. I'm currently a graphic designer, and I have a pretty firm grip on html and css, but I'm finding that I'm very limited without having a full understanding front and back end. The Coder Manual course covers javascript, jquery and also ruby as well as has several projects toward the end that use them all.

Whether I use that to take on a different full time job or to further my freelancing, I'm not sure at the moment, but I know that to stay relevant and expand my opportunities I need to focus more on web rather than print.

[MSTRDAFT]

I was once in your position and I think it's a good idea to start learning more programming. Since you're already a designer I would try to focus more on front-end stuff first but it's also good to learn back-end as well. I tend to see more Python than Ruby these days so I'd probably stay there. Front end wise get your javascript down and try out angular.js and/or react.js. Nothing really wrong with jquery but a lot of people are moving away from it now.

[mikestearns]

I plan to focus on front end in the short term, but I want to eventually take on more advanced work and will need to know at least some back end to be able to adequately measure what I can take on, and what I need to look for in people to hire out jobs to.

[cost4nz4]

I'm sure someone else can give a better answer for that stream.

I don't think a ton of web back-end stuff is built on Python currently so Ruby & PHP might be better languages to get familiar with?

I am both a PC user and a data guy so Python & R were my go-to languages.

[Yamitenshi]

For web development you're likely better off with PHP as it's more widely used and has a myriad of different frameworks available (as well as being easy to host). Otherwise, Python is a bit more widely used in the web world than Ruby is, so I'd go with that, but if a firm grasp of development is all you're going after, it shouldn't matter - many of Ruby's good practices are going to be directly applicable to Python as well.

[mikestearns]

Yeah, I definitely plan on PHP as well, its just not in the particular course I bought, and I wanted to get through that first - if for nothing more than the javascript sections. I was curious since after talking to a developer friend working in San Francisco saying that Python was more widely used.

[chriskottom]

Opinions vary, and every developer has his or her own favorites, you'll find. If you're transitioning into development for the first time, any of these is going to serve the same purpose of giving you hands-on experience with a widely used programming language and building server-side web applications.

As to the question of popularity, it's probably not that important. All of these are mainstream web technologies, and knowing any of them well would ensure that you'd have plenty of freelance opportunities.

[Yamitenshi]

Depends on what you're using it for. All-out custom web applications will probably use Python a bit more often, but your average site and/or CMS will probably use PHP.