Comments on: A comparison of Django with Rails http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/ Sam Newman's blog Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:35:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: portrait artist http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-69470 portrait artist Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:50:41 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-69470 I’m learning about Django on my own lately. I am following the tutorials from the Dajngo book. At chapter four, I am first getting the following error after running from django.template import Template in the python shell. environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE undefined Next I tried to fix this by adding a Windows system variable: variable: DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE path: c:/temp/mysite (this is where my project lives) Now after running the above command I get the following errors: raise EnvironmentError, "Could not import settings '%s' (Is it on sys.path? Does it have syntax errors?): %s" % (self.SETTINGS_MODULE, e) EnvironmentError: Could not import settings 'c:\temp\mysite' (Is it on sys.path? Does it have syntax errors?): No module named c:\temp\mysite What must I do next? I’m learning about Django on my own lately. I am following the tutorials from the Dajngo book. At chapter four, I am first getting the following error after running from django.template import Template in the python shell.

environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE undefined

Next I tried to fix this by adding a Windows system variable:

variable: DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE

path: c:/temp/mysite (this is where my project lives)

Now after running the above command I get the following errors:
raise EnvironmentError, “Could not import settings ’%s’ (Is it on
sys.path? Does it have syntax errors?): s” (self.SETTINGS_MODULE, e)
EnvironmentError: Could not import settings ‘c:\temp\mysite’ (Is it on
sys.path? Does it have syntax errors?): No module named c:\temp\mysite

What must I do next?

]]> By: greenkid http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-55610 greenkid Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:38:28 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-55610 Hi, Like Daniel Schmidt above, I'm wondering which, RoR or Django, would be a better choice for someone with less experience. I've inherited a very large but mostly static site built in PHP, and am working on a redesign. We will be integrating some kind of content management (we're non-profit, so maybe some open source, do-it-ourselves, or cheap option). Right now, it uses Dreamweaver templates and Contribute, which to me is not very scalable (the need to update and upload all pages whenever a template change is made). We also have ideas for more database driven projects on the horizon. I had assumed I'd build the site with PHP and SQL, but now am wondering, because our organization is always changing direction, whether I ought to go with something that lends itself to more rapid development. So that's how I ended up looking into frameworks. My background is that I've done lots of XHTML, CSS, Javascript and a little PHP. I also built large-scale web applications that had an old mainframe database (ADABAS), the procedural language Natural, and a proprietary scripting language (a bit like ASP classic) running (weird, I know). So while I have a mixture of experience, I'm not a programmer with solid modern skills. That said, I'm a quick learner. Anyone have any thoughts on which would be easier to pick up and run with for, and lend itself to content management for end-users? And then be easily maintainable for future people and projects? It will just be me and one other yet-to-be-hired developer creating and maintaining the site for the forseeable future. Any thoughts anyone has on the beginner-friendliness of these frameworks would be very much appreciated. Hi,

Like Daniel Schmidt above, I’m wondering which, RoR or Django, would be a better choice for someone with less experience. I’ve inherited a very large but mostly static site built in PHP, and am working on a redesign. We will be integrating some kind of content management (we’re non-profit, so maybe some open source, do-it-ourselves, or cheap option). Right now, it uses Dreamweaver templates and Contribute, which to me is not very scalable (the need to update and upload all pages whenever a template change is made). We also have ideas for more database driven projects on the horizon.

I had assumed I’d build the site with PHP and SQL, but now am wondering, because our organization is always changing direction, whether I ought to go with something that lends itself to more rapid development.

So that’s how I ended up looking into frameworks. My background is that I’ve done lots of XHTML, CSS, Javascript and a little PHP. I also built large-scale web applications that had an old mainframe database (ADABAS), the procedural language Natural, and a proprietary scripting language (a bit like ASP classic) running (weird, I know). So while I have a mixture of experience, I’m not a programmer with solid modern skills. That said, I’m a quick learner.

Anyone have any thoughts on which would be easier to pick up and run with for, and lend itself to content management for end-users? And then be easily maintainable for future people and projects? It will just be me and one other yet-to-be-hired developer creating and maintaining the site for the forseeable future.

Any thoughts anyone has on the beginner-friendliness of these frameworks would be very much appreciated.

]]> By: Namgo http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-42822 Namgo Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:12:24 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-42822 I don't know about how rails handle the new-full-featured widgets for the web but django does not handle this in a nice way. It's still repetitive and just painfull... You may say that it's not its purpose ? But what do you mean by web application so ? I don’t know about how rails handle the new-full-featured widgets for the web but django does not handle this in a nice way. It’s still repetitive and just painfull… You may say that it’s not its purpose ? But what do you mean by web application so ?

]]> By: Thomas http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-23041 Thomas Tue, 08 May 2007 00:46:49 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-23041 @jake "If we’re to use Python/Django, what are our options as far as forum software and blog software goes?" Actually Django has forum/blog functionality built-in (though not well documented yet)... http://code.djangoproject.com/wiki/UsingFreeComment @jake

“If we’re to use Python/Django, what are our options as far as forum software and blog software goes?”

Actually Django has forum/blog functionality built-in (though not well documented yet)...

http://code.djangoproject.com/wiki/UsingFreeComment

]]> By: sam http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-19604 sam Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:46:03 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-19604 I'm a great believer in 'right tool for the job'. If you need to build a solution that integrates blogging and forum software, PHP still has the best options out there (e.g. Wordpress + bbpress, drupal etc). If you aren't going to add much to these products in terms of customisation, then you'll probably be better off. If you'll need to write a lot of your own code in addition to the basic forum/blog software, the inherent improvements in efficiency of Django or Rails might make sense. I’m a great believer in ‘right tool for the job’. If you need to build a solution that integrates blogging and forum software, PHP still has the best options out there (e.g. Wordpress + bbpress, drupal etc). If you aren’t going to add much to these products in terms of customisation, then you’ll probably be better off. If you’ll need to write a lot of your own code in addition to the basic forum/blog software, the inherent improvements in efficiency of Django or Rails might make sense.

]]> By: jake http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-19574 jake Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:09:27 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-19574 If we're to use Python/Django, what are our options as far as forum software and blog software goes? The reason I use PHP is that I can use stuff like WordPress and PunBB. For Rails, Typo and whatever, Rforum, just aren't there yet. And I haven't even heard of what's available for Python/Django. If we’re to use Python/Django, what are our options as far as forum software and blog software goes? The reason I use PHP is that I can use stuff like WordPress and PunBB. For Rails, Typo and whatever, Rforum, just aren’t there yet. And I haven’t even heard of what’s available for Python/Django.

]]> By: Marc http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-6136 Marc Tue, 12 Dec 2006 02:06:56 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-6136 I have to agree with you that I find the Django approach to models (having the code generate the SQL instead of vice-versa) more natural. I just said as much a little while ago at http://marc.abramowitz.info/archives/2006/11/17/django-vs-rails/ Very nice and fair comparison! I have to agree with you that I find the Django approach to models (having the code generate the SQL instead of vice-versa) more natural. I just said as much a little while ago at http://marc.abramowitz.info/archives/2006/11/17/django-vs-rails/

Very nice and fair comparison!

]]> By: Tan http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-5088 Tan Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:26:13 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-5088 I'd like to see you include Catalyst as well. From what I've read, it's very flexible and can provides the same thing that Rails and Django have. But remember to grab a copy of Perl Best Practices before digging any code :) I’d like to see you include Catalyst as well. From what I’ve read, it’s very flexible and can provides the same thing that Rails and Django have. But remember to grab a copy of Perl Best Practices before digging any code :)

]]> By: aboutgay http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-4854 aboutgay Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:47:49 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-4854 ryhgd ryhgd

]]> By: Counsel http://www.magpiebrain.com/blog/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-4843 Counsel Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:11:10 +0000 http://www.magpiebrain.com/2005/08/14/a-comparison-of-django-with-rails/#comment-4843 "I never understood why companies hire technologies instead of people." Actually, I think the quote should be firms choose technologies, then hire the people to implement those technologies. If you are making a web-site that will allow customization, you are likely looking at "AJAX" just like the firm that wants to generate 'buz' for their project. The use of a particular technology, right or wrong, attracts attention--marketing. I don't know why everyone is so 'offended' by comaprisons that, in my opinion, are subjective. Even an 'objective' comparison showing features would be subjective in that someone had to select which features were put in the table (unless they all were?). Python, Ruby, Rails, Django, Javascript, PHP, etc. are all tools. Not all are required to be a 'web developer,' but some may make your job easier, more efficient, etc. These tools are like patterns on silverware-they make the spoon 'look' (to the coder/developer) different, but the web site, if you have done your job, will work regardless of the tool you have chosen. “I never understood why companies hire technologies instead of people.”

Actually, I think the quote should be firms choose technologies, then hire the people to implement those technologies.

If you are making a web-site that will allow customization, you are likely looking at “AJAX” just like the firm that wants to generate ‘buz’ for their project. The use of a particular technology, right or wrong, attracts attention—marketing.

I don’t know why everyone is so ‘offended’ by comaprisons that, in my opinion, are subjective. Even an ‘objective’ comparison showing features would be subjective in that someone had to select which features were put in the table (unless they all were?).

Python, Ruby, Rails, Django, Javascript, PHP, etc. are all tools. Not all are required to be a ‘web developer,’ but some may make your job easier, more efficient, etc.

These tools are like patterns on silverware-they make the spoon ‘look’ (to the coder/developer) different, but the web site, if you have done your job, will work regardless of the tool you have chosen.

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