Ruby & Python, which has the future?

[Naatan]

Hi, I'm currently looking in to which programming language to learn, and am torn up between Ruby and Python, now the thing thats keeping me from taking my pick has nothing to do with which is easiest or which is simply 'better'.

I am mostly interested in which one holds a better future, which one of them will be more appreciated by employees and.. well that's it really..

So.. give me your opinions? They're all very much appreciated :)

[Phineas]

Of the two Python is the one which schools are using more frequently when teaching Computer Science and such. Take that how you will :)

[yaaarrrgg]

I'm not sure you can say either is better or worse. Each language is a tool and will have pros and cons, relative to a particular use. It really depends on what you want to do.

Python is currently more popular, and a little more developed in terms of libraries. Ruby is newer (which is not necessarily good or bad long term).

OTOH, Ruby also has the "on rails" web framwork that many people like.

Really though, the decision to "only learn X or Y" is self imposed. You would do best to learn a little of each. IMO, it's better to know two langauages half-way, than one language completely. By the time you do need it, or get a project that requires one or the other, it's not as hard to fill in the missing pieces. That, and you will be more familiar with a larger set of tools. Otherwise, if all you have is a hammer, everything will look like a nail. :)

Both languages will be around for a long time.

[Mirrorball]

There is only one way to guarantee you will win: Learn both. And there is no reason not to.

[pmasiar]

You could start reading Ruby, Python - for what are they good for? (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=416082) - and if you did, mentioning it :-)

Python is used in MIT as first language, and both Google and Microsoft use and promote Python. Ruby has it's 15 minutes of fame with Rails, but Python community quickly realized need for standard web framework, and has Django and TurboGears.

As link above explains, Ruby and Python are very like each other, replacement of Perl, but Python is more radical change from Perl, and more concerned about readability, which will IMHO will in long time.

So my prediction is, Python and Ruby will compete for a long time, but Python will win (10 years from now). "Hundred year language" explains it all.

Edit: Presently, Python and Ruby are very close, and giving preference to one over the other might depend to what application you want to do now - or what project you plan to join. So tell us more!

And if you contemplate to work for Google, pick Python! :-)

[Ubuntist]

There is only one way to guarantee you will win: Learn both. And there is no reason not to.

Getting back into application programming after a long absence, I considered a number of languages, namely Python, Ruby, Scheme and Common Lisp. I'd have like to have taken a look at Smalltalk, OCAML and maybe even Clean too, but there are only so many hours in a day.

I finally decided Python was probably best for my purposes and did a small project in it. That made me familiar with a few things about Python that I don't like. For my current, larger project, I chose Ruby. Now I'm starting to think Python might have been the better option. So I've tried both, and I still can't decide! Both are great, though, compared to what programming used to be.

As to the original question (which language has a future), my money would be on Python.