Ruby on Rails vs. Django: Which Framework is Better For Your Web Application?
There are several web application development platforms available in the programming world. However, we may claim that Ruby on Rails and Django are two of the most popular web application development frameworks. Both of these are entirely open-source and enable fast development of online applications, with a large community of developers providing support. The popularity of the two technologies is expected to even rise in 2020. But which Ruby on Rails vs Django should you choose?
The differences between Ruby on Rails and Django are minor, with both being highly popular frameworks for developing websites. While Ruby on Rails has powered 387,696 websites worldwide, Django supports 74,405 sites. Both frameworks are free to use and are used not just to create a website but also the web-based applications that power businesses such as e-commerce sites and numerous SaaS solutions.
Despite their many similarities, both platforms are quite different. We’ll look at the many connections between these two important technologies and then make a thorough comparison of Ruby on Rails vs Django. But first, let’s try to figure out what these two things are all about…
What Is Django
In 2005, the Python-based web framework Django was published. It’s a great choice for building Python applications. Django is an open-source, general-purpose and free framework that’s simple to use and has made it so popular. The features of Django, which were developed with the goal of simplifying the creation of sophisticated websites that rely on a database, have been highly praised by developers all over the world. With a practical and organized appearance, Django encourages quick development.
Pros of Django Framework
- Has the REST (Representational State Transfer) framework
- Scalable
- Highly Customizable
- Mature Software with numerous Plug-ins
- High Compatibility with operating systems and databases
- Effective Admin Panel
- Supports MVC Programming
- Adopts Battery-included approach
Cons of Django Framework
- Highly Reliable on ORM System
- Too Monolithic
- Lacks the capability to handle multiple requests simultaneously
- Makes web app components tightly-coupled
What is Ruby On Rails?
The acronym ROR stands for Ruby on Rails, which is an open-source server-side web application framework created under the MIT License. It’s an open-source server-side web application framework written in Ruby. Rails’ model-view-controller architecture makes it ideal for developing database, page, and web service structures. Developers praise it as a time-saving technique to create code.
The Ruby on Rails framework is based on two basic ideas: DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) and Convention Over Configuration. The former is self-evident, while the latter implies that by default, the environment in which you work, such as languages, systems, libraries, and other factors, allows for several logical possibilities. This means that instead of developing your own regulations every time, one may adapt to them and make the whole programming process a lot more simple.
Pros of Ruby on Rails
- High-Speed Development
- Easy to Modify and Migrate
- Superior Testing Environment
- Diverse Tools and Presets
- Active ROR Community
- Component Structure is based on Components and Gems which enables high functionality with less coding
Cons of Ruby on Rails
- Varying Quality and Standard of Documentation
- Tricky to Create API
- Lack of Flexibility
- Low Runtime Speed
Why Compare the Two?
Despite the numerous distinctions in approach to address well-known issues and programming paradigms, both frameworks are competent at the same things. Both are object-oriented, dynamically typed, and provide persistent support. Both are quick, open-source programs that can handle significant internet applications. So, what are those differences between the two platforms that truly matter? Let’s have a look…
Major Differences Between Ruby on Rails and Django
1. Language
Django is written in Python, whereas Rails, which was launched in 1995, uses Ruby. Ruby is recognized for its emphasis on equality, adaptability, and user-friendliness. Python, on the other hand, is one of the most popular programming languages and emphasizes code readability as well as simplicity.
Ruby was designed to be pleasurable to write, and as a result, it is quite enjoyable. Despite the fact that both of them create applications that appear and function similarly, there are significant under-the-hood distinctions.
2. Architecture
Both Django and Ruby on Rails have MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture in common, which is one of the many things they have in common. Although it is known as MVT (Model-View-Template) for Django. In terms of form, both are comparable and offer minor variations.
The Model is the data of the database, such as photos, posts, comments, and so on. All of this is handled by ActiveRecord in ROR. The View here covers the HTML template’s data and then sends it to the controller, which is then handled by ActiveView. Now that ActionController integrates Model and View, it may manage requests as well as send responses to a web browser.
In Django, the Model represents the database’s schema. The Regular Expression-based URL Dispatcher is called View and handles what users should see. Web template system that merges with DLT (Django Template Language) is referred to as the Template. Django manages the controller section itself.
3. User Interface
Django and Ruby on Rails are web-oriented tools that were created with a high-end experience in mind. Both of these frameworks allow businesses to create beautiful websites and incorporate lots of plugins and add-ons.
Choosing between Ruby on Rails and Django is difficult because both are well-designed and established. The difference depends on the coder’s abilities.
4. Performance
When it comes to comparing the two frameworks, both perform well. It’s almost tough to pick a winner because neither one leverages cutting-edge programming languages nor provides tools for code optimization.
The distinctions may be seen when comparing the two. When it comes to creating a general-purpose application for e-commerce or another purpose, Ruby on Rails is hard to beat. Django, on the other hand, takes advantage of Python’s flexibility to create a more efficient specialized-use program.
5. Coding Speed
In the Ruby on Rails vs Django comparison, it is revealed that Rails is 0.7% faster. This is due to the framework’s advantage of a large library of excellent tools and plugins that can improve its performance. Nonetheless, Django endorses fast development and is an excellent web framework candidate.
6. Stability
To create, maintain, and innovate simultaneously is a difficult task. Ruby on Rails can handle both due to the fact that it allows customers to reuse code in order to minimize dependencies. It also makes use of the Configuration Convention technique, which frees coders from having to do more work. Python, on the other hand, takes a more conventional approach by following any tried-and-true strategy for addressing problems.
7. Community and Support
Ruby on Rails developers have a solid advantage when it comes to providing web apps and online systems. As a result, there is a flourishing community that helps newcomers and offers them helpful recommendations for resolving difficulties.
Django, in itself, is a significantly less popular framework. Thus, the possibility of encountering the previously unknown problem is quite big. Whereas, the popularity of Python is climbing up day-by-day. Python is a kind of jack-of-all-trades language and finds appliances in backend, machine-learning and web development. Ruby is more web-oriented and hence the community is more monolithic, polished, mastered and focused on a particular use case.
8. Installation
On the basis of installation procedures, comparing Ruby on Rails vs Django isn’t all that difficult. The installation procedure for Django is quite simple and only takes about a minute to complete.
The same, however, cannot be said about Ruby on Rails. You must first grasp what Gems and bundles are, since they are required to install the packages for Ruby. The following procedures must be followed in order: First, these two programs are downloaded and then launched with the Command Gem Install Rails command.
9. Documentation
Both of the teams responsible for the development of a framework did a wonderful job to prepare the documentation for the projects that they deliver. The language is legible and straightforward, having no riddles hidden within and the interfaces are plain to read.
Hence, when it comes to documentation, there’s no real difference.
10. The Maturity of the Platform
Ruby on Rails was born in 2004 and since then, it is massively adopted in the web development community. There are thousands of websites all over the internet leveraging the flexibility and power of this framework. The technology is also regularly updated.
Django came to life in 2005, with the latest version launched in April 2019. The framework has proved itself a number of times and the best proof of its reliability is the very fact that it is being compared to Ruby on Rails on equal rights.
11. Security
In the comparison of Ruby on Rails vs Django, the security factor is an important part of any website or application.
Certainly, Django has won this functionality from Python. NASA also makes use of Django frameworks, which itself proves its stability. While Rails is backed by active files, Django is backed by middleware’s. Django has tools so as to provide protection to the Django app from SQL injection, cross-site (XSS) scripting, and much more.
All in all, both of the technologies for web development are reliable and can be trusted for security.
- Scalability
Although the Django technology has inherited scalability from Python, it still lags behind as compared to Rails. It has better scalability as a result of its attributes like freedom and flexibility of code. Both of these web development frameworks are heavyweight and are designed keeping scalability into consideration. However, ROR here has a clear win.
Summary — Ruby on Rails vs Django
Choose the right tool to achieve the best result.
Both of the frameworks — ROR and Django are amazing and deliver superior performance when they are used in the right manner. The key lies in understanding when to use each one of these.
When to use Ruby on Rails?
ROR automates the process of coding and thus makes the coder’s job much simpler. The framework works best when:
- When the project is relatively repeatable
When it comes to delivering a project which is not reinventing the wheel, ROR works great. When the client requires a reliable framework to deliver the app to power internal business processes or to support the e-commerce system, Ruby acts as a much better pick.
- When the project happens to be a world-class game changer
Though ROR is amazing when it comes to supporting the project which will change the world breaking all the rules, its monolithic architecture can prove to be too outdated and heavy to power up something smaller.
- When there’s high pressure on time
ROR leverages a rich library of plugins as well as a richer community of programmers. Hence, the possibility of delivering the project with less effort and faster with high quality is much more.
When to use Django?
Django uses the flexibility of Python and relies on the experience of the coders and their responsibility for the project. It works best when:
- The app is specific and highly customizable
Django is undoubtedly a better choice when the client needs to deliver the new social network.
- When you are completely sure about what you are doing
The app will be sinfully complicated. Delivering the system performing complex data operations and focusing on being a monolithic multitool behemoth is better when developed with Django.
Conclusion:
With all of the variables discussed above, we can conclude that Ruby on Rails is a superior option for most of the time since it enables a quicker delivery for a smaller project while also providing several options.
If you need more insight into Ruby on Rails vs Django on a personal front, talk to our experts now!
This article was originally published by OnGraph Technologies dated on 31, July 2020
