Ruby on Rails vs Django: Which is Right for You?

The best part of choosing a web development framework today is the wide range of options available on the market. However, making an informed decision can be quite tricky, especially if you have no prior knowledge or experience using a specific framework. Factors such as application functionalities, maintenance costs, resource allocation, and overall project success are at play.

That's why we've summarized the list of web development frameworks to the two most sought-after programming frameworks on the market: 1) Ruby on Rails and 2) Django. Still, we have a debate on our hands: which of the two main web development frameworks is better and, more importantly, which one is right for you and your project?

In this guide, we will compare the two frameworks, looking at their purposes, pros, cons, use cases, key differences, and overall popularity among web developers – with the aim of helping you choose the framework that meets your specific development requirements. of web applications. .

Ruby on Rails: Ruby for Web Applications

Ruby on Rails is an open-source, server-side web framework developed under the MIT license. This framework is popular for its model-view-controller design pattern, known for providing a solid jumping-off base for databases, web pages, applications, and web services. Ruby on Rails works according to the DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) and Convention Over Configuration principles.

The Convention over Configuration principle helps developers program for logical situations without having to create their own rules and logic. RoR provides an environment that can be integrated with front-end web frameworks and libraries like React, Angular and Vue – making programming a walk in the park. This web application framework is highly adaptable to changes and allows developers to experiment with the developed products.

Advantages of Ruby on Rails

Let's look at some advantages of using Ruby on Rails.

Makes modifications easier

Modifying the Ruby on Rails framework couldn't be simpler. Developers can easily change existing code to add or remove features from a website. Furthermore, modifications are not limited to the application development phase. Programmers can easily make significant changes to fundamental code – a testament to the structure's stability and predictability.

Highly economical

Ruby on Rails is an open source framework. It's completely free and runs on Linux. Since the framework comes with several plugins and libraries, Rails is easy to work with. It tends to save developers time and effort in designing an application with quality, performance, and scalability.

Large online community

Since Ruby on Rails is one of the most popular and widely used programming frameworks on GitHub, developers will never run out of ideas to optimize their code for better performance. The large online community is quite useful when you need to develop code for a specific functionality or solve coding-related problems.

Optimization leads to performance

Applications that require a lot of computation or data manipulation may encounter performance drops in Rails. However, these performance drops may be associated with inefficient coding practices. We suggest that developers consider code optimization because it will significantly improve application performance. Fixes and tools shared in the Rails community will always be helpful when resolving performance-related issues.

MVC architecture

The Ruby on Rails web development framework creates programs with three interconnected layers. The MVC or Model-View-Controller architecture not only contains the application's operational code, but also its business logic and data manipulation rules. Developers can access application data in formats such as HTML, PDF, RSS, XML and others.

Disadvantages of Ruby on Rails

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to using Ruby on Rails.

Slow execution speed

There are faster web frameworks available on the market. Applications built on the Rails web framework take a long time to complete. Twitter, for example, had to stop relying on RoR as the social network grew in size. However, completely abandoning the structure was not possible. Later, Twitter decided to replace internal communication components with Scala solutions.

Lack of versatility

Ruby on Rails leaves no room for experimentation and versatility. Developers get stuck with basic tasks and features. In other words, you will only be able to play with the predefined patterns and objects. Therefore, we suggest that you consider the basic elements of a framework and check whether or not they add value to your project.

Low startup rate

The startup fee is another disadvantage of RoR. Developers need to perform programming tasks quickly without compromising application functionality. High startup speed can help developers reduce the time needed to launch the program. A low launch rate is often associated with code that works on a large number of dependencies and gem files.

Errors lead to decreased performance

The more errors you have in your code, the worse your application will perform. As a developer working with the RoR framework, you will need to be thorough and pay attention to the smallest details while programming. Things can take a left turn if you make a mistake early in the programming process – completely slowing down your entire development cycle.

Ruby use cases

Ruby on Rails is an excellent web framework when developers need rapid web application development. It provides the perfect environment for web projects with tight deadlines. It can help you develop scalable web applications and APIs. It is a popular web framework used by large companies like Shopify, Hulu, Basecamp, Airbnb, and Twitter.

Django: the Python-based web framework

Django is a Python-based web framework that was first introduced in 2005. Used predominantly for Python application development, Django is a highly validated web development framework thanks to its multi-purpose, free, and open-source nature.

The Django web development framework helps programmers accelerate the entire project development process by ensuring a streamlined cycle and providing tools for data validation, registration, paging, authentication, and static file management. Adhering to the “Don’t Repeat Yourself” principle, Django aims to eliminate stereotypical redundancies, a mistake that typically occurs when creating structures from code.

Now, let's look at the advantages, disadvantages, and use cases of Django.

Advantages of Django

Ensures secure backend

Since Django is used to build applications like social media networks, its backend must have the ability to handle accounts and data securely. The already configured framework guarantees this by having a user authentication system. The addition of HTTPS, Clickjacking, cross site scripting, CSRF and SQL injection makes the framework even more secure.

Best online community

Django has been on the market for over sixteen years. In that time, the web framework has built a huge online community of proactive developers who are ready to take on any Django-specific coding challenge. Developers facing obstacles can consult the community and easily find support and guidance.

Unparalleled versatility

Django is a complete framework that can handle the development of even the most complex applications. Its scalability allows developers to create applications that will perform as expected when subjected to real-life challenges. The Django framework has been used to develop content management systems, social media networks, online search engines, and more. This adaptability makes it the perfect framework for complex data analysis.

Useful documentation

The creators of Django have developed a highly useful documentation framework, which is divided into several sections – all related to the assistance needed for different types of questions. Developers can refer to the documentation and resolve most of their queries.

Disadvantages of Django

No coding conventions

Unlike RoR, Django does not offer guiding principles for developers to follow throughout the web development cycle. A coding convention is often required by developers to ensure that they program within defined framework standards. The lack of such a rulebook in Django can sometimes lead to slower development on the web framework.

Applications may slow down

There have been cases where Django-based applications have become slow despite their rapid development. However, it is crucial to find out why the apps became slow in the first place. While this may not be due to the framework itself, the lack of speed can be credited to the large number of resources required to make the application work.

Not suitable for low-level projects

We don't recommend programmers use Django if they don't need complex features in their projects. Django is generally used for high-level projects that require complex coding. If you want to complete your project quickly, RoR is the best framework for you.

Comes with a learning curve

The Django framework is quite large and difficult to learn. Developers cannot hope to delve into the development cycle without first understanding the overall structure of the framework. However, Django comes with excellent documentation and an incredible online community to turn to – making development easier.

Django use cases

Django is an excellent web development framework choice if you need a highly detailed application. While developers may need some prior programming experience, the presence of an amazing online community will often help them get the job done. The top companies using Django to build their websites and apps are Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, Disqus, The Washington Post, and more.

Main differences between Ruby on Rails and Django

Let's discuss the main differences between Ruby on Rails and Django.

#1 Programming Language

Let's start with the programming language that these two web development frameworks use. Django uses Python, while RoR uses the Ruby programming language. Both are cutting-edge programming languages, but Python wins this battle due to its growing popularity in recent years. Django stands out for its ability to make code clearer and more readable.

However, Ruby gives Django tough competition because it has more flexibility and freedom to offer developers. Since Django is based on Python, it is easy to learn, write, and implement. At the same time, Ruby is a programming language designed to make the web development process enjoyable.

Winner: Both

#2 Design Philosophy

The design philosophies on which these two structures are built are also different. First, we have RoR, which has a more conversion-oriented design philosophy. In other words, Ruby on Rails focuses more on getting work done, providing developers with more flexibility and development opportunities.

Rails' Convention over Configuration philosophy doubles progress over stability, helping developers design innovative software solutions. Django, on the other hand, has a more explicit design philosophy (“Explicit is better than Implicit”), pushing for a conservative approach to programming. However, Django allows for more straightforward web development, which is its biggest advantage.

Winner: Both

#3 Speed ​​and performance

Speed ​​and performance are important factors when it comes to choosing the best programming toolkit. So which web development framework is faster – Django or RoR? It turns out that Rails is 0.7% faster than Django. This is because Rails comes loaded with libraries and plugins that promote programming speed and improved performance.

To match Ruby's rich repository, Django also offers fast development processes through the “Django REST framework”. The framework allows Django to extend convenience to developers with its authentication modules, JSON serializers/deserializers, and other features. Although Ruby is technically faster, developers appreciate Django for its REST framework.

Winner: Ruby on Rails

#4 Community and Support

Another important factor that developers consider when choosing a programming toolkit is community support. This is fundamental to the success of any web development project, especially when the developer needs to deal with a new tool or programming language. Django, as we mentioned earlier, is an open-source web development framework that has an open-source ecosystem.

In other words, developers leverage an endless supply of libraries and tools. Additionally, the official Django documentation will do an excellent job resolving your concerns. Meanwhile, Ruby on Rails is proud of its community of 5,000 highly proactive developers. However, Django certainly has an advantage here with its community of 11,000+ developers and 4,000+ ready-made packages!

Winner: Django

#5 Learning Curve

Developers who are still in the early stages have only one question in mind: “How fast can I learn the programming tool?” The learning curve is a factor that can impact the developer's ability to complete the project on time without compromising the quality or effectiveness of the application. The higher the learning curve, the longer it takes to understand the tool and the longer it takes to complete the project.

As Django is based on Python, it has a lower learning curve when compared to Ruby on Rails. Django is also supported by several online and offline resources that can help developers resolve queries quickly.

What about RoR? Compared to Django, Rails is harder to learn and master. Its steep learning curve can make it a developer's second choice. However, for an experienced programmer, the Ruby on Rails learning curve probably won't make much of a difference.

Winner: Django

#6 Job Market

Developers who want to learn a new programming tool must also consider the market implications of their decisions. According to Glassdoor , developers with Ruby on Rails experience could earn an average salary of around $100,000 per year. Meanwhile, Django developers earn approximately $90,000 on average .

Winner: Ruby on Rails

Choosing between Ruby on Rails and Django

Both Ruby on Rails and Django are the main web frameworks widely used in the development community. However, for certain applications and use cases, you will likely prefer one over the other.

Django development is the best choice if you need to build an application to manage a large database or extremely secure websites. Modern web applications that use artificial intelligence or machine learning can require a sizable development team. In these cases, we suggest you also use Django to get started. Django is a good choice for projects that require data visualization and analysis, complex mathematics and computing, and web applications that will face heavy user traffic.

And when should you use Ruby on Rails? RoR development is the best framework if the project requires accelerated MVP creation, especially when you need to develop a prototype. Ecommerce web applications built on RoR tend to provide a safer and more secure customer experience while making websites scalable and live updatable. It's also an excellent web development framework if you need to develop a solution quickly and meet a tight deadline. It can be coupled with popular front-end libraries and frameworks to allow you to add cutting-edge application functionality.

Conclusion

Choosing between Ruby on Rails and Django is similar or not easy as both RoR and Django come with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages.

That's why it's important to clearly define project requirements, expectations, the type of web application needed, the business goals associated with the application, and the potential for scalability.

After all, it's important to understand what you're looking for before making a decision. Once you have your goal in mind, you will have a better idea of ​​which web framework is the best choice to help you achieve your specific business goals.

If you liked this article, check out one of our other Python articles.

• 5 Best Python Data Visualization Libraries
• Python Poetry: A Poem for Python Dependency Management
• What are the skills required for Python developers?
• Python development trends
• Python for web development

Common questions

Ruby on Rails vs. Is Django best for beginners?

The learning curve is an important factor when choosing Ruby on Rails or Django as your web development framework. Rails is famous for its steep learning curve. This is because the framework comes with independent concepts that a developer needs to understand before using the programming tool.

In other words, RoR is best suited for experienced developers. Django has a lower learning curve, and resources available online help newer developers learn the framework. Therefore, Django is typically a better web development framework than Ruby on Rails for beginners.

Which is more popular: Ruby on Rails or Django?

Although Ruby on Rails and Django are popular web development frameworks among developers, Django is more widely used than RoR.

The 2023 developer survey conducted by StackOverflow shows that 11.5% of developers prefer and use Django while only 5.5% turn to Ruby on Rails. Furthermore, the growing popularity of the Python programming language is also a reason why Django is more widely used than Ruby on Rails in 2023.

Are there performance differences between Ruby on Rails and Django?

Yes, there is a technical performance difference between Ruby on Rails and Django. However, the difference is so small that you probably wouldn't even notice it. When it comes to performance, RoR leads by just 0.7%.

Such a small performance advantage is due to the rich Rails repository that contains speed-boosting libraries and plugins. However, Django does an impressive job of providing developers with authentication modules and JSON serializers/deserializers, which add to the convenience the framework offers. Both Django and Ruby on Rails are modern programming frameworks that offer high performance.