Python and Ruby (and any other programming languages) are just tools.  Some do some things better than others.

Imagine if the library community had its own programming/scripting language, at least one that is domain relevant.  What would it look like?


Peter Schlumpf



-----Original Message-----
>From: Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Jul 29, 2013 10:43 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [CODE4LIB] Python and Ruby
>
>Not intending to start a language flame war/holy war here, but in the
>library coding community, is there a particular reason to use Ruby over
>Python or vice-versa? I am personally comfortable with Python, but I have
>noticed that there is a big Ruby following in Code4Lib and similar
>communities. Am I going to be able to contribute and work better with the
>community if I use Ruby rather than Python?
>
>I am 100% aware that there is no objective way to answer which of the two
>languages is the best. I am interested in the much more narrow question of
>which will work better for library-related scripting projects in terms of
>the following factors:
>
>-existing modules that I can re-use that are related to libraries (MARC
>tools, XML/RDF tools, modules released by major vendors, etc)
>-availability of help from others in the community
>-interest/ability of others to re-use my code
>
>Thanks.
>
>Josh Welker
>Information Technology Librarian
>James C. Kirkpatrick Library
>University of Central Missouri
>Warrensburg, MO 64093
>JCKL 2260
>660.543.8022