by Gene Poschman

Created on: July 14, 2009

Which is a better Web application framework: Ruby on Rails or PHP?

We have a new term to throw around in the WEB development community; it is called a WEB Application Framework, or "whatever your favorite scripting language is" Framework. Now tell us which is better.

First, understand that a framework is simply a collection of coded files stored such that they are easy to retrieve by whatever application one is developing. It is a collection of modules, routines, and mini applications that are replicable and they take parameters and they perform commonly needed functions. The primary purpose of a framework is to eliminate the re-inventing of the wheel. If code has been created to do something, then why keep re-inventing it. So developers created collections of files or Frameworks.

There are a number of Frameworks out there for the asking; I came across seventy-five and I am sure I didn't find them all. I found twenty-five that were written for PHP and four that were written for RUBY.

Ruby on Rails was one of the Frameworks available. The question above compares the Framework, Ruby on Rails with the scripting language, PHP. That is like comparing Communism with a Democracy. One is an economic system while the other is a political system. They don't really compare.

If the comparison were between Ruby and PHP, then that would be more reasonable. I pick PHP. Why? Because I program in PHP, I do not program in Ruby. In all fairness each has its weaknesses and strengths and both are interpretive scripting languages that get the job done. There are probably more PHP programmers in the industry, but that could change. Both function in a Windows environment, and both work in a Linux environment. Only PHP is part of a LAMP solution, but that is only because PHP is one of the tools identified by the acronym. I pick PHP. Why? Because I program in PHP.

Now if I were asked to compare them on the basis of developed frameworks, then I would pick PHP. Why? Because there are at least twenty-five Frameworks to choose from that were developed in PHP and only four developed in Ruby. PHP offers more options, more choices.

Of course if a company has a bevy of Ruby programmers working for it, then a Ruby Frameworks would be more appealing. If the contents of a Ruby Framework better met the WEB applications needs, then I would choose Ruby. But If I were looking to develop a WEB application and use a Framework, I would probably look for the framework that best met my needs. A six to one edge goes to PHP.

If there were no Framework out there that met my needs, then I would create one in PHP. Why? Because; I am a PHP programmer.

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