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Six Python Web Frameworks Compared
snydeq writes "InfoWorld's Rick Grehan provides an in-depth comparison of six Python Web frameworks, including CubicWeb, Django, Pyramid, Web.py, Web2py, and Zope 2. 'No matter what your needs or leanings as a Python developer might be, one of these frameworks promises to be a good fit,' Grehan writes. 'As usual, the choice is highly subjective. You will find zealots for each product, and every zealot is able to present rational reasons why their chosen framework is superior.'"
Any python web framework shootout that features neither a flask nor a bottle is not worth drink...err reading!
It's The Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules."
How much programming do you know now? Because if the answer is "very little" (or none), then you would do well to stay the hell away from PHP for as long as you can. PHP is useful because it's widely available on shared hosting servers, but as a language it is truly terrible. It will confuse you and leave you scratching your head at how to solve a problem at the same time that it's teaching you bad habits.
Just for starters, PHP's library is full of inexplicable inconsistencies. For example, the arguments for mysql_query are "querystring, resource." The arguments for pg_query (for PostgreSQL) are "resource, querystring." Why? Don't ask. This is just one example of the typically slipshod way PHP has been put together. Note, also, that in both cases "resource" is optional. Die-hard PHP programmers will surely chime in at this point, telling you you're much better off using a database abstraction layer anyway, but which one? The PHP documentation lists four, but there are more than that.
Python overall has been designed with much more care and forethought, is a much better language, and doesn't deserve to be put down like lame horses and PHP should be.
That said, if you want to get more Web work, faster, learn PHP.
Breakfast served all day!
Career-wise, there are WAY more PHP jobs than Python jobs, so if you're looking to be employed by someone else, PHP first (but don't stop with just one). If you're going to be doing your own projects, Python has evolved in a much more logical way than PHP.
It depends on what kind of web development career you want - there are lots of specialties these days. Learn PHP, and learn all the associated web technologies REALLY WELL (html, css, javascript, ajax, etc). Get really good with an IDE (probably Eclipse). Learn how to use Photoshop and maybe Flash (or Edge). Learn SQL - MySQL especially, but also maybe some NoSQL tools. Learn the backend stuff like memcache, hadoop, etc.
The more stuff you know, the more employable you will be.
Learn how to write well. Being able to express yourself goes a long way in a technical career.
Oh, and learn jQuery after you learn Javascript (not 'instead of').
Hey guys, someone admitted he was wrong about something on the internet. Print this thread and frame it on the wall!
Can I light a sig ?
One thing to keep in mind with modern web development:
Learning the server side language is only a small fraction of the total learning curve.
You will need to eventually learn databases, a smattering of basic sysadmin skills, Javascript, HTML, CSS, a bit of HTTP, and not least the web frameworks or associated libraries and APIs themselves.
With most frameworks sorta looking like MVC (whatever that ends up meaning these days) and the basic problems being the same, part of the learning curve of one system will help with learning another. Most web developers worth their salt will end up knowing multiple frameworks and server side languages anyway.
You should actually try out both Django and something like Symphony2 (PHP) yourself to see which you prefer. Spend a week or so on each running through tutorials and creating demo sites. You'll soon get a feel for whatever you prefer.
Career wise, language popularity isn't necessarily the most important thing really. Niches can still be profitable depending on where you are and supply/demand etc. eg there are plenty of PHP jobs, but standing out from the hordes of barely capable PHP developers can also be difficult for the less experienced.
If you have to just start with one thing though, Django is a good choice. It's the most popular Python framework, and Python is a much better language for learning good coding habits than PHP. And if you later decide you prefer PHP (or the PHP job market), Symphony is still pretty similar from an architectural / functional point of view and having another language behind you gives a better idea of what not to do in PHP. Or if you end up really liking Python, you have lots of other options later for other frameworks if Django ends up being a bit limited or not quite to your taste.
Just stay flexible and open minded, and know that web development will require ongoing learning no matter what.