Compound Thinking

Bruce Eckel on Python and Rails

Over on Artema.com Bruce Eckel reviews Beyond Java and is somewhat critical of the way that Bruce Tate jumps on the Ruby bandwagon without considering the merits of other languages, and python in particular. I agree that a book like Beyond Java ought to be looking more deeply into the future alternatives before declaring a “winner.”

And while Ruby has a lot going for it (blocks), so does Python (mature libraries). I hope there is room for both in the post-java-as-a-tool-for-every-conceivable-job world, because I really like both languages.

Bruce also brings some much needed perspective to the Rails hype:

I’m sure we will find that the Rails approach isn’t the ultimate solution … But it represents a fundamental restart in the thinking process.

In other words, Rails is light-years better than what came before, but it isn’t at all likely to be better than what comes next.

And as far as what comes next in the Python community, Bruce has this to say:

And [Rails] has caused, in the Python community, attention to Django, the development of Subway (although I don’t know how that one is faring), and the creation of TurboGears, which seems like a very good solution because it builds on best-of-breed existing pieces using a Rails-inspired approach.

TurboGears is my pick of the Python litter. And interestingly enough as far as TurboGears goes, the “rails-inspired” approach is less about API than marketing. Sure both frameworks are “full-stack” and both frameworks are “Ajax-enabled” and both frameworks include and easy to use ORM. But the syntax and developer workflow for the two projects is still pretty different.

But as for marketing, the Kevin Dangoor creator of TurboGears, learned a lot from the Rails folks about intelligent use of screencasts, and the need for a good looking web-site. But I also happen to know that both Kevin and David read the Creating passionate Users blog, which is a good source of “marketing” ideas for framework developers.

I think the most critical piece of marketing advice a framework designer could read is “You can’t out-spend or out-teach.” I think the key to developing mindshare in “the coming framework wars” is not necessarily having the best framework with the cleanest code, and the most features. It will be which framework can grab a users attention long enough to teach them something significant, so they can actually start using the framework.