Should we use Pylons or PHP for our webapp?

Question

My friend and I plan to create some kind of webapp forum type. We used the basic PHP frameworks, but we really think about using Python specifically for the Pylons platform for our application. Although we are competent PHP programmers, we write a little in Python (we can create practical scripts, etc.). But the fact is that we really want to learn Python, but when testing Pylons, it seems that it is really difficult with all the many imports and everyone.

What would you suggest? What advice could you give us? How would you advise us to learn Pylons?

Answer 1

Decide what you want to focus on while being productive or learning a new language:

• If you want to learn Pylons and Python, use Pylon and Python.
• If you want to deliver stable forum software, use PHP because that is what you are competent for.

Note. I should add that this does not mean that you cannot be productive with Python or Pylon in general. All that I say, in your case, you will be more productive with PHP, because you know that.

Answer 2

Do not be alarmed by import in python. They are much more common when coding in python than PHP, and this is good because your namespace is never polluted by what you would not expect unless you do from foo import * (so don't do this). I think you will find that string pylons give you will be priceless. PHP also has frameworks, but if you want to learn python anyway, I see no reason why you shouldn't dive with Pylons.

Answer 3

I do not know about Pylons, but I was in a similar situation and created a site using Django. I have learned enough about Python in an environment I was familiar with (web applications), and now I'm switching to Python as my first choice.

Answer 4

Many times we have had this discussion at my work. We use PHP, and everyone here would like to switch to python. Even for our new web projects that PHP offers, and since we use them every day, this is what we use. Many things in PHP annoy me, and I love Python, who said that I am a big fan of "use the best tool for the job."

Good code is possible in PHP (and terrible awful code too), so use the best tool for you and for this job. If, however, this webapp is a hobby and / or non-critical software, I would completely recommend python if only to learn a new language.