This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Ruby Buzz by David Heinemeier Hansson. Original Post: You can't compare Rails to Java/PHP/whatever Feed Title: Loud Thinking Feed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LoudThinking Feed Description: All about the full-stack, web-framework Rails for Ruby and on putting it to good effect with Basecamp Latest Ruby Buzz Posts Latest Ruby Buzz Posts by David Heinemeier Hansson Latest Posts From Loud Thinking

Speaking of pedantry, I've long been amused by the lengths to which some people will go in order to shoot down comparisons between Ruby on Rails and anything else. More than a few times, I've had the mental image of an English gentleman clear his throat and proclaim:

But my dear sir, you must realize that you can not compare Rails to Java or PHP. For Rails is a framework while both Java and PHP are languages. Thus, they are entirely without comparison as they are not even in the same category. You see? Very well then, I bid you farewell!

Yes, the pedantry is technically correct, but also completely irrelevant. Because in addition to being framework or language, they are all possible solutions to the web problem — requiring more or less water added to the mix. So of course you can compare them: Within your context, which is getting you the most valuable software in the shortest amount of time?

But naturally that was never the intentions of our English gentleman. It's much easier to save the good tone of the dinner party by declaring them different species altogether. We can then continue on with our lives undisturbed. Knowing that we need not care or worry too much about what goes on outside the window.

Most convenient.