Rails is much more mature than Django? Please provide some sort of evidence surrounding that, instead of stating it as fact.

First, let's start with the languages they are based on, since performance and scalability depends on this. Do you feel Ruby is more mature than Python too?

For applications launching soon it's worth noting that Django is in a period of flux at the moment. Ver 1.0 is being actively worked toward and will break backwards compatibility.

I mean, no one is keeping you from working using Django .96, but several of the neater features in the platform (ContentTypes & Generic relations) are a little sketchy at the moment.

I'd disagree for someone unfamiliar with programming as the author seems to be. Ruby isn't a good starter language, IMO. It has a bit too much magic for beginners for my taste. It's absorbed a bit too much from Perl in that it's a lot easier to write than to read. When people are first learning a language, I'd suggest a language that has a little more structure to it than Ruby. That's why I suggested Python and Django.

I really don't have anything against Ruby and Rails. I really like the Rails framework and there's a lot of great stuff there. I just don't think that Ruby is a best first language to learn.

I'm going for Python. :)

I'll second the suggestion for "The Ruby Way" - it's under-rated and deserves more attention.

I've heard good things about "The Rails Way" but haven't yet had a chance to look at it.

Rails Way is pretty good (though someone borrowed my copy before I could spend much more time perusing it).

I also suggest The Ruby Way (though perhaps I'm biased); however, the Web dev section is dated. :(

I'd also recommend my book, RailsSpace (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0321480791), a tutorial introduction to Rails and part of the same Addison-Wesley Professional Ruby Series as the Ruby & Rails Way books. It's a bit dated in places (damn, Rails moves fast), but is much more pedagogically oriented than the Way books, and hence probably a better place for beginners to start.