Best Web Host for Django or Rails
An advanced web programmer who uses web frameworks like Ruby on Rails or Django (written in Python) will need access to a Unix shell (command line) and Apache’s writable httpd.conf file.
The problem with this is that most entry-level shared hosting plans won’t give you shell access, only FTP. When you start needing these features, you’re usually looking at Virtual Dedicated Servers, which tend to run a lot of money. They also often require you to play System Administrator, which means that updates, patches, and security are entirely up to you – you’re just renting a computer somewhere.
Webfaction’s entry-level plan gives you everything you need to build a web application using the framework of your choice. Besides the aforementioned Django and Rails, you also have: CherryPy, Drupal, Joomla, Wordpress, Zope, and Pylons. Of course, you can also use plain-old static HTML, CGI, and PHP.
Just for good measure, they also offer PostgreSQL in addition to MySQL. Most hosts only offer the latter.
The frameworks are installed for you using their excellent admin interface, and their support is top-notch. I emailed them because I had a problem keeping my memory usage under control, and I got a response in less than an hour advising me that I could run unlimited sites under one Django instance by adding Virtual Hosts in my Apache conf file. I hadn’t thought of that.
On a separate occasion, I contacted their email support because I needed help installing an SSL certificate. Again, the help came within the hour. This was on a Saturday night (yes, this what I do on Saturday nights... shut up).
They also give you a sixty day money back guarantee, so you can cancel anytime straight from the admin and get your money back. I’d never do that, of course, because I’m quite pleased with their service.
Learn more here: webfaction.com/services/hosting