Why is Python great?
Ruby is the sexy language at the moment. Java has lots of resources. PHP is great for getting things done fast. So why would anyone choose Python?
First, Google is doing lots of Python. They’ve hired most of the Python gurus including the inventor of the language, Guido Van Rossum. So there’s probably something about Python that makes it a good language for developing web applications. You can also read why Eric Raymond loves Python. Next, read why Ruby On Rails inventor, David Heinemeier Hansson, thinks PHP is the devil. Then, read Paul Graham’s essay on Java. Finally, you’ll want to read a fairly technical comparison of Ruby and Python.
These articles don’t mean that you can’t develop web applications with Ruby, Java, or PHP. Ultimately, you need to choose what will work best for what you are doing.