Which way to go?

PHP or JAVA or .Net

[venelin13]

Hello,
I have a dilemma to resolve and need to get your opinions.

I am a PHP/MySQL web developer from East Europe. I work as a freelancer for 4 years. I have some good income and a job I love to do.

But I think there is no future of what I am doing. I think I reach the maximum of PHP and it is not so interested for me as it was in the begining.

I think there are 4 ways for me:

1. To contue develop my PHP web developer career and learn the newest versions - 5 and may be 6 of PHP. They have some great improvements, but the business still think PHP is not ready to go enterprise.

2. To go to the next level - start working as project manager, as employee.

3. To create my own team of web developers and to grow up my small business. But even now it is not easy for me to find clients, who are able to spend more than $1000 per project or per month.

4. To switch my career to a JAVA developer. In this case I need to start once again as absolute beginner. There is a future, but in this case my 4+ years of PHP exprience will vanish.

5. To mix my finance university degree with the programming and to start working as ERP/Business consultant.

Which way to go? I am so confused and I have so many ideas for my future, that I am not able to pick one and start working on it.

[webtress]

I'd say stick with what you know and love. Continue to develope your skills while adding a new one such as Java or my favorite ASP :) I like to think of it as plan A and plan B I keep my realestate license current just in case I need to switch to Plan B. Growth and expansion are always a good thing, and learning new things is exciting when you already have a liking for a industry to begin with. Follow your first thought about what you should do, it is usually the right one, it's only when we start to second guess ourself that we end up making an error in judgement.

[percentages]

Knowledge is always power!

PHP is a very good base. ASP vs. PHP is a close call in my book and I'm equally happy with both. I prefer PHP just a tad!

Java/Script has its place, but most projects can be 100% achieved without it.

I would always advise building your own team of freelance people over taking a salary based job.

At this time in your area of the World I fully appreciate this is a true challenge. The Western World needs your skills, but maybe put-off by your "sales-spiel".

In years to come Eastern Europe will need your skills, and so much more if you have conquered the West as a track record.

Bottom line......no quick fix.....slog away at it, and naturally in time you will win :)

[venelin13]

In years to come Eastern Europe will need your skills, and so much more if you have conquered the West as a track record.

percentages, you are so right! There was years (lets say 10 years ago), every skilled professional from Eastern Europe wanted to go West. And a lot of people did it.

The situation here is different these days. A lot of the world leading software companies have their R&D centers here and they offer quality and well paid jobs. Right now one should have a serious reason to go West instead work here.