considering learning other programming languages.

What language(s) are a good next step after php?

[pixeltierra]

I've been coding php for 4 yrs now and consider myself pretty proficient. I am comfortable enough with my php to consider focusing on other languages, only I don't know where to focus my energy. I'm a somewhat proficient actionscript and javascript programmer.

I have dabbled with perl, bash, and asp. I haven't even remotely looked into java, ruby, c, c++, c#, cold fusion, .net, visual basic or others.

I know it depends on what I want to accomplish and all that, but in terms of power, ease of transition from php, and lasting potential (it will still be useful in 3-5 years), what recommendations do you all have for the next languages to learn and why?

[one_mind]

Well you said it. Languages are just tools and you have to use the right tool for the job. Once you know the basics of programming you can learn the syntax of any language in under a day.

The real things you should learn are algorithms and data structures. Master them and it is really just a trivial task of implementing them in whatever language.

If your focusing on web dev for MS platform learn .NET ASP.Net and C#.

If you want to avoid MS go with Java.

If you want to develop client side software go .Net for MS or C++ for everything else.

It really depends what you want to do. If you want to be employed in this industry in the next 3-4 years focus on .NET

Nothing beats a comp sci education in the programming world and the essence of programming revolves around data structures and algorithms and has very little to do with languages. Its a way of thinking more than anything.

Good luck :)

[pixeltierra]

Thanks for the advice. Do you really think that I need to know .net to have work in 3-4 years!? I think I might start another thread on this topic, but where would I put it so it gets equal attention from all types of developers?

[LifeinAsia]

If you don't know databases already, I would recommend branching off into that. As previously mentioned, once you're proficient in one programming language, you can pick up others very quickly.

But DB development/programming is a different mindset. In some cases, letting the DB handle some of the number sorting/crunching is more efficient than doing it in code.

As more and more in life gets information-oriented, developing efficient databases and applications that access them become more and more important.

[one_mind]

Good point, know your db inside out.

No, you don't need to know .net to be working in 3-4 years unless of course you are developing for windows platform. As MS has over 80% of the market share it is only natural that there be more work in the .net world.

If you master the core of oop then you will know .net automatically, it would be just a matter of familiarizing yourself with the class library, same with java.

There is such a huge volume of new tech to learn and just when you think you know it all a whole platform becomes redundant and a new one is released. Dont try to learn everything, develop a black box mindset and understand the theory and you will be half way there :)

[edited by: coopster at 4:55 pm (utc) on July 19, 2006]
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