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I make my bread as a PHP developer myself. If you are looking for another scripting language to learn then these days you might be better off going with Javasc

by gexla 16y ago

I make my bread as a PHP developer myself. If you are looking for another scripting language to learn then these days you might be better off going with Javascript with Node.js. This would give you the opportunity to get an early start on a platform with a big future and get more practice with Javascript, great language to be fluent with.

taylorbuley 16y ago
I have been spending my free time in JavaScript for these reasons. In addition to many wonderful server-side JS improvements to come (in Node, that is), there are many client-side improvements (IndexedDB, localStorage, etc.) that I anticipate will blow the lid off of the current JS scene.
- dglassan 16y ago
  I guess I just haven't been able to comprehend the usefulness of what node.js does and the potential it has. I'm planning on moving back to the bay area soon and I've heard that developers with ruby skills have not had a hard time at all getting job offers. My thinking was that having an understanding of PHP and ruby would be a pretty good combo for a backend developer but I guess learning JavaScript with node.js would give me some front end experience as well
  - taylorbuley 16y ago
    For me Node is useful when you need a non-blocking HTTP server. I'm currently working on a stats/analytics thing, and it works as the API layer between Mongo and incoming requests. I believe geolocation data company Simplegeo does something similar in terms of API glue in front of Cassandra. It's most definitely not a sledge hammer, but it's a great tool for your stack.
  - gexla 16y ago
    It would be interesting to see how the different languages stack up in getting jobs in the bay area. The bottom line is that web application developers in general are getting lots of job offers there (assuming that Ruby developers aren't having a problem.) I couldn't see a situation where all the Ruby developers there are getting snapped up and a glut of PHP developers are being left out in the cold. In the world of freelancing, I'm certainly not seeing a lack of work for PHP developers, though you have to cut through a lot of noise to find the decent jobs (still not lacking though) I would think that your general skills as a developer would be important. Versatility and productivity with your tools is probably important. If you have that down, then I imagine you could easily pickup the same with a different language. Edit: I also wonder if it's any good to have a job in the bay area making $90K+. That's an expensive area to live in, I think I would be just as happy freelancing for half that (or just as much) from a cheaper area. However, it also seems to be the mecca for developers, so maybe that's all you need as an excuse. ;)

by gexla 16y ago

taylorbuley 16y ago

I have been spending my free time in JavaScript for these reasons. In addition to many wonderful server-side JS improvements to come (in Node, that is), there are many client-side improvements (IndexedDB, localStorage, etc.) that I anticipate will blow the lid off of the current JS scene.

dglassan 16y ago
I guess I just haven't been able to comprehend the usefulness of what node.js does and the potential it has. I'm planning on moving back to the bay area soon and I've heard that developers with ruby skills have not had a hard time at all getting job offers. My thinking was that having an understanding of PHP and ruby would be a pretty good combo for a backend developer but I guess learning JavaScript with node.js would give me some front end experience as well
- taylorbuley 16y ago
  For me Node is useful when you need a non-blocking HTTP server. I'm currently working on a stats/analytics thing, and it works as the API layer between Mongo and incoming requests. I believe geolocation data company Simplegeo does something similar in terms of API glue in front of Cassandra. It's most definitely not a sledge hammer, but it's a great tool for your stack.
- gexla 16y ago
  It would be interesting to see how the different languages stack up in getting jobs in the bay area. The bottom line is that web application developers in general are getting lots of job offers there (assuming that Ruby developers aren't having a problem.) I couldn't see a situation where all the Ruby developers there are getting snapped up and a glut of PHP developers are being left out in the cold. In the world of freelancing, I'm certainly not seeing a lack of work for PHP developers, though you have to cut through a lot of noise to find the decent jobs (still not lacking though) I would think that your general skills as a developer would be important. Versatility and productivity with your tools is probably important. If you have that down, then I imagine you could easily pickup the same with a different language. Edit: I also wonder if it's any good to have a job in the bay area making $90K+. That's an expensive area to live in, I think I would be just as happy freelancing for half that (or just as much) from a cheaper area. However, it also seems to be the mecca for developers, so maybe that's all you need as an excuse. ;)