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Danny Maitland
Courses Plus Student 217 PointsProgramming Languages for Web Apps
Hey!
I have a question that's been getting to me.
I am currently working on a Web App, I am using Javascript and PhP. Its a somewhat simple app that has users with their data stored in sql. Javascript does calculations with users data for the user to be outputted. The app is dependant on Dates and calculations.
My question is, is Javascript and PhP the best for Web based Apps? In comparison to maybe Ruby on Rails or Python.
I wanted to be happy in the fact that I am moving with the best choice. I have little to no experience with Ruby on rails, I have more with Python although what I would call Basic to somewhat competent. I am far more advanced in PhP and Javascript however.
I am also wondering about Traffic, as in how would they stack up when faced with high traffic, much to do with how well its codded and thought out too I would imagine.
I have used PhP and Javascript to build small little apps in the past without issue, but for something that I am being a little more serious with I just wanted some assurance that I am moving in the right direction.
Thanks for any help.
1 Answer
Kevin Korte
28,149 PointsThere is no "best" language, per se. A hammer is a hammer is a hammer - yeah maybe one hits harder, and maybe one pull out nails better, but they are all tools to accomplish the same thing.
You'll find blog posts, twitter fights, and arguments until you're blue in the face about how terribly awful, or wonderful one language is, or the other. Use what you are comfortable with, the best language to use is the one you are the most comfortable with, as you'll more likely write error free, more performant code.
I can tell you over my 4 years, I went from PHP and MySQL, to Ruby and Postgresql, to now Nodejs and NoSQL, and I pretty much exclusively use Nodejs and NoSQL. Two main reason, for me, lower entry to having an app preform in near real time, although you can also make PHP, Ruby, Python, etc apps also perform in near real time if you'd like, and I also like that it's Javascript on the front end, and Javascript on the backend, and ES6 as made JS on the backend more enjoyable, so I like it.