Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Posted by nick88p
nick88p
5,716 Points

Which Back End Language Should I learn?

This question is directed to experienced backend web developers only.

I am currently in the process of finishing the front-end tutorial at treehouse. It has been my intention all along to learn a backend language, but I thought it made more sense to get a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, Javascript, Jquery, Ajax, Command line, etc. before starting on the back end. Other than these languages, I've done some very basic apps in Objective-C and know some Visual Basic (excel macros).

I'd really love to create some cool platforms/ web apps where people can exchange ideas in one form or another. Furthermore, I would like to seek employment in the industry within the next year.

I've done a lot of research and found so many answers to which backend web programming language to learn. PHP, RUBY, PYTHON and NODE.JS seem to be the most popular. But which one to choose ... I am really struggling with this question and can't find an answer online. It seems to be a matter of preference.

  1. What language would YOU recommend I learn based on my experience and future goals.

  2. Which language would you say is the most valuable/ will be the most valuable language to know in the next 1-3 years.

Your suggestions are much appreciated.

Nick

Eric Moody
Eric Moody
12,373 Points

P.S. What were your experiences with the Front End Tack?

4 Answers

Colton Ehrman
PLUS
Colton Ehrman
Courses Plus Student 5,859 Points
Colton Ehrman
Colton Ehrman
Courses Plus Student 5,859 Points

Since you have learned JavaScript (I assume) then a really good place to start for the backend would be Node.js since it is basically just JavaScript for the backend. This way you won't have to learn any new languages like PHP. Also, Node.js is part of the MEAN stack and is trending currently in the development world! The MEAN stack consists of (MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node)

Eric Moody
Eric Moody
12,373 Points
Eric Moody
Eric Moody
12,373 Points

I finished the Ruby/Rails development track recently. It was useful for me to learn, but I am now taking the Full-stack Javascript track. Out of these two, I think that javascript would be my choice for now. Also, the javascript lessons seem to be less frustrating because the ruby track had a lot of issues with outdated gems and versions from the time the video was made til now and I haven't run into any issues replicating the steps in the videos on this track.

That's my two cents anyway. I don't have an opinion yet on PHP or Python.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
501 Points
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
501 Points

If you are familiar with Javascript already, i really recommand to use NodeJS platform. It's pretty buzzing at the momean and lot of helpful tool come out each week. In my opinion this would be the most straight-forward way. Ruby and Python also can be a choice, but PHP is the past.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
501 Points
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
501 Points

.NET is quite enterprise level. I stick my flag next to open-source and light-weight so i can take my commitment around .NET. I know that's a really well known technology so it will be valuable to learn if you are that type of person.