OK, I recently finished learning XHTML and CSS. I enjoy designing websites, and am going to design a personal one and possibly one for my youth group. I'm not doing a whole lot of hard, complicated webdesign, and I am wondering which is better for me to learn - PHP or JavaScript. However, I plan on persuing web design as a possible career, so I also want to learn something that has a greater potential benefit in the future.
The complexity isn't an issue, as long as its not impossible to figure out. In my computer class we took a mini-session on C++, so I do know very basic programming.
Basically, which language is more useful to learn, and if I decide to learn both of them (which I may do if they both are very useful), which one should I start with? Also, I'm using OSX so I don't want anything to do with those Windows-specific languages (like ASP).
2006-12-09 05:28:14 · 7 answers · asked by milan 4 in Computers & Internet ➔ Programming & Design
O yeah, I'm running my personal website for free off my friend's server (which is a virtual server). I'm not quite sure of the specifics, but I think it supports most programming languages, and I know it has PHP support, so the server is not an issue.
2006-12-09 05:30:51 · update #1
Congrats on deciding against the microsoft brainwashing!
Learn any open source language (Perl,Php,Python,Ruby) They all run native on the mac! You choose which depending on what your friends know, or how you will get support!
You should learn them all, but that would take several more months!
But javascript, a completely open language, that rivals all the server based language, is definitly a great first language. you can do all the simple programming that the others do, and see the results right in front of you.. no ftping, that can save a few minutes here and there! Since you already know xhtml+css, javascript will make you a triple threat in the marketplace!
GOOD LUCK!
2006-12-09 06:34:09 · answer #1 · answered by jake cigar™ is retired 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hello
Both are different types of programming langauges - PHP is server side and JavaScript is client side. PHP can be used for generating dynamic pages from database contents and JavaScript can be used for animation and effects on the client side. They cannot be compared (as far as which is good) as they have their own unique functions. You need both to create a page with good visual effects (using CSS, JavaScript and HTML collectively called DHTML) and the separation of content and presentation (done using PHP, HTML, CSS and database).
Hope this helps :)
2006-12-09 05:38:53 · answer #2 · answered by fsm 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
php comes free with linux while java uses servlets and is compatible with windows .Comin to your question i would suggest a basic knowledge of php,perl and servlets.These are pretty easy . U could then specialize in one, i personally find servlets(java scripts) more interesting .
2006-12-09 05:37:29 · answer #3 · answered by Uzair(Stormshadow) 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both are needed to make a good site.
I also reccomend python (used by google) and perl.
2006-12-09 05:32:16 · answer #4 · answered by parvane r 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i say php scripting
2006-12-09 05:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
PHP
2006-12-09 06:04:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i'd say both
2006-12-09 06:40:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋