Recommend a different language

[bokehman]

Hi all! I got into PHP about a year ago (and I am far from bored with it) but I fancy learning something new that provides a challenge PHP no long seems to. What are your recommendations and why?

[webnoob]

Fancy posting something like that in a php forum devoted to php freaks

On the other hand there is plenty to learn in PHP, a year on cant really provide enough time to really delve into PHP. But u could try Javascript, it seems quite a fun language.

[Dann7391]

You can do alot of paid jobs in PHP....there are always people willing to pay for a site done in PHP....

[bokehman]

a year on cant really provide enough time to really delve into PHP.

I sure if you looked at some of my stuff you'd withdraw that comment.

u could try Javascript, it seems quite a fun language.

I already know Javascript to a reasonable level. I really meant a programming language.

[F4nat1c]

ASP.net - Good luck!

[7stud]

Learn one of the major languages: Java or C++. Java has more application to the web, and it is easier than C++. Java is a huge language, though, and beginning java books can be over 1,000 pages long. If you want a shorter, easier overview of the language, I can recommend "Java: A Beginner's Guide". Learning an object oriented language, like Java or C++, will also help your php programming skills.

[auricle]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Ruby and the framework Ruby on Rails!

[Austin_Hastings]

Haskell.

It'a so far "around the corner" from PHP that it will give your brain a real stretch, and it's a very sophisticated language -- they are prototyping Perl6 using Haskell.

=Austin

[bokehman]

Learn one of the major languages: Java or C++.

Could you give any exaples of well known stuff written with both?

[Austin_Hastings]

Java: The Eclipse project. www.eclipse.org
C++: OpenOffice. www.openoffice.org

[7stud]

C++ is the most extensively used language in the world. C++ is an improved version of C, hence the name C++. C++ is considered the Ferrari of computer languages. Most games are written in C++(or C). Windows was written in C before C++ was invented. Most windows applications are written in C or C++.

Sun invented Java after C++ was already in widespread use. MS sells expensive compilers that are necessary to convert C++ code into an executable program, as well as IDE's for making programming easier(there are now free open source compilers and IDE's for C++). So MS does not want programmers to use other languages other than the ones their compilers and IDE's are built for. Nonetheless, Java quickly made inroads among programmers. It is now completely free and open source. MS recently invented the language C# to try and knock Java out of existence, however C# needs the underlying .NET framework which is part of all new Windows OS's to work.

Java examples: http://java.sun.com/nav/used/ .
Also, any web page that has a url with a .jsp extension uses java, e.g www.petsmart.com.

[skyhawk133]

I'm gonna suggest Ruby and the Rails Framework. I haven't gotten in to it nearly as much as I should, but from what little I have done, it's an awesome language. Definitley wouldn't suggest it for a first time language as it doesn't enforce a lot of the "rules" of programming, but if you're looking for a rapid application development language... I'd say learn Ruby

[rossriley]

Another vote for ruby.
There's nothing wrong with learning more languages guys, in fact I'd say it's the only way to keep growing. Doing so isn't a vote against PHP, in fact using something like Ruby on Rails can improve your PHP programming too, I know it has with mine.

Another honourable mention for Python which is also a lovely language (apart from the self,self,self problem before anyone brings it up) and Django is the best web framework on Python...there's definitely lots to learn from that.

[crashmakerMX]

I'd also recommend trying out Python. It's also ESR's favorite programming language (opposed to all that Unix gurus that love C for some unknown reason)

[stereofrog]

Haskell.

It'a so far "around the corner" from PHP that it will give your brain a real stretch, and it's a very sophisticated language -- they are prototyping Perl6 using Haskell.

I agree, one of "academic" languages would be the best choice (although recommending Haskell is a bit ruthless The most modern languages are based on lisp and smalltalk, both are worth investigating. Additionaly, I think every programmer should at least be able to read C (not C++) code.

[Antares]

C++: OpenOffice. www.openoffice.org

OpenOffice was developed in Java as well.

Zend Studio is Java-made if my memory server me right. For C++ examples just take a look around: most of desktop applications are written in C++ at the moment (although Java is #1 according to SourceForrge stats).

I would recommend Java or C#, these are two really rich OOP languages (take a look at any popular OOD book: all examples in books by Fowler and guys are in Java, or, recently, Java / C#).

Knowledge of major compiled language will open new horizons for you as a programmer, BTW you will be able to write yourself Eclipse or PHP extensions if you want. Best of luck!