Choices desaster

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1

hi everyone.

I have done my homework, I need help. More so, because I have done my homework, because before the options were less before…

Here’s what I want to do:
Develop software for the web. Tiny and bigger applications alike.
Learn the tools needed to do that.

Here’s what I can do:
I write scripts and plugins in Python for Maya (3D application) on a near daily basis.
I know XHTML, CSS, XML and I am familiar with Joomla and Dreamweaver and I think I will have to learn JavaScript.

From what I have read so far there are three routes one can take, when trying to avoid having to learn Java.

Option 1:
Python, Django

Option 2:
Ruby, Rails

Option 3:
php

and any method of storing data like mySql or AppEngine.

I am happy to go either way, but I want to avoid putting a lot of effort in one direction, just to find out that another way
would have taken me further quicker.

Since I have a completely unrelated day job, I want to spend my nighttime hours as effective as possible when it comes to
learning and later development.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
outoftune

2

Hard question, all server-side languages have their pro’s and cons, however if you’re used to the Python coding structure that might do you well (Django could give you a productivity boost) - PHP is more popular, but as you know Python, it could cut off the learning curve. As for Databases, go with mySQL, it’s the most widely used and has a big following (so getting support should be easy if you require it). With web applications, the core basics you’ll need are HTML > CSS > JavaScript > Server-side lang (like Python) > Database (like mySQL), once you have those covered you should be able to make pretty much whatever you want. :slight_smile: