More career advice for Elok

[Aeson]

Javascript is what is used for websites generally. Java is used for compiled apps.

[Aeson]

PHP is terrible, I'd advise against it. Learn a more structured, better designed language. PHP will cause you to develop habits that will be very unfortunate in other languages. I say this as someone who has programmed PHP extensively from high school onwards and had two jobs where my primary responsibility was PHP programming.

If he learns some bad habits, they can be broken later when/if it matters. The important thing is to find a way to get a foot in the door that will result in learning, rather than frustration.

[Hauldren Collider]

PHP will bring frustration. It's one of the most inconsistent and incoherent languages out there. Almost no one really understands it. A better organized language would prove more useful.

Elok, I highly recommend you try Python. Java's verbosity and strictness I think will make things difficult for you. Python is very popular as a beginner's language. It's what they teach in the CS courses for non-CS majors here at CMU.

[regexcellent]

I think the only reason PHP is so popular is its close integration with SQL and strong support from webservers, it's kind of a turd in all other respects.

[Hauldren Collider]

You get that same close integration with several Python modules that come included with the language.

[Aeson]

Eh ... you can have a functional calculator website up in an afternoon with PHP. (or javascript ... but if it's javascript then every last ******* on the internet will quickly have their own functional calculator website exactly the same as your's )

Python is fun to work with Civ IV mods of course, and another good option.

[pchang]

Put a copyright notice in your code. Then have a robot scan for identical code snippets. Have a form letter for suing or accepting a small settlement to avoid the suit......

[Ben Kenobi]

Isn't it possible to personalize the code, like make it hot pink and say AESON'S CALCULATOR?

[Elok]

How's Ruby? Is that the same as Ruby on Rails? I don't have a plan of action worked out, just looking for input.

[Hauldren Collider]

Ruby on Rails is a framework written in Ruby. It's also terrible and people shouldn't use it, in my opinion. It might be the kind of thing that is useful for you to learn, but I think python would probably be more useful.

[Elok]

Okay. Should I get the hang of HTML and CSS first, or are there other prerequisites, etc.? I barely know what all this stuff is for, but since it only costs time to find out, I may as well wing it a little. I'm told a lot of people are looking for Ruby on Rails, and the corecademy place teaches Ruby, so if Python doesn't work out, or if I get the hang of it and I'm ready for more, I can just learn Ruby and the Rails part will be optional. We'll see. Yay, optimism!

[Hauldren Collider]

Learn Ruby before learning Rails, but yes, lots of places are hiring for ruby on rails because it is the latest fad. Or at least I think it's a fad. There's some chance it might stick around.

I'd try learning HTML and CSS first. They aren't actual programming languages, so they should be simpler to learn. But they are still very important to know.

[DaShi]

If you had to pick one, would you pick Ruby over Rails?

[pchang]

I would do the javascript and python courses on codecademy.com.

[DaShi]

Together.