So I've got experience with two server side languages, Python with the Flask Framework, and PHP.
From what I've heard from other developers, PHP is starting to fall out of fashion due to strange design choices made when the language was first created. (See r/lolPHP)
As for Flask, I've never heard of any major companies running their web servers with the help of Flask Micro-frameworks, so what languages should I learn next?
I've heard a lot of good things about Ruby on Rails, and Go seems to be one of those nifty new languages that may get picked up like React JS did.
What are your thoughts?
Yeah, PHP is a good choice no matter what people say.
That PHP is out of fashion is a stretch. It's the most used server side language on the web with about 80%
PHP and out of fashion :D. I can't remember when it was in fashion. I wouldn't really say it that way and I am still programming a lot in PHP.
Here's the thing every language has it's ups and downs. Versatility wise I would pick Python since it has the broadest range of all scripting languages. The ducktyping is also a nice addition.
It still cannot hold a candle to Node in pure IO throughput (most languages besides go can't). But it comes with bad naming convention like 'index.js' which even the creator of node says himself.
Both languages cannot hold a candle PHP in documentation and existing infrastructure. PHP is one of the default backend languages over decades now, it's so easy to get any hosting service with PHP running worldwide.
I also actually like a lot of the language choices PHP made and I dislike even more :D ... but in the end I can say this about most languages.
These days I would take rust over all other languages and even there I don't agree with all design decisions.
Also I am missing perl ;D ... where is good old perl ;D .... or Lisp!
so like Maneesh Kumar said .... pick one and start :), every language has it's flaws and I wont even go into cohesion, coherence and other more mathematical topics where almost all scripting languages suck :).
It's all dependent on your requirement . What are your going to develop and what is your fronted also . I can only give you example of web development.
Node Js is very popular for web development and equally easy to implement also .
Learning curve is less so you can quickly learn Node Js. Many wrapper are available on NodeJS which can provide you everything very easily like SailsJS (Implemented on Node JS).
But again , As i told . Everything depend on requirement . Enjoy Coding :)
Marco Alka
Software Engineer, Technical Consultant & Mentor
From my personal experience, PHP is going nowhere. Especially for my personal customers, I cannot use anything but PHP, because it is the right degree of just right for the task and available at all major hosters here.
From my perspective, languages which are in demand in the industry, though, are Java and JavaScript. There is no corporation which does not need Java devs for their servers. And JavaScript (NodeJS)? It's used in parallel for PoCs, small low-load servers and tooling/automation.
Hence, I recommend not throwing PHP away, but also taking a look at the great Frameworks there (for example Laravel). On top of that, also take a look at Spring Boot for Java and Express on NodeJS for JavaScript