PHP vs. Java - psych!
Yeah! Everyone argues about which programming language is really "better" than the next...so, are you ready to have PHP and Java go at it? Well, if you are, too bad. I don't think any language is the end-all, be-all for everything.
We've recently been incorporating a Joomla! PHP portal at work, and I think it's absolutely farggin fantastic. With no coding at all, you have a complete web portal with an amazing web-based admin GUI that would take months of custom of development if we did it on our own.
By using Joomla!, we can spend less time on internal organizational tasks; e.g. managing documents, managing announcements, people directiories, etc. and spend more time on building any custom solutions that our customers require.
Is PHP the most efficient way to deliver this great app? Maybe not, it might chug a little on some parts - but I tell you what, it took about 15 minutes to get up and running. Seen any Java apps lately that can do that out of the box? I don't think so.
Don't get me wrong - I love programming in Java, and I think if you are serious about delivering a large scale web application you should seriously consider Java EE - the scalability will just blow you away. Try walking away from a well-designed MVC Java EE project for six months, and coming back to it. Does the code still make sense? I'm betting it will. Try the same with a tier-1 or tier-2 PHP (or ASP) site...good luck reading that code later on.
My point is that both of these languages have to exist; both these, and many more - to give us, the intrepid programmers of the world, a complete toolbox filled with tools for any job. Plus, learning a different language gives you a different perspective on the languages you're already comfortable with.
After my team started learning Java for the first time, we also experimented with incorporating MVC patterns into our existing tier-1 ASP code. Warped? Maybe. Fun? Definitely. Always try stretching a programming language as far as it will go - ever tried making an entire website in JavaScript, or calling a Java method from PHP? Push all languages when you can. It may seem frustrating or pointless, but I guarantee you'll learn a new way of thinking about stuff in the process. And who knows? Someday it just might inspire you to create the most revolutionary thing ever.
We've recently been incorporating a Joomla! PHP portal at work, and I think it's absolutely farggin fantastic. With no coding at all, you have a complete web portal with an amazing web-based admin GUI that would take months of custom of development if we did it on our own.
By using Joomla!, we can spend less time on internal organizational tasks; e.g. managing documents, managing announcements, people directiories, etc. and spend more time on building any custom solutions that our customers require.
Is PHP the most efficient way to deliver this great app? Maybe not, it might chug a little on some parts - but I tell you what, it took about 15 minutes to get up and running. Seen any Java apps lately that can do that out of the box? I don't think so.
Don't get me wrong - I love programming in Java, and I think if you are serious about delivering a large scale web application you should seriously consider Java EE - the scalability will just blow you away. Try walking away from a well-designed MVC Java EE project for six months, and coming back to it. Does the code still make sense? I'm betting it will. Try the same with a tier-1 or tier-2 PHP (or ASP) site...good luck reading that code later on.
My point is that both of these languages have to exist; both these, and many more - to give us, the intrepid programmers of the world, a complete toolbox filled with tools for any job. Plus, learning a different language gives you a different perspective on the languages you're already comfortable with.
After my team started learning Java for the first time, we also experimented with incorporating MVC patterns into our existing tier-1 ASP code. Warped? Maybe. Fun? Definitely. Always try stretching a programming language as far as it will go - ever tried making an entire website in JavaScript, or calling a Java method from PHP? Push all languages when you can. It may seem frustrating or pointless, but I guarantee you'll learn a new way of thinking about stuff in the process. And who knows? Someday it just might inspire you to create the most revolutionary thing ever.
posted by James at
10:20 PM
1 Comments:
Cool post!
Hmmm, what IF they had written Joomla, WordPress, etc. in JAVA...
First, I'd have to walk over to the Unpossible Programmer's desk and ask him to explain Java to me.
Then, I'd have to walk over to my desk and fire up seventeen programs.
Next, I would have to run something called a "console" and feel like Matthew Broderick playing a game.
Finally, I would have to compile something and invent eleventy new curse words when it crapped out.
Fortunately, management doesn't understand any of this, so I can keep programming in Java all the live-long day.
PHP is okay for now.
By
Eric M. Smith, at 9:18 PM
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