What Should I Learn After PHP? [closed]

Answer 1

Alternatively, if you want to learn some programming fundamentals, get Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs and really blow your mind!

Answer 2

That really depends on what you what to accomplish, for example, could you make a complex e-commerce solution from scratch?

So you know how to you php classes and objects?

Perhaps you could learn to use a javascript framework which allows for fancy animations.

My advice is to choose a project that you would be interested in creating, and ideally interested in using too, and see where it takes you.

Answer 3

There is no "next step" in programming; PHP, like the other technologies you mention, are tools we use to solve problems.

One useful thing you could do is have a look at how similar problems are solved using other technologies: you seem to be interested in web application development, so similar tools exist like Java/JSP, Ruby/Rails, C#/ASP.NET, and so on. After your edit, this seems to be the most sensible route to take, as platforms like Java and .NET seem to be the way organisations are going, and where skills are used in a lot of jobs in programming.

Having spent some time going down those routes, you might be interested in larger systems that make use of enterprise features. Things like JSF, Struts, or futher - J2EE with EJBs make use of web technologies, but in a more enterprise fashion.

I'd also suggest you have a look at some open-source web applications to see how tools such as those you mention are used in larger applications with more users. Who knows, perhaps you can join in and help out on a widely-used project!

Answer 4

All I can tell you is my own experience. I learnt PHP/HTML/MySQL/Oracle on UNIX around 12 years ago, and liked it's ease of use and the way you could throw together sites very easily (compared to CGI and C). However, around 6 years ago I reluctantly moved to the "dark side" and had to learn Windows programming for my job. After a horrible period of learning 'Classic ASP' and VB I got into the new, emerging .NET technology, in particular ASP.NET and C#. And I'm really glad I did.

Learning a "proper" strongly-typed OOP language like C# (or Java) will help improve your programming skill and make you a more disciplined programmer. If you can learn the .NET framework you'll expand your horizons as well as your employability. You will also learn many programming skills that can move you beyond the Web - into application development etc. You'll broaden your outlook and be enriched and rewarded in the process.

Answer 5

Why not continue with PHP?

Become an expert and then a guru in it. PHP is a pretty large subject and in several years of development I didn't get to use and know all it's aspects, no matter how many bigger or smaller projects I did. There are also different approaches in PHP coding, nowadays the frameworks emerged and they are a topic by themselves.

And not the last thing, probably because of its popularity, PHP is a living language and continue to evolves. New stuff appears on daily bases, modules, new versions, new applications, new frameworks, new problems to solve with it.

Answer 6

I learned and developed a lot with Java after PHP and a little Perl, and am quite happy I did that. I realized that in Java circles, there's much more thought and emphasis on building proper software architectures. Here, I learned a lot on software quality, (agile) development processes, architecture.

It's not like dynamic language communities aren't capable of delivering robust applications or lack the knowledge in general - I come from this world myself, and I alos saw a lot of bullshit code in Java. Still, I learned a lot there.

I also did some small projects with ruby/rails and groovy/grails in the meantime and played a bit with python/django - but goin' back to Java-based approaches at the moment - but you're mileage may vary.

In the end it's good to know multiple languages and frameworks, to be able to chose the best option wherever you are depending on requirements and staff, and I'd recommend not only learn dynamic, web-centered languages and frameworks but also more general ones. With things like Perl(although it's really losing ground due to the power and OO features of the thers), Python and Ruby you have generic languages that are easily available on most systems, can be used for shell scripting, Web, and standalone GUI developments alike - also very good direction!

I still have plain C, scheme/lisp and scala - and many interesting frameworks - on my "to-learn" list.