Re: [chiPHPug-discuss] In defense of PHP

[Arlo L. <ar...@ar...>]

Hello,

> I'm beginning to wonder if PHP has any merit at all. What does PHP have that
> other languages doesn't that makes it worth using. Does PHP even have any
> advantages to other languages?

Compared to other languages and authoring tools I've used, and compared to
pre-built systems I've tried to customize, building from scratch with PHP
just works. It's so straightforward, the documentation is so good, and
online examples are so plentiful, that I feel productive all the time. With
other technologies, I'm always hitting dead ends, getting frustrated, and
pulling out my hair. This isn't very objective or quantifiable, but it's a
palpable difference for me.

I've been using PHP for seven years, so I know it better than other tools,
but I felt that way from the beginning ... it just works and I can get stuff
done. At the same time, I haven't outgrown it and I'm always learning new
things that it can do.

I keep seeing all these new technologies coming along, but with my personal
code library and Subversion I seem to have everything I need. The main
advantage the newer tools seem to offer is greater efficiency, but I don't
feel inefficient now, and I'm very sensitive to using time well. When I use
other tools, I do spend LOTS of time trying to get around them when
something goes wrong.

I guess the other advantage the newer tools offer is to somehow promote
better programming practices. But I believe good programming is a function
of the programmer, not the language or tool. I'm pretty sure an experienced,
disciplined programmer can build a better project with basic tools than an
undisciplined or inexperienced programmer with the hot new technology. You
can't buy good programming practices (or download them from an open-source
project)!

Cheers,
-Arlo

_______________________________

Arlo Leach
773.769.6106
http://arlomedia.com

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