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PHP or Javascript first...

by butters
12 replies
Decided to learn PHP , went on the W3 website and said I should know html/xhtml (I know html not xhtml) and javascript. Now, would starting with javascript be better or would it be better and kind of do both as I go along?
#javascript #php
  • Profile picture of the author Shounak Gupte
    really depends on where you are applying this knowledge. i would say you should know both javascript and php

    P.S.: there is not much difference in HTML and XHTML
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    • Profile picture of the author jminkler
      Originally Posted by shounakgupte View Post

      really depends on where you are applying this knowledge. i would say you should know both javascript and php

      P.S.: there is not much difference in HTML and XHTML
      IE won't even render TRUE XHTML .. stick with HTML 4 strict.
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  • Profile picture of the author kaido
    Not really an javascript fan so i think that PHP is the way to go.
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  • Profile picture of the author dianaparis1
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  • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
    Or you could stop worrying about it. If you want to learn some programming learn something, anything. Whatever you learn, learn it the right way with no shortcuts or excuses, and you'll do just fine.
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    • Profile picture of the author BenB969
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      • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
        Originally Posted by BenB969 View Post

        Javascript is also useful for complex ajax web applications, but in this case you'd have to know PHP anyway!
        Nonsense. PHP is not required for any web applications. Any server side language could be used. You could go your entire career without ever learning PHP and you'd still be able to create complex database driven web-applications.

        JavaScript, on the other hand, is used in virtually ever web-application. It's usage is much more broadly based than PHP, and it is in fact the most widely spread programming language in the world because there is an interpreter in every browser. PHP is only interpreted on the server.

        That said, neither language really gives a strong basis for learning other languages. They are both "loose", not type safe languages with little structure that rely on the will of the programmer to create structured programs, that are easily maintained. It is generally theorized by academics that it is better to learn structured, type-safe languages such as C++ or Java as a first language.
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  • Profile picture of the author aa411853
    I agree with the others. You can do much more with PHP. Plus JS frustrates the &*%$ out of me.
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    • Profile picture of the author butters
      TY I found a nice little tutorial site, lynda.com and starting to learn some PHP now .
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  • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
    Originally Posted by BenB969 View Post

    Of course, I also wrote before - "PHP or any other server side programming language"
    Apologies, I didn't see that you wrote that earlier. I still don't want people to think that PHP is the only technology that matters on the web. This is in spite of the fact that PHP is the server language that I use personally.

    I personally learned PHP before I learned JavaScript, but before I learned either I had other programming experience. If someone is starting off with one of these two technologies, I think, ideally, you would either have some experience or else study something else first. Of course, if have it in your blood it won't matter what you learn, you should be having fun and learning just how the logic of programming works.
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  • Profile picture of the author osegoly
    I like Steven Mount's response

    I am not sure what your project involves. I would recommend you to focus on javascript first if your project involves a lot of 'client-side' programming and focus on PHP first if your project mainly involves 'server-side' programming. Look up the two terms above if you are not yet familiar with them.

    I personally learned PHP first and picked up javascript along the way. There are many similarities between the two. The main difference is how you write the code and when you trigger it.

    As for outsourcing, it is always better to outsource your work if you have some understanding in the field. Of course you don't have to have any, but you will be able to better explain yourself and you are likely to see better results if you are knowledgeable in the field.

    Good luck.
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