[thelist] LAMP vs. Perl vs. Ruby on Rails

[Dave Merrill]

If you're looking to get stuff done on the web, check out ColdFusion. Its
syntax is very similar to html, less like a "programming language", and it's
still pretty powerful. The development version is free. If cost to clients
is a big issue, there's a free mostly-compatible server called Blue Dragon.

IMO, php isn't as pretty as some other languages, and perl is much worse. Of
the choices you listed, Ruby on Rails is far and away the most elegant from
what I know, but I can't really speak to it in detail. Lots of work gets
done in php every day though.

FWIW, I'm a fan of python, and there are various approaches to web apps that
are based on python, from lightweight templating tools like Cheetah and the
php-like PSP, to heavy-weight solutions like Zope, or Plone (CMS, built on
Zope). Python is also more widely used than Ruby, if that matters to you.

If you want to be employable, learn java, but that's "real programming", and
you'll still want some sort of web app layer if that's your focus. (Java can
do desktop apps too.) If you want less $ but an easier learning curve, php.
There is ColdFusion and python work out there, but less, by a lot, and less
yet in ruby.

</$0.000002>

Dave Merrill

> I know I've cut a pretty broad swath in the
> technological fabric of web development; but I'd like
> to know if there are general impressions of the
> accessibility if these varied tools/methodologies for
> creating dynamic site content.  I am, in practical
> terms, a n00b to this stuff, in that I haven't
> actually coded anything in MySQL, Perl, Ruby, or PHP;
> however, I've read up on different elements of each,
> and have some generalized coding experience (limited
> C++, more limited Javascripting hacking [i.e. revising
> someone else's code]), so the concepts and some of the
> executional details of each method aren't completely
> alien.
>
> That said, I'd like to enter the world of (at least
> superificially) dynamic content development.  It will
> likely end up being experimental at first (some
> rotating image and/or quotes stuff, more ambitious
> experimental things, all for personal use, at least
> for now).  Also, since I want to start hacking into my
> WordPress install to see what fun I can have, I'll
> likely lean toward PHP.  I'm sure that the
> technologies aren't mutually exclusive, such that PHP
> can call Perl scripts or something.
>
> So, again, the question is: is there an appreciable
> difference in the accessibility and, separately, the
> ultimate utility, of any of these scripting
> languages/technological approaches?
>
> And, again, I understand that this is broad, so I
> imagine that there has been such a discussion
> somewhere.  A quick Google didn't do much good, so I
> thought I'd light up evolt toward my evil goals.
> Muhahahaha and all that.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Daniel