Ask HN: What language to learn to get hired...

2 points·oldmanstan··5 comments

..by a startup? (For web development that is, so: PHP, Python, or Ruby.)

A while ago, I saw a graph that compared the different languages, but can't find it now.

I'm pretty sure there are startups using any and all of the listed options, along with Scala, Erlang, Clojure, Haskell, Common Lisp, OCaml, Java, C, C++, Standard ML, Prolog, C#, Visual Basic, Ada, Tcl, Perl, COBOL, FORTRAN, RPG/400, APL, Pascal, JCL, PL/I, GW-BASIC, Whitespace, Befunge, Brainfuck, and Intercal.

IMO: Learn something you find interesting, instead of worrying about "what do I learn to get hired." You'll be happier in the long run.

That said, don't underestimate the power of "COBOL on COGS." http://www.coboloncogs.org/INDEX.HTM

http://www.dataists.com/2010/12/ranking-the-popularity-of-pr...

http://regulargeek.com/2010/12/11/9-programming-languages-to...

For web dev one needs to understand the whole stack:

- some back end language: I recommend looking into scala, clojure, F#, erlang besides your 3, which are all terrific languages

- database design and tuning (SQL relational and otherwise)

- javascript/CSS and at least) compatibility matrix for IE, firefox and chrome

- reasonably proficient at linux admin: SSH, iptables, tools like nagios,

TIOBE Programming Community Index for December 2010

http://tiobe.com/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html

I think PHP is not a bad choice. It's not as cool as Ruby but it gets things done (not that Ruby doesn't). If I were in your shoes, I'd go with Ruby, just because my intuition says so.

All three of those are used by various web start-ups. So unless you have a particular employer in mind you'd like to target, just learn whichever you find most interesting.

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