novice:which web programming language to learn?

n in php its easy to find work on net... freelancing sites are full of small projects in php, and you always learn more while working on actual projects.

so i guess in php you will start working on actual projects very soon.

ehm, first you should start from basic HTML and JavaScript and then u can also learn CGI and Pearl if you want to make core projects

I think he knows his basics and is looking beyond that. nobody uses CGI anymore, cgi-perl would have been a good combo 10 years back....not anymore

PHP is a simple language to learn and work on...if you are looking for freelancing work or something you would be doing in your freetime, then you can go for PHP...but if you are looking to make a career into it, then I would recommend you to go for Java/JSP or DOT NET...i have worked on PHP and not many big companies work on PHP and also the salary hike is less compared to other languages....so later in your career when you would want to join some big company and relax, you will have very few options.

You will surely find a lot of PHP openings, but thos are with small or medium sized companies...not with companies like TCS, Infosys, EDS, Accenture...etc

devp24.. thats a valid point.. and future safe learning should be and is desired.. but how would you see career as a freelancer web developer in india? well, market is huge for that matter.. and then array of choices of technologies as per the demand of the client.. ranging from complete flash sites to simple and static html sites..e-commerce sites to online forums.. i think each technology is good for a specific kind of requirement.. and employing a substitute technology for a specific web requirement shall bring a compromise with it.. for a freelancer web developer or more appropriately web entrepreneur.. learning each and every aspect - i.e. design, coding, content creation etc.. is relevant and inevitable.. so, i do not see an escape route but to learn slowly and steady all whats being employed these days in websites per se..

but the question is, is it possible? its maddening..

I agree with devp24. Many small companies will hire you if you know PHP. As for the bigger ones, it's better that you know JAVA. Most of my friends under training in the big companies have projects in Java. As for concepts, languages may not really make a difference but if you want to stick in the OO domain, i found Java easier to pick up that C++. If you're learning C++ remember to use the gcc compiler. Many novices make the mistake of following old Turbo C conventions

Sorry, to dig this old post up...but found this interesting interview from Stroustrup here... Have fun reading the interview from the inventor of C++... Its a really good laugh!!

The real interview is here. The earlier one that I posted was a fake mockup!!