Php labor pool more expensive to ASP labor pool?

Anon

I recently encountered an unexpected situation where after completing a work order, that the next programmer, comfortable not with Php but ASP only, claims that the entire web app will need to be re-written due to the high variance in labor costs between the two available labor pools. He claims that Php programmers are much harder to come by than VBScript programmers, making the cost for ASP development much more agreeable for the client -- even to the point where it makes sense to rewrite the entire site!

I won't get into my rebuttal regarding the commercial viability and efficiency of Php in this forum, I'm just trying to determine here, with your input, if there is such a gap in the labor pool and to what extent it should be weighed when formulating a quotes for future clients.

If there is any degree of truth in his claim, please share your experiences and and any statistics you are familiar with.

Thanks.

Anon

Never heard of such a deal... I am a ColdFusion, PHP, ASP developer and I don't make more money than any ASP developers that I know of (and I am always on the cutting edge). IMHO the 'other' person is too lazy to realize the similarities between PHP and ASP and take this as an opportunbity to expand their portfolio. Only my opinion...

Anon

I do believe that CF and ASP developers are, on average, cheaper than most PHP developers, but I think it's because PHP has attracted more senior developers from that pool than junior developers.

Where I work a few of the junior programmers are much more comfy in CF, but all the heavy lifting is done in PHP, because CF is just too heavyweight a process to keep up and not versatile enough for some of the things we do in PHP (like building pdfs dynamically, or gif images, or connecting to databases with mediocre odbc connectors but good native connectors etc...)

The real issue of cost of a site isn't in the development, it's in the maintenance, feed and caring. PHP sites seem to need less of this than ASP and CF sites in my experience.

Anon

I have to tell you that the person in question has just about given up. Fire them.

If they worked for my TCOM VAR I'd terminate their employment. The kids at the local university here in KC (Kansas City, Missorui, DeVry U.) do web development for companies and churches for their senior projects every year. (Free.)

If you look at the projects done here, and the other forums, PHP programmers are reasonable and amiable.

Regards,

Michael