Hello,
Over the past few months I have been using such languages as PHP, mySql, Java, etc. but one of my lecturesers has told me if I really want to make it as a web programmer, I need to learn JSP.
How true is this?
PHP vs JSP
Not true at all. JSP may or may not be A Good Thing, but these other things such as PHP show no signs of going away soon.
Ive dealt with java, and its definitely a major committment on your end. Ive been using PHP and just started using mySQL and Im so glad I did! This duo is great and definitely easy to implement. I know Im not the web programmer type since I do graphics too. ; - )
Javaserver pages are great for what they are but it's like an alternative like ASP or even Cold Fusion if you want to go that route. Besides, do what you feel is comfortable, I like linux/UNIX implementations better and I'm no big fan of Microsoft products since the web is better with the Linux/UNIX platform and more fun. besides for 9 bucks a month you can have a great website running
PHP and mySQL for free!
cooooooooooll...
i also like mysql + php + apache + linux ..(
maybe redhat) ...
JSP = too slow. JSP = too clunky. JSP = null pointer exceptions. JSP = immature.
PHP = fast. PHP = free. PHP = mature and stable. PHP = JSP's worst nightmare.
Any questions?
I am a professional Web Applications Programmer and when I am developing in the Linux environment, I always use PHP.
A few weeks ago, I did some research into JSP and it seems like it might be the way to go in a couple of years, but all of the articles I read indicated that JSP has not been around long enough to be considered as "the" web development language.
Therefore, I am going to learn Java and watch the progress of JSP to ensure my employment in the future, but I am going to continue using PHP for now.
Java is the industry buzzword, and companies will pay more money than they should to get these programmers. While PHP may be better technically, it is harder to get employment as a php programmer, and imo people will not take you as serious as a php programmer as they would a java (or jsp) programmer. Your choice. This is not to say you cant make it as a php programmer (and imo it should be easier since you have better support and free tools) but understand what your getting into.
This may sound harsh, but I would seriously question your lecturer's qualifications after a comment like this.
I don't mean this at all as a "PHP rules and JSP sucks" thing; the simple fact is that there are MANY ways to create dynamic web sites, and nobody should ever say that you need to know technology X to "make it".
I've been in a senior developer position where I'm responsible for hiring for quite a while, and my suggestion is this.
The more technologies you know, the better your job prospects will be. If you like JSP, by all means download something like Tomcat (jakarta.apache.org) and start learning (I'm doing that now, even though my current company is not considering using it). The same goes for Cold Fusion, ASP, WebObjects etc. Your prospects will also be MUCH better if your language skills include some stuff outside of strictly web tools. This could mean C, C++, Java or a host of other languages.
By far your most important skill will be the ability to pick up new technologies very quickly. For this, spend more time on the boring fundamentals, and less time on learning the hot new language.
Best of luck,
Ken
spend more time on the boring fundamentals, and less time on learning the
hot new language.
Thank you; I couldn't agree more! I am continually amazed by those who think they can quickly pick up the language <i>de jour</i> with absolutely no general background and who then wonder why they have problems in their code (present company all excluded, of course!)
2 months later
Hmmm, since this is about other alternatives. I was wonder what's the call on WebObjects ? I've heard that the learning curve is extremely steep and basically will be going Java.
For me I think I'm going to stick with php but will in the future put a OSX server at one time or another. Just waiting on the stupid phone company to pull ADSL into the area.
4 months later
JSP will run faster and more efficient than PHP, because scripts compiled and loaded into the server's memory on first request.
The JSP model is to have all your business logic contained in your servelets and use JSP for display and layout. This is good for separating programming roles, but can cripple the programmer wanting to make quick code changes and modifications. PHP puts allot of power directly in the programmer's hands.
My approach is to learn Java by extending my PHP with servlets. After that, JSP will be an easy to implement option, if should I choose to.
3 months later
If you want to make it as a consultant, realize that nobody gives a crap about your ability to pick up new technologies. They want to see proven experience in the tools they are using listed on your resume. I know this from many years of experience dealing with recruiters and employers as a job seeker.
DICE job postings 9-3-01
JSP: 1057 jobs
PHP: 70 jobs
Enough said.
Bob
a month later
<my2cents>
PHP = lean and simple. Already in the rpm's for most Linux distrubutions!
JSP = Enterprise solutions.
tag libs - struts (see jakarta.apache.org 
oh yea, that whole j2ee back bone thingy. Fault tolerance, High Availability, QoS, outstanding support from the tool vendors. Takes some effort to setup. (apache/tomcat)
Both are free and with some tweaking can bee fast, reliable, and great alternatives to the Micro$oft solutions.
</my2cents>
2 months later
I came to this discussion looking for a PHP vs JSP answer. I think I could put in my 2 cents too.
I deal a lot with JSP and Servlets. I have started working with PHP also because I see a lot of "wab apps" developed in PHP and to tweak them, I will need to know what is going on.
About PHP vs JSP, I would choose JSP over PHP for the reasons that it is faster and there is a lot of support for it. I also like the fact that there is a general JDBC interface and a driver solves all the connectivity problems. Gives me independence over which database to you use, and changing databases is simple as changing driver. In PHP,I believe you have to call function that are designed for that database ( pgconnect is just for postgres and mysql has it own functions). Plus I am really good at JSP.
I would choose PHP over JSP because all the web hosting companies basically support it. Support for jsp in the web-hosting domain is more expensive for JSP. But if you have your own server, that problem is taken care of too.
I guess it was more than 2 cents.
I like them both JSP and PHP, but ASP is too dumb, and CFML is too databaseized for me.
Regards,
Pritpal Dhaliwal
4 days later
Does anyone know how I can generate an FDF form from a JSP page? Basically what I'm trying to do is finally is to take this FDF form and generate a PDF.
Any help/input would be appreciated
Thanks!
5 months later
Great! After reading all your comments, I think it'll be a good investment to learn another language or just grasp some ideas about the language. I've worked with PHP a lot and it is far easier than JSP. However, JSP does look very similar to Java and I know Java, so it won't be hard to pick up as well.
Does anyone know any good JSP references? How is ASP compared to PHP? How about ASP vs. J2EE?