My beloved NLanders, which Programming Language holds brighter prospects in today's Nigeria?

Probably PHP - It is ubiquitious and doesn't cost you a dime and pretty much every host out there supports it (and mySQL)

Well not hosting for cheap prices is the matter. But the solution to any application problems can only be determined by what language can best solve the problem. Also all programming languages have their Limitations.

php can.t be the best.for one reason it.s loose type.i think the best is c++ With qt.It allows intergratn with other platform.But php no argue is best web development tool.[color=][/color]

Well i still remain on my stand. One can't conclude that a particular programming language is the best.It all depends on what you want to achieve and how fast you can achieve it. Precisely PHP is not the best web development tool but on can conclude that it is the most widely used web development language, it also has it's limitation. Try other tools like JSP,ASP.NET,PERL,Ruby on Rails,Coldfusion e.t.c,

I think the keyword here is "today's nigeria".  When I see that:

1) I am thinking what can be easily learned at the lowest cost
2) I am thinking what most of the applications in Nigeria are written with
3) I am thinking what probably has the lowest learning curve, at least to get one's feet wet
4) I am thinking infrastructure that would enable someone to learn any language the quickest (coding environment, hosting (if for the web) and its associated costs, books, etc)

In other words, I am not thinking what language is best overall.  None is, when it boils down to it.  Each has its strengths and weaknesses and besides, has been hashed out over and over on here that it is boring.

Again, let's think "in today's Nigeria".

I will rather go with yawatide. By the way, i handle both software and website building. . .maybe we should vote

For web development, PHP/MySQL is the easiest technology to be productive with.
The problem is that you have to learn PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
The days of working with one general-purpose language are long gone. Sadly.

Personaly i prefer A/B/C or 1/2/3 and sometimes do/re/mi. It has proven to be a success for me in the past.

It really depends on your target market. Either choose the right tool for the job at hand or target a market that fits the tool you have expertise in.

Here's some general advice:
If you are building home pages and other small stuff, scripting languages like Ruby and PHP, MySql, text files, MS Access are fine.
If your development is targeted at run off the mill, bog standard enterprise websites; java is ok if your target market is a bit hampered by cost. C++ is a mismatch for the web, don't go there.
For the top range web market, nothing out there can touch ASP.NET for a blend of raw power and rapid development; this includes highly scalable banking and transactional websites, massively multiplayer gaming sites etc.

For database servers; the most popular are MSSql Server and MySql. MSSql Server beats MySql by a very wide margin; but Oracle is by far the best performer (also, the most complicated).
There are other database server types like DB2 and PostgreSQL, you can simply walk past these ones; don't waste your time.

Whatever you do in life, never target the PHP/MySql combination on high traffic, always available sites that must scale; or you will shed many bitter tears.

Whatever gets you by the day

@Beaf: That was a very sound analysis only that I would not completely agree with your php/mysql assertion. It isnt that bad. I work in an enterprise enviroment with .net, php & coldfusion developers; for me, PHP applications remains the most stable of all. A whole lot depends on the developers/administrators of this systems.

@TCDURU, I think your question is quite vargue. You might realy need to be specific and clear on what "brighter prospects" means to you. Do you mean Job Oppurtunity, Cost, Infrastructure, Market demand, Academic relevance etc, else this thread would leave you more confused.

Remain Good.

huh??

It all depends on the business needs and requirements of the project. If it's just a simple website that has to do with web presence and simple database operations then PHP/MySQL is the way but for enterprise applications that has to do with the business process of any organization then Java or .NET is the ideal development platform. However I mentioned Java and .NET because they are the most popular platforms in this part of d world. If one does a worldwide research you will find other enterprise languages.

I will watch and learn, but I enjoy PHP/MySQL/Javascript. Sorry to say but apparently PHP is the lead, both in Nigeria and worldwide (Most used).

The only edge PHP has over other languages is in the area of CMS frameworks.

As far as web development goes, PHP and MySQL rules the world in my humble opinion. Handling everything from forms, galleries, flash, database building and quering - not to mention the best CMS are built with PHP. After HTML, if you dont understand php, you are lost!!. PERIOD - FULL STOP

For the development of programs however, thats another story: PHP (is certainly not in the picture here) but I wanted to build a simple program the other day and somewhere between Java and C++ I couldnt quite get what I wanted. The answer should be easy to find: For php the logic is that some of the most used websites are Php based - websites like Facebook for instance. How about programmes, what language was used to build your favourite programs, me I'm a gamer: so I know it probably is beyond one language to be the ONE.

am skilling up right now in JAVA PROGRAMMING and i am looking forward to the future market and not just the present market, RUBY and RAILS, PHYTON are programming languages u have to consider too considering the fact that social media applications are written with siuch languages, nevertheless, C++ , VISUAL BASIC etc are still tight, what amtters is for you to SKILL UP,

it does not matter much because the present situation in Nigeria has blown a big gap in the market for IT services, there are tons of opportunities for php, asp, flash, c++ c# .NET,COBOL etc
?
and the indians are have not moved in yet

Java

and then .NET (with Nuke, sharepoint etc.) for Web portals.
PHP is used by smaller shops (and it can be used with Java and .NET portals) but if you're looking at total IT spend on software its simply Java.


if you sample the telcos and banks, most apps are simply Java, those that were developed in C++ in the early 90s are being migrated to Java.

If you look at the type of applications and hardware platforms used in the enterprise , u'll find mostly Solaris, AIX and HP UX (and some Linux). These
platforms are not ready for .NET so Java has the run of the field.

Windows OSes are used mostly for exchange, active directory, Lotus notes etc. But vertical apps generally run on NIX boxes.

some ppl are underestimating php here. maybe due to their limited knowlege of the language sha

python, google runs on python for a reason

You people are getting it all wrong. The question does not say, which programming language is the best or rather the best for web.
NIGERIA + PROGRAMMING!!! Ha ba! For someone that works with python and someone that works with php, which one holds better
prospects (opportunities, job. . . .) here for 9ja!!

And again, notice the poster stated clearly that programming which covers everything, from desktop applications to websites (of course web applications).

Ghenghis:

Java

and then .NET (with Nuke, sharepoint etc.) for Web portals.
PHP is used by smaller shops (and it can be used with Java and .NET portals) but if you're looking at total IT spend on software its simply Java.


if you sample the telcos and banks, most apps are simply Java, those that were developed in C++ in the early 90s are being migrated to Java.

If you look at the type of applications and hardware platforms used in the enterprise , u'll find mostly Solaris, AIX and HP UX (and some Linux). These
platforms are not ready for .NET so Java has the run of the field.

Windows OSes are used mostly for exchange, active directory, Lotus notes etc. But vertical apps generally run on NIX boxes.

Much more better.

@webmonkey

your post makes the most sense. I don't understand why people in nigeria seem to think

website development = software development .

I am happy you said "people in Nigeria" because it does, IMHO 

what is web development technically but software development for the web. Even the wiki, though I wouldn't necessarily regard it as an authority, says as much
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software

For naija, we too dey like title and to dey use title downgrade people unnecessarily.  This to me is a defense mechanism to mask something the downgrading party doesn't want others to know.  Platform should be no discriminating factor when it comes to programming.

Now i wonder why my post got deleted, did i break any rules?

Based on the responses here, especially from the IT folks in Nigeria, it certainly looks like PHP is it. So, you may well go that route. However, if down the road you want to learn programming or even think about developing enterprise level web applications, I think learning Java/.NET will definitely be a good way to go. No one is saying any one language is better than the other. Just use the one you need to get the job at hand done.

@ webmonkey,that was a positive article.True talk for those venturing in naija's software industry.

In my lost post (maybe i posted it in my dreams), i was sayin that php is not necessarily the best lang or web lang, but that it is quite popular in nigeria.

@topic,

PHP.

Every single programming language has its pros and cons so it really depends on your ability to learn and master a programming language to the extent you can use it to implement any logic you want to implement.

It is not by accident that about 70% of web applications out there run on PHP and it is not by accident that the most popular (or visited) Nigeria website is Nairaland which runs on PHP.

Feel free to see comments condemning PHP as unnecessary distractions especially by people who don't understand or know the language well.

Exactly exam, that just says it all!