The demand for Java and PHP programmers is hotter than ever

Most programmers today use Java and PHP in Web 2.0 applications, from social networking sites, to shopping carts, content management systems, and other complex applications. Popular sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, are using Java and PHP in some of their most important development work.

We’ve started to see the beginning of enterprise PHP applications. “The overall direction for PHP as it matures is to make its way into more enterprise-level applications as organizations take advantage of the agility and ease of learning that PHP affords” says Rendell, product development director at Oracle. “With PHP 5, development organizations are able to create more-powerful applications in much less time, which reduces costs”.

Keep your skills up to date

Continuing education is extremely important for programmers, as software and technologies are constantly evolving and advancing. Keeping the skills up to date is a must for every programmer that wants to remain competitive in the field. A good grounding in object-oriented theory and understanding of design patterns are always a plus and essential to becoming a better programmer.

Learn a new language

See what programming languages are gaining popularity and check whether your programming skills are still up to date. Keep in mind that PHP has a similar syntax to Java, what makes it very easy for PHP programmers to move to Java. If you already know PHP, then you can quickly learn other languages like Java, C++, C# or even JavaScript.

Statistics can help make a strategic decision about what programming language should be adopted when starting to build a new software system. The following chart shows the top programming languages with their shift in popularity and rating.