Re: the state of the PHP community

On Jul 29, 2010, at 1:36 AM, Nathan Rixham wrote: > Hi All, > > I find myself wondering about the state of the PHP community (and related community with a PHP > focus), so, here's a bunch of questions - feel free to answer none to all of them, on list or > off, or add more of your own - this isn't for anything specific, just out of interest and sure > I (and everybody who reads the replies) will learn something + doors/options/contacts may come of > it. The only thing I can guarantee is that I'm genuinely interested in every reply and will > read every one of them + lookup every tech and link mentioned. > > in no particular order: > > What other languages and web techs do you currently use other than PHP? > - if you include html or css please include version, if js then preferred libs, and whether > client or server side. Java, JS (in the form of Node and MongoDB, +raw client / jQuery stuff) and PHP get used regularly. Python / Ruby infrequently. > > What's your previous language/tech trail? Started with QBasic and realized it was crap. Moved on to Java, realized object rock but J2EE doesn't. Moved to PHP / Java. > > Are you considering any new languages or techs, and if so which? > - names / links http://www.mongodb.org/ http://nodejs.org/ See http://joshuakehn.com/blog/index.php/blog/view/28/MongoDB-Node-js/ > > Is PHP your hobby/interest, primary development language, just learning or? Primary dev, hobby, interest, all of the above? > > How many years have you been using PHP regularly? More then five, but it's really hard to say when it stopped being just a language and the primary. > > How many years have you been working with web technologies? More then eight, though I remember HTML when tables were used for everything and spacer gifs were *the* thing. > > Did you come from a non-web programming background? Yes, primarily Java. > > Is your primary role web developer or designer? Developer. I couldn't design if you paid me my weight in gold. > > In your developer life, are you an employer, and employee, contractor, freelancer, part of a > team of equal standing members? Contractor / freelancer / employee / employer. Currently teaming up with a friend. > > Do you tend to work on jobs for geo-local clients, clients in the same country, or do you work > internationally 'on the web'? I like to work in person, but sometimes that doesn't work. I have done international work before. > > How do you get your projects? do they come to you, word of mouth, do you hunt and bid for > projects, code call, visit clients, target clients individually you think you can help, or? > - not looking for trade secrets, just to get enough for an overall picture. Word of mouth mostly. > > Do you have any frustrations with the PHP community, do you find you want to talk shop but > can't, or find people to work with but can't, have projects in mind you want to do but > can't find people to do them with etc? Not particularly. > > Do you network with other PHP'ers in real life - meetups etc, do you tend to shy away, or > do you find you circulate in other web related but non PHP focussed communities? I haven't gotten flashed on any PHP meetups, but I wouldn't shy away from them. > > Are you a member or any other web tech communities, opensource efforts, or standardization > bodies - again, if so which? None that I recall. > > Are there any efforts, projects or initiatives which are floating your boat right now and that > your watching eagerly (or getting involved with)? Node, Mongo. I'm also watching a couple git repos, memcached and scribe to name two. Some stuff I just can't be involved in (C / C++ dev is tricky when you work with Java / PHP). > > ps: please *do not* flame anybodies answers, that really wouldn't be fair. > > Best & Regards, > > Nathan > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php > Regards, -Josh