Which Server Side Language Should You Choose?

Posted in Development and Technology by 3wise Solutions with 0 comment(s)

As mentioned in a previous article, there are a number of Server Side languages to choose from, which one is right for you will probably depend on predetermined requirements rather than which is the best language.

All the languages perform in a similar manner i.e. same core functionality and performance. However, certain policies or pre-existing conditions may dictate which language you use.

For example, if you already use Macromedia products, such as Flash and Director, extensively then the natural choice for would for the Macromedia scripting product Coldfusion (CFM).

If the site had to be hosted internally on a Sun web server then Java Server Pages (JSP) would be the natural choice.

The two most commonly supported languages on web hosting packages are Active Server Pages (ASP) and PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP).

ASP is a Microsoft language which runs on Windows servers using Microsoft's web server Internet Information Server.

PHP is an open source product which runs on just about any web server and any operating system.

Both these languages have pros and cons as follows:

ASP

To set up a development or internal web server for ASP is expensive.
ASP servers have to be higher specification than PHP servers to match performance.
Microsoft products are targetted regularly by hackers because the are renowned for poor security as highlighted by the Nimda virus which took out 1000's of Microsoft based web sites.
ASP is better supported by the development community because it is a commercial product.

PHP

Inexpensive to set up a development or internal web server i.e. all software is free
Runs on low specification hardware, more reliably than ASP
Tends to more secure as it most hosting packages run on the Linux platform with Apache web server
Not as well supported by commercial developers though this situation is changing as it grows in popularity

In my experience, if you don't have a preference for either language, normally the development and hosting cost will be the deciding factor for your choice of language. Our personal preference is PHP but that's because it's what we specialise in ;o)