Language Popularity ASP vs. PHP

Matt and I werediscussing the flexibility of PHP. I commented that I keep hearing everyone saying ASP/ASP.net is the best of the best for web development, but judging by the fruits of the internet I would say PHP is more popular and more powerful. I realize that judging its power based on popularity isn't accurate, but I think having such a large repository of available projects to leverage as well as sites dedicated to the language is a huge strength of a language.

Beyond an estimate based on observation, you can judge a language's popularity in three ways.

1. TIOBE Programming Community Index. Unfortunately it doesn't include ASP/ASP.net since it does not consider it an actual language. It does include PHP, and rates it quite highly at #5 (In other news, Delphi moved up to #9 in December!)
2. Google Fight, which compares the Google results of two search terms. It puts PHP as the winner with 2.7 million results vs. ASP with 1.7 million results.
3. Google Code Search, which is the latest in a long line of code search engines. It has 567,000 PHP code samples and only 400 ASP code samples.

TIOBE does a really good job in tracking language popularity. It would be interesting to see how they would rate ASP/ASP.net in comparison to PHP, but I suspect it would put PHP very high on the list. The final indicator of the value of a language is asking people who know both PHP and ASP/ASP.net. They all favor PHP over ASP/ASP.net.

Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [PHP] [ASP.net] [ASP]

Got API?

Matt just sent me this site: www.GotApi.com. "It's indexed the API's of PHP, Javascript (DOM related only it looks like... of course thats the tough part anyway), HTML, and CSS."

Matt and I were discussing the popularity and power of PHP vs. ASP/ASP.net.

Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [API] [PHP] [Javascript ] [DOM ] [HTML] [CSS]

Code Gear coming out party (Borland developer tools)

Borland has finally announced what they are doing with their developer tools. By the sound of what is going on from the Yahoo Finance site, Borland is forming a new company that will be a "wholly-owned subsidiary".

Anyway, they have a web site: CodeGear.com.

The front page shows an animated GIF showing: CodeGear = new Company(); or CodeGear := TCompany.Create(); or $CodeGear = new Company()

Technorati Tags: [CodeGear] [Borland] [Delphi] [TurboC++]

Java now Open Source

Sun finally came through on its promise to go Open Source with Java. And they did. With a remarkably small amount of fanfare I might add.

At least I haven't heard much on it yet -- but then again, I'm mainly a .NET developer. So what would I know? :)

Anyway, here is the official Sun web site for it: http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/

Technorati Tags:[Programming] [Software] [Java]

Firebird goes 2.0

Since BSDG used to be primarily a Borland user group, I thought we should at least mention that Firebird has gone 2.0.

For those of you that don't know, FireBird is the Open Sourced version of Borland's Interbase database. It has installs for Windows 32 and 64, and multiple versions of Linux

Technorati Tags: [FireBird] [Database] [Interbase]

.NET 3.0 Released

Title says it all for now...and on election day. Hmmmmm.

See it here

Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [.NET 3.0]

Vista, Office 2007, Exchange due Nov 30

According to IT Wire, they have received official word that Vista, Office 2007, and Exchange will be released on Nov 7. That should mean the release of .NET 3.0 as well.

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/6820/52/

I think this will be the new official D Day for developers and IT professionals everywhere, and hopefully will round out a pretty full release calendar for the past few months. I'm still coming to terms with IE7 and FireFox 2.0. Now we have a new OS and Office platform to boot! And a slew of new things in .NET 3.0!

It isn't that this changes everything, but it will change nearly everything.

Technorati Tags: [Vista] [Office] [Exchange][.NET3.0] [IE7] [FireFox 2.0]

What's up at O'Reilly

O'Reilly is offering some deals for User Group members: Subscribe to MAKE or CRAFT and get 1 issue free, or buy books at 30% to 35% off with the new user group code DSUG. O'Reilly has a great selection of books you can choose from, including some interesting new ones (See bellow). O'Reilly is a great supporter of user groups too, which makes me a huge fan.

MAKE magazine is all about really cool and terribly geeky projects and cool hacks. They claim they are about DIY Technology projects. I say it is the resource if you really want to prove your geekiness for all to see. They have a whole community on their site where you can share your projects too. Check it out.

CRAFT is their new magazine that just came out this month. While MAKE is all about technology and science, CRAFT is about, well, crafts. As they describe it on their site, they are the first project-based magazine dedicated to the renaissance happening within the world of crafts.

Here are some new books that I think look really interesting, but you can check out their new releases and see what looks hot to you.

• Cryptography for Developers
• Hack the Stack
• Mapping and Modding Half-Life 2 Complete
• Process Improvement Essentials
• Programming Atlas
• WarDriving and Wireless Penetration Testing
• Web Scripting Little Black Book

I am planning to get the Process Improvement Essentials book. I'll let you know how good it is.

Technorati Tags: [Programming] [O'Reilly] [Crafts] [Books] [Technology] [DIY]

FireFox 2.0 release

This is good news: 1 week, 2 new browsers.

Today FireFox 2.0 was release. www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

A few days ago IE 7 was released. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie

Because of one week in the entire year we now have to go through every site we ever developed to make sure everything still looks like it is supposed to.

The programming gods are against us.

Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [Browsers] [FireFox] [Internet Explorer]

Open Source is Contagious

No, this isn't a continuation of Microsoft's rant that Open Source licenses are viral (which is actually only true of some of them). Instead it is cool news about how QUALCOMM, makers of the fabulous Eudora mail program, will be basing future versions on Mozilla's Thunderbird email program. They will add all the cool features of Eudora, and then make the resulting program free and open source.

I am curious if they plan to offer support as a revenue stream. QUALCOMM also provides a number of wireless and cellular products, so they may have decided that they don't need the incomesteam from Eudora, and would instead of incredible brand recognition by improving their circulation.

Not so long ago Opera software made their lightening quick browser completely free, but not open source. Maybe they will join forces with Mozilla's Firefox and make an open source version of Opera. If they could give Firefox a huge speed improvement we would all be winners. I really like Opera, but I am hooked on the huge sellection of extensions for Firefox. It would be great to have both!

UPDATE: After reading thier FAQ on the announcement I found their motivation.

Why is Eudora moving to an open source development platform?

QUALCOMM has decided not to remain in the email market because it is not in alignment with the core business or strategic goals. By moving Eudora to an open source product, QUALCOMM can exit the Eudora business while still supporting Eudora users and advancing the Eudora e-mail client at a faster pace than before, through the power of the open source development community.

So in answer to my speculation, they are not offering support as a revenue stream, they are just taking an honorable exit from a specific market. I think it is great when companies do that.

Technorati Tags: [Software] [Eudora] [Open Source] [Thunderbird] [Mozilla] [Firefox] [Opera]