If this is a project of real scale and has a budget to match, I would say avoid choosing a language based on available programmers. Good programmers can learn a language for a project much easier than bad programmers can learn good techniques. For large scale projects I've seen more success getting smart people who can learn your tech stack and choosing the right tech for the problem you want to solve then I have with the "use PHP because there's a lot of cheap PHP programmers" strategy. That's not a knock against PHP (there are a lot of good PHP programmers too), but if you intend to get big enough to merit using a language with as much overhead as java you will hit problems with php. -- Paul Mooring From: keith smith > Reply-To: Main PLUG discussion list > Date: Sunday, January 20, 2013 12:24 PM To: "plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org" > Subject: OT: Java vs PHP Hi, I am in the process of planning a web project. I'm thinking possibly using Java. To this point I have done all my web projects using PHP. I know there will be a learning curve. My main question is the availability of Java programmers. It seems there is a lot of PHP talent available for PHP projects. I like that there is a lot of availability of PHP programmer because that makes my apps supportable if I move on or am otherwise not available. I have not met a lot of Java programmers, so I assume they are not available the same way PHP programmers are. In other words I think I can visit Gang Plank HQ and find a hand full of PHP programmers that I would fee good about pulling into a project. I'm not sure I can say the same with Java programmers, however I have not paid much attention when it comes to Java programmers. You thoughts are much appreciated!! ------------------------ Keith Smith