which language is best for the following?

[joelmon]

Though I realize it might not be set in stone, I am just curious what experts might think

I want to move from asp and cosider the 3 following choices:

Python, Perl, PHP

My objectives are

A.) Dynamic web sites, personalization, database display etc which I used to do in ASP

B.) System calls to perform functions such as create pdf and compress file/directory into zip/.gz and create dynamic images so text can be written into them dynamically with specified fonts (freetype and image magic I shall install if needed)

C.) Optimal performance and speed

Basically, this sums up what I want to work on personally so i am wondering which of the 3 is best in your opinion

(If other option, simply let me know)

I am just curious and it's a good way for a newbie like me to learn

Thanks for your time

Joel

[Stuka]

Any of the 3 will do what you need. Python's got better OO than the other 2 if that's a factor for you. I THINK all 3 have Apache modules, so speed will not vary too much. It's a coin toss if ya ask me!

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Java Server Pages combined with Java Servlets using Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) will do what you nee AND it will be cross platform capable if your web server ever goes to Linux. ASP (Active Server Pages) is a M$ only platform (at least as I understand it).


A.) Dynamic web sites, personalization, database display etc which I used to do in ASP

Yep, the java solutions can do all of this


B.) System calls to perform functions such as create pdf and compress file/directory into zip/.gz and create dynamic images so text can be written into them dynamically with specified fonts (freetype and image magic I shall install if needed)


Java has Zip file support build in. There are tools in the Xerces or Xalan XML parsers that can produce PDF files. The Graphics classes can create images and write text into them and then save that image as a GIF or Jpeg.


C.) Optimal performance and speed


Even though Java has an unjustified reputation for slowness, as a web app server it works great. I've worked for 3 different companies (the current one being a major california bank) who all use this java based architecture for their web site. We've tested our code with 400 users and it still gives page responses in the 1 second or less range.


Hope it helps

[joelmon]

Thanks, guys

Just fyi, I am on linux, raq 3

I never included jsp as I don't know enough about it to know why I'd use it over those 3
Though I will check it out

But among those 3 I wonder which solves more problems. If php or python would be best suited, if not perl,which might just consume more resources

Thanks, I will learn something with each replyI bet. That's why I ask
:)