2023: PHP is dead, learn python! but php is immortal

In the ever-evolving world of programming languages, trends come and go, and languages rise and fall in popularity. One language that has faced constant speculation about its demise is PHP. Critics have long questioned its relevance and sustainability, often proclaiming it a “dead language.” However, it is essential to examine the current state of PHP in 2023 and analyze whether these claims hold any merit. Currently PHP latest version is 8. PHP 8.3 is the active development branch of PHP versions. It’s the current target for new RFCs, and is scheduled to be released towards the end of 2023.

PHP’s Evolution

PHP, initially created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, has undergone significant transformations over the years. From its humble beginnings as a simple templating language, it evolved into a full-fledged server-side scripting language widely adopted for web development. With the introduction of PHP 7 in 2015, the language witnessed significant performance improvements and the addition of modern features, addressing some of its past criticisms.

Popularity and Community Support

One crucial aspect of determining a language’s vitality is its popularity and community support. Despite the rise of newer languages like Python and JavaScript, PHP continues to maintain a strong presence. According to the latest TIOBE Index, PHP remains among the top ten most popular programming languages globally. Furthermore, PHP boasts a vast and active community, with numerous frameworks, libraries, and resources available for developers.

Web Development Dominance

PHP’s true strength lies in its dominance in web development. Many of the world’s most prominent websites, such as Facebook, WordPress, and Wikipedia, rely heavily on PHP. Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, which powers over 40% of the web, are primarily built on PHP. The language’s ability to handle dynamic web content efficiently has made it a preferred choice for countless web developers.

Continued Language Development

Contrary to the notion of a stagnant language, PHP has made significant strides in recent years. The PHP development team releases regular updates and version upgrades, addressing security vulnerabilities, improving performance, and introducing new features. PHP 8, released in November 2020, brought numerous enhancements, including the JIT compiler, union types, and improvements in error handling, making the language more modern and robust.

Adaptation to Modern Practices

PHP has embraced modern practices and tools, enabling developers to build high-quality applications. With the introduction of Composer, a dependency management tool, and frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter, PHP projects have become more structured, modular, and maintainable. These advancements have contributed to PHP’s longevity and enabled developers to create scalable applications efficiently.

Ecosystem and Job Market

The PHP ecosystem remains vibrant, with a plethora of tools and frameworks designed to enhance productivity. Developers can leverage frameworks like Laravel for rapid application development, CakePHP for building robust applications, and PHPUnit for unit testing. The availability of such tools, combined with PHP’s wide adoption, ensures a steady demand for PHP developers in the job market.

is python the king now?

Python has undoubtedly gained immense popularity and is widely considered one of the most prominent programming languages in recent years. It has seen widespread adoption across various domains, including web development, data analysis, machine learning, and scientific computing. However, whether Python can be considered the “king” of programming languages is subjective and depends on various factors.

Python’s strengths lie in its simplicity, readability, and extensive library ecosystem, which make it highly versatile and beginner-friendly. Its popularity has been further boosted by frameworks like Django and Flask for web development and libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, and TensorFlow for data analysis and machine learning.

Python’s rise in popularity can also be attributed to its adoption by major tech companies and organizations, as well as its support in educational institutions. Its usage in fields like data science and artificial intelligence has solidified its position as a go-to language for those domains.

However, it’s important to note that the programming language landscape is diverse, and different languages have their own strengths and areas of expertise. Languages like JavaScript, Java, C++, and others continue to be widely used and have significant communities and ecosystems surrounding them.

Therefore, while Python has gained significant traction and popularity, it would be more accurate to say that it is one of the most influential and widely used languages today rather than proclaiming it the definitive “king” of all programming languages. The choice of programming language ultimately depends on the specific requirements and objectives of a project.

As the tech industry has evolved over the years, there have been numerous instances where critics have declared PHP as “dead” and urged developers to switch to other languages and frameworks. These claims often follow a pattern, as seen in the following series of memes:

“1995: PHP is dead, learn ColdFusion 2002: PHP is dead, learn ASP.net 2003: PHP is dead, learn Django 2004: PHP is dead, learn Ruby on Rails 2010: PHP is dead, learn Flask 2011: PHP is dead, learn AngularJS 2016: PHP is dead, learn NodeJS 2020: PHP is dead, learn Next.js 2023: okay this is awkward”

These memes humorously depict the repetitive nature of declaring PHP’s demise over the years. Despite these predictions, PHP has managed to defy the odds and maintain its relevance and widespread adoption.

What community said about Dead PHP language?

There were interesting comments from readers discussing the misconception of PHP’s demise. One comment pointed out, “Don’t be naive. WordPress is based in PHP.” This statement highlights the significant role PHP plays in powering one of the most popular content management systems globally. WordPress’s immense success and market share are a testament to PHP’s continued relevance and the robust ecosystem surrounding it.

Another comment cleverly remarked, “They’ve also been saying ‘SEO is dead for a long time.” This statement draws parallels to the persistent declaration of PHP’s death. Just like SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which remains an essential aspect of digital marketing, PHP continues to thrive and evolve despite recurring claims of its demise.

Lastly, a comment humorously states, “PHP dead 8 times in this post. So PHP is not dead anymore. PHP is immortal.” This playful remark showcases the enduring nature of PHP and how it has overcome numerous predictions of its downfall throughout its history. It emphasizes the fact that PHP has withstood the test of time and will likely continue to do so in the future.

These comments reinforce the idea that despite the ever-changing landscape of programming languages and frameworks, PHP’s prominence, especially in web development, remains unshaken. It serves as a reminder that the longevity and success of a programming language cannot be determined solely by passing trends or predictions.

Conclusion

Contrary to the claims that PHP is a dead language, a thorough analysis of its current state in 2023 demonstrates that it remains very much alive and relevant. With its continued popularity, active community support, dominance in web development, ongoing language development, adaptation to modern practices, and a thriving ecosystem, PHP continues to be a viable choice for developers worldwide. As technology evolves, PHP adapts, ensuring its place in the programming landscape for years to come.