PHP an idiot's tool (was OT: Web page source code )

[Fairlight]

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 08:16:30PM -0700, after drawing runes in goat's
blood, Jose Lerebours cast forth these immortal, mystical words:
> Yeah, explode was not a good choice of word ... I was just trying to
> see if any one really paid any attention to the entry line ... :-) Mark
> normally uses some fancy stuff so I figure I check to see if he actually
> paid any attention to that.  Well, I guess he does ;-)

Ayup, I do.  :)  

> Funny, this has been my experience with filePro code.  Can't remember how
> many times I came across code and got better understanding of the term
> the developers.

I usually look at someone's code and go, "What the [BEEP!] were they
-thinking-?!"  :)

> It seems that you and I are on the same page here ... We just differ
> in that PHP is not bad even if it is easy; I truly believe that the
> developer bears the responsibility :-)

Well, the developer always bears the responsibility.  The problem occurs
when they don't realise that fact.

> Python and Ruby are something I have wanted to look at.  But as it is the
> case with you, if I do not have a financial gain in the horizon it makes
> it tough for me to jump in and start hacking at it.

Exactly.  Bill said he tossed 20yrs of Perl for Python.  I've only got 8yrs
into Perl, but it's really a financial thing for me.  I've done the, "Oh, I
just feel like learning it for the hell of it," thing with so many things,
and I'm under tremendous time and financial constraints right now.  I just
don't have the luxury of tossing over part of my toolkit arbitrarily when
so much else is clamoring for my attention.  If I had limitless time and
resources, sure, I'd be game.  That, or if someone's paying the tab.  :)

> Mark, it is no secret that I have a lot of respect for you.  

Likewise.

> I hope that this little argument does not spark a bad taste.

That was an argument?!  :)  No hard feelings here.

> I don't even want to think of it as an argument but rather an            
> educational and constructive exchange of knowledge.                      

Exactly.  It makes more sense to me to get the facts (and well-founded
opinions) out in the open and let people at least have a chance to make a
well-informed decision, than to hold back and let people flounder about
with less information in their possession.

> I say this because one member posted where he thought you were being
> hostile or indifferent, not understanding that you were bringing to our
> attention valid points.

I've learned to ignore the party in question...it's become personal for
them, and I'm not going to play that game.

Someone's almost always going to think I'm hostile when I'm not.  I'm
trying to think of what it was that I watched or read recently that had
a wonderful quote that -so- applies to me.  It goes:  "I'm not subtle,
I'm not pretty, and I'll piss off a lot of people along the way--but I'll
get the job done."  Ah, it was Captain Matthew Gideon in "Crusade", the
short-lived sequel to "Babylon 5".  Just remembered.

But yeah, that's pretty much me in a nutshell.

> As usual, I take with me a great deal from this exchange and look forward
> to more of them over the coming years.  Thank you for your sincere and
> uncensored opinion.

And thus, we continue to learn and grow.  Likewise on all counts, my
friend.

Bests,

mark->