Why I Still Love PHP and Javascript After 20+ Years Published on 01 Aug, 2022 Over more than two decades working with a dozen programming languages—including C, Common Lisp, Java, Python, C++, and Typescript—the author has a special fondness for PHP and Javascript, appreciating their quirks rather than conventional elegance. Key Reasons for Loving PHP and Javascript They are used by people who get things done Developers understand business needs. Able to iterate quickly. Experienced in shipping and maintaining many projects. Misconceptions and FUD are outdated Modern PHP8 and ECMAScript 12 have evolved far beyond early versions. Their ecosystems (CPAN, PECL for PHP; npm for Javascript) enforce evolutionary pressure. Javascript remains a hotbed of new paradigms and frameworks. Their quality trade-offs are balanced by practical benefits They are popular not for elegance but for: Speed Ease of deployment Malleability Tooling Community Frameworks Platforms PHP’s CGI-bin model is a standout because: Legacy codebases can be refactored incrementally. Resource leaks are virtually non-existent. Caching and scaling processes are simplified. They are fun languages Their problematic or “janky” nature encourages experimentation. Finding elegant solutions in unprescriptive languages brings satisfaction. Great equalizers for programmers of all levels Their permissiveness allows beginners to quickly build real websites. Encourages diverse backgrounds and pathways into programming. Leads to active, welcoming communities. Criticizing beginners for using these languages misses their learning value. Writing good code is achievable Languages like PHP, Javascript, Lua, and Perl offer: Functions, variables, classes. First-class functions. Traits and prototypal inheritance (in some). Good software depends on: Product alignment. Software design and patterns. Enforcing invariants with static analysis and unit testing. Fast, effective developer feedback. Communication within teams. These factors transcend language choice. Javascript and PHP have: Solid libraries. Pragmatic static analysis tools. Excellent IDE support—often better than many "serious" languages. Legacy codebases are rewarding A stable legacy indicates a successful product. Allows for immediate, impactful improvements. There's great satisfaction in enhancing products with many users. --- Summary: The author embraces PHP and Javascript despite their quirks, valuing their practicality, speed, community, and the opportunities they offer to developers at any level. These “janky” languages enable real-world progress, fun experimentation, and meaningful legacy improvements—attributes that endure beyond trends or debates around language elegance.