CMS redesign, language preference (php vs. jsp vs. ??)

[magelus]

www.deviantdreaming.com, this is my website. Currently it runs on a CMS that I created myself using PHP. It's not that great. I wrote it 1.5 years ago, and my coding skills have matured immensely. Hence, I am considering a rewrite.

I thought I would continue coding in PHP, but recently I have had the joy of working with java. I read up a bit on JSP and am now seriously considering rewriting my content engine with Java Servlets and JSP. Although I have some concerns.

I like PHP because I know it's Browser Independant. The PHP code never reaches the client. I've also had no issues with speed or efficiency, even despite horrid coding practices. However, my standing PHP CMS has been comprimised(sp.) recently. I realise this is probly attributes more to my coding skill rather than language security, but I have seen some pretty nasty security holes in major PHP projects (eg. PHPNuke).

I am considering Java Servlets with JSP mainly for its object oriented nature, security, and the level of potential abstraction between in Information Management and Design. Mainly the latter point. However Java is not an Open Source language (at least as of yet), and this is something that is important to me (on the other hand, so is supporting good technology in general).

The goal of my program is to create a simple information management system for those skilled in graphics, and web design (HTML skills). A system that efficiently stores and presents your data, while giving you full and complete control over the design of the webpage all the way down to the HTML code itself.

Hence my question is: Which Language do you think best suites these needs, PHP or Java Servlets with JSP?

Thanks!

 

[deuce868]

While I myself have looked into doing some work with jsp one thing keeps me from doing any project in it that I share...servers. More people get shared hosting with php/mysql than with java. It just seems that it is easier and cheaper to get shared server that support php, not to mention I think it is easier to set up your own server for php than JSP.

 

[Rabbitfacedkilla]

You know, that is a tough question that you asked. Having worked with both I think I can safely say that for something as small a scale as you are talking i would go with PHP.

That is simply because of the scale of the project, not to mention that it is quite easy to whip up something simple in PHP. SO i suppose, laziness, scale, and functionality are what would make me go with PHP over jsp.

 

[magelus]

Well I already have a host who supports JSP, and I want the program to be scalable (who knows what amouts of info I may aquire for the site). So JSP is sound better at this point. Thanks for the replies too!

 

[DMystikaLD]

If you're looking to make a CMS that will meet the majority of corporate level needs, such as OpenCMS, I'd personally go java. However, if you plan on releasing this to the public, I would go with PHP. I'm actually coding one right now. If you decide to go PHP and are interested in collaborating, PM me.

 

[Xenarchy]

C# is an up-and-coming language, which is developing an open source community and following much faster than I've ever seen a language become popular. Although Java is somewhat similar to C++, in terms of syntax, C# is more so. C# also forces you to do things in an object oriented way (since everything in C# are objects, even the basic types like integers. There are several Open Source development environments for C# as well, and since the compiler(s) are all free, it's essentially a free language, (if you go the mono route, it's even "Free" by ricky stallman's deffinition) and the mono project gives hope that C# may even be the next big cross-platform language.

Here is something to think about.