What are the must learn technologies as a web developer today?

Question

After being advised by our friends in this community to learn JSON based on a question i asked. I look at JSON for a while and discovered how great it was.

It really got me about what technologies that are out necessary for every web developer. For me i feel ever web developer should have Jquery, JSON, XML, Ajax, SQL, XHTML, and CSS.

You should also be able to do some Graphics. I know this is a programming community and im not discussing it. Its just my view.

Now here comes the tough part. I think PHP is essential for every web developer, no matter what platform you work on. For me, that should be a must have.

Another tricky one is choosing between ASP.NET, JEE, and ... Not really sure here.

I would love people's taughts from their wealth of experience.

What do you think?

This should not be a "Holy War", Please.

I think its just about opinions.

Answer 1

I think it depends a lot on what you are doing. I'm a fairly good web developer, and I know next to nothing about PHP, but I know a lot about C#/ASP.Net. I think although branching out of your prefered language is good sometimes, it's better to be an expert at something than to be average at everything.

Answer 2

I know squat about PHP, but I know ASP.NET, ASP.NET MVC, C# and everything in your list of essentials.

Answer 3

Every language is different and used for different env. and different requirements. While PHP may be suitable for many some people will still use ASP.NET for some of its features or other integration requirements. While some use Google SDK to create great web controls.

But the basics: Graphics (At least basic), Jquery, JSON, XML, Ajax, SQL, XHTML, and CSS apply to all of them.

Answer 4

PHP essential??? Why? To get lost in code?

I developed a lot of web applications and I use J2EE with Struts 1&2, Spring, Terracota and I am very satisfied. And of course ORMs like Hibernate (bad), JDBC template (better).

Essential for developing web apps is knowing how to use Google.

Other thing is understanding MVC, have a feeling for user interface (not design!),...

Answer 5

Besides choosing the language (and framework) you also should know something about load balancing, database clustering and partitioning, systems interfacing with other services (JSON, RPC, XML, REST) via their APIs, caching. And minimal knowledge about non-Windows servers (Linux/BSD/...). Also know how to use different libraries without copy-paste'ing the code (and this also requires some knowledge about open source licenses).

Ahh.. things were a bit simpler ten years ago :)

Answer 6

• PHP
• XHTML
• Javascript
• CSS
• JQuery
• Flash
• XML
• XAML (WPF)
• ASP.NET
• SQL