Php?

works pretty much the same way - variables, functions, classes ...

It all (90%) comes from C

Yes, as already mentioned by Busy and suspected by you, it is a lot like Javascript.

Javascript, PHP and a whole lot of other languages are based off C/C++

PHP is simple. I had to read a book to leark Perl well. PHP I've just picked up as I've gone along.

Have to agree with everyone. PHP is simple... I just don't have a big enough brain to remember all of the function names!

yeah, if you've programmed before (which you have) all you need to figure out is the syntax really.

So if php is that easy how hard will it be for me to learn C++? Given I have never even looked at C++ source.

it isn't an easy jump from PHP to C++. PHP is very loose in it's setup, C++ is very structured.

ie. in PHP, you can just start using a variable anywhere you want, a in one spot use it as a string, another as a number, and another as a bool. C++ you have to predefine the type and stick to it.

(Note, depending on your programming habits, this may not be so bad.)

Most languages I have picked up pretty easy, I can "read" VB and PHP as long as it is coded and formatted decently (comments actually slow me down), however C and C++ took me a while (I gave up opn Java, didn't have time to dedicate to it) C++ i needed books, Now there is C#, from MS, but back when it first came out was supposed to be made so other compilers could exist. (not sure where that went).

If I had time, I'd still like to learn them, but it comes down to what i work in daily is PHP, so I focus on learning more about that. PHP by far has been the easiest language for me to learn. (but admittedly, I have the logic of other languages under my belt which helps it)

In regards to Andy's comment about the function names, that is where PHP's documentation I think is excellent! they have the functions grouped pretty well in categories, and access to help on ones you know are easy, I just go to a browser and type php.net/functionName and they have it set up well to redirect you to the appropriate area of the docs.

Now that I have Zend Studio, it is so much better. I have just learned how to use the tempates they have built in and user defined. For example, you want to do a foreach statement, you type fore, press enter, it sets up the syntax, brackets and all, then moves your cusror to where you enter the array name, then press enter again, it moves you to where you tell it what variable holds this cycle's value, one last enter and you are inside the brackets ready to go! What a typing saver! In our program, all the main data passed back and forth is in an array called $data. Well now I created a template, I type in dt, press enter and boom, I've got $data['']with the cursor between the quotes, and when i press enter after typing in the element name, the cursor is to the right of it. So much typing saved there!!!!!!!!!

Ok, sorry I went off topic there and sound like I get a comission from zend or something. I just am tickled with this feature i just found out about What will i discover next?

Anyhow, yes, PHP is a very nice language, and it disturbs me to see such statements like the following on a site i use:

Quote: We use only the best and we do not believe in running our system on free software or even affordable alternatives. We use the following software and trusted hosting company to power our high end [company] system:
* Web Server: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
* Application Server: Coldfusion Professional 5.0
* Database Server: Microsoft SQL 2000 Server

We use PHP/mySQL running on freeBSD, and ours is a very complex system that runs just fine on "free" software. At a university, they set up a web server, insisted on paying for windows server/MS SQL becaue "they are an actual company and you can call them with a question"....

-Greg

Learning C++ is totally different to PHP as C++ must first be compiled (into a .exe) before being run, where as .PHP etc is compiled by the browser at runtime.
The compilers are big too.

Downloading the PHP manual is good, as it has all the functions (files) in a folder, takes a while but you can browse through until you find something that sounds like it will do the trick, most functions are named decently

Well i do know trh obvouse diffrences between C++ and php. You where all talking about how JavaScript, php, C++ etc all have simalar sturcture. I am used to useing data types when I 1st learned perl and now in ASP.net. I thought php uses strict data types like perl but I guess not. After all that makes it run much faster and that a good thing.
The biggest reason I want to learn C++ is to take ASP.NET to its full potential. It seems JScript isnt the most advanced language out there (who would of though). So I will be able to write ASP.NET in C++ and PHP. That would proubaly be the best idea so I can go server side on any server.
I dont want to learn C# because microsoft is loseing popularity and if they decied to make up a new language it proubaly wont last long
Thank you all for your advice/help and if you looking for a programmer on the rise I need a job