Would you use Python/Django or PHP for back-end programming?

Depends on what it is. Which language I'm more comfortable with. The timeline. Will other developers be working on it? If so, which one are they more comfortable with? If I need to hire more developers, which language is more popular in my area? What are my server limitations? Is either of them an approved software by the client (usual a government thing).

@200OK I'm asking this for a small personal project, so a lot of those factors wouldn't create problems. I only wanted to see what more experienced developers prefer, since I'm a beginner

@marcopolver then both. PHP is the most used programming language. You'll be able to get a job fairly quickly and is a good back up language to have under your tool belt. I have yet met a developer who hasn't came across a PHP application that needed fixing or what not.

Python is a new up and coming language. However, most corporations are still sticking to older languages like PHP, .NET, Rails, and Java... government likes to use .NET and ColdFusion. However, Python will be better pay than PHP since the PHP market is so deluded.

Personally if I were you I would maybe go the Node.JS route. Python seems to be thinning out but JavaScript isn't ever going anywhere. At least anytime soon.

@theScientist a student at that. Probably made some Hello World apps.

@theScientist I consider myself a beginner in web development since I studied Django but I have used it only for small and simple projects up to now. Now I'd like to build a complex website with good web apps on my own and I wanted to know if I should deepen my skills with Django or change language. This doesn't mean that I'm a beginner in other fields and languages.

Thank you all for the advice, I'll probably deepen my skills in Django and maybe try also something new

Rails.

However, if you're picking between only those two, pick python.

I'm working on this personal project. We started it last year, I was doing front and my friend was doing back end in Laravel. It was really bad, because I had to nag him if I needed anything, but he couldn't commit all his time. I decided to port it over to Django, and it was the best decision. I progressed more alone in a month than we did in 3 months.