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info82
Known Participant
August 17, 2010
Question

Should I learn Coldfusion? Looking for advise from the Pros.

  • August 17, 2010
  • 1 reply
  • 2046 views

I am a novice PHP developer and more of a designer.  I can build basic PHP/MySQL sites, but am looking to get more involved in coding.  I would like to  learn a language from the ground up that is easy to learn, robust and  has a good community behind it for support.  While I have enjoyed PHP, I  am also considering Coldfusion as the coding looks much more concise and easy to understand.  Is Coldfusion a good language to learn for building client websites that will be here from 10 years from now?  I know PHP is popular, but the backwards compatibility and depreciated functions have caused me issues in the past and I am trying to avoid that.

Also,  what are some really good Coldfusion books?  I have Adobe CS5 Web  Premium and am already very proficient at HTML/CSS and web design.

Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    D
    Dan_Bracuk
    Inspiring
    August 17, 2010

    Irrespective of programming languages, I think the most important thing to learn is data modelling.  A well designed database makes everything else so much easier.  To this end, I have heard good things about the book Database Design for Mere Mortals.

    Generic SQL is also must have knowledge.  I have also heard good things about the book, Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes.

    For ColdFusion books, the Web Application Construction Kit (WACK) is frequently recommended on this forum.  This, and the SQL book should be available from forta.com.

    tclaremont
    tclaremont
    Inspiring
    August 17, 2010

    As Dan implied, the hardest part of programming is not the programming. If you dont know database design or SQL or even general programming logic, any language is going to be a chore.

    In my 25 years of programming, I have found CF to be my fastest, most intuitive development tool. I have been using CF almost exclusively for over 11 years now and have not found a compelling reason to change. That says a lot about a programming language, since new ones pop up all the time, and existing ones get better year after year.

    If you search job postings, you will not find as many CF jobs as some of the other programming languages. This is likely because it takes fewer CF coders to get the job done due to its ease of use. That is just my opinion BTW.

    I
    info82Author
    Known Participant
    August 17, 2010

    I actually own my own design company and am pretty good with MySQL database design and logic.  I write fairly decnt SQL already and understand database structure and relationships.  The biggest issue for me is deciding to stick it out with PHP and learn more about that language or make the time and investment intro CFM.  I really like what I see in CF and know it will be a great platform.  PHP has burned me several times recently with depreciated functions and tags.  I heard CF is backwards compatable for the most part.

    Do you use CFBuilder or DW CS5 to work on your pages?

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