PHP is the default web language. If you're pitching to a client who expects to maintain the code once you're done and you suggest Clojure, Node.js, or even Ruby in a lot of cases you won't get the gig. By doing so you've raised their costs; PHP programmers are easier to find.
This is the main reason I'm not doing web consulting!
I don't think that's actually true, aside from maybe $10/month extra in hosting[0], I think costs tend to be lower with not-PHP. Using PHP greatly increases the probability that a random contractor will be a bad programmer who will write things that are broken, require more billable hours to get things done or make a mess that slows down the next guy.
I've never lost work due to suggesting not-PHP to a client. I have, however regretted failing to do so several times. I've come to believe that a client's insistence on using PHP is nearly as much of a red flag as a programmer not knowing anything else.
[0] If a client is worried about $10/month extra in hosting costs, you'll probably also have to fight them for every dollar. They might even try to get out of paying what they agreed to. I've had it happen.
Comments
PHP is the default web language. If you're pitching to a client who expects to maintain the code once you're done and you suggest Clojure, Node.js, or even Ruby in a lot of cases you won't get the gig. By doing so you've raised their costs; PHP programmers are easier to find.
This is the main reason I'm not doing web consulting!
By doing so you've raised their costs
I don't think that's actually true, aside from maybe $10/month extra in hosting[0], I think costs tend to be lower with not-PHP. Using PHP greatly increases the probability that a random contractor will be a bad programmer who will write things that are broken, require more billable hours to get things done or make a mess that slows down the next guy.
I've never lost work due to suggesting not-PHP to a client. I have, however regretted failing to do so several times. I've come to believe that a client's insistence on using PHP is nearly as much of a red flag as a programmer not knowing anything else.
[0] If a client is worried about $10/month extra in hosting costs, you'll probably also have to fight them for every dollar. They might even try to get out of paying what they agreed to. I've had it happen.