Why I stick with PHP in a JavaScript World

As a Full Stack Developer who loves Next.js, I often get asked: "Why do you still list PHP on your portfolio?" It’s a fair question. The JavaScript ecosystem (Node.js, Express, NestJS) is massive. However, dismissing PHP in 2024 is a mistake often made by those who haven't used it since version 5.Modern PHP is Fast and StrictThe release of PHP 8.0+ brought features that rival any modern language:JIT Compiler: Massive performance boosts for calculation-heavy tasks.Typed Properties: We can now enforce strict types, similar to TypeScript.Attributes: Metadata for classes, similar to Decorators in Python or JS.The "Get Stuff Done" FactorDuring my time working on projects in Dhaka, I realized that for freelance work and rapid prototyping, the PHP ecosystem (especially Laravel) is unbeatable.Authentication: It's built-in.Routing: It's built-in.ORM (Eloquent): It allows me to interact with databases using intuitive syntax like User::find(1)->posts().Node.js vs PHP: A Use-Case ComparisonFeatureNode.js (Express/Next)PHP (Laravel/Symfony)Real-time (Sockets)Excellent (Socket.io)Good (requires Reverb/Pusher)DeploymentRequires process manager (PM2)Simple (LAMP/LEMP stack)Async ProcessingNative (Event Loop)Synchronous (mostly)Final ThoughtsI don't see it as "PHP vs JavaScript." I see them as tools in a toolbox. If I'm building a real-time chat app, I'll use Node.js. But for a robust Content Management System or an E-commerce backend? PHP is still a king.