Being able to code or program is still one of the best job skills to have in the modern day and the future. PHP in 2020 will produce many jobs in various industries requiring programming or coding of some kind. There are many different programming languages out there, each with their own uses and rules. One of the most popular is the PHP language.
PHP is a server-side language that is largely used to build and create dynamic websites and pages. Sites or pages that are quite data-heavy often rely on PHP and it is completely open-source. It is decently easy to use and learn and remains one of the most popular languages for developers to learn.
However, like every programming language out there, a lot will surely change in regards to PHP in 2020. New trends, methods or shortcuts are always materializing, and it is good to be on top of it. But what sorts of changes can you expect from PHP in 2020? If that is something you’ve been wondering, this is the article for you. We’ll take a closer look at what you can likely expect from PHP in 2020.
Expect it to Remain One of the Most Popular Programming Languages
While it’s usage has taken a hit recently, that isn’t cause for concern. We expect it to remain one of the most popular programming languages on the planet in 2020. According to W3techs, PHP is used by almost 80% of sites whose server-side language they know. This includes some major websites such as Facebook and WordPress.
So while you might hear a lot of noise in 2020 about PHP “dying”, as long as some of the biggest companies continue to utilize, there will always remain a market and interest in the language. Also, the facts it has an active community and is open-source are good indicators that it will continue to experience widespread use.
The Release of PHP 8
Another exciting thing to expect from PHP in 2020 is the release of PHP 8. The 8.0 version of PHP is supposed to release during the last quarter of 2020 or in early 2021, and it has a lot of people excited. One of the biggest sources of excitement is the news that the JIT (Just-in -Time) compilation will be supported fully in PHP 8.
This support will help many CPU-intensive workloads run much faster. Of course, you can expect many other features and advancements present in PHP 8.0, which should take the programming language to the next level. While this update won’t come out until late in the year, you can be sure that the buzz will be building throughout 2020. This will be the first major release for PHP since PHP 7.0 released in late 2015.
More Competition for PHP Jobs
While some believe that there is a drop in interest in PHP, the number of people applying for PHP-related jobs is actually on the rise. This shows people want to work with the language, and put in time and effort to learn it. However, despite the rise in people interested in using PHP, there are actually less available jobs.
There are less vacancies which could mean less businesses are using PHP, or that they simply already have all of the staff they need in that area. So if you want to be able to land one of these positions, you could have your work cut out for you. Give yourself a good chance by brushing up on all of your skills, staying current, and working on any weak points that you may have in your skillset.
However, if you can’t get one of the coveted PHP jobs in 2020, don’t worry. PHP is one of the most common and helpful programming languages for freelancers, so you can still put your skills to work and earn money. It is incredibly flexible and great for solving a range of different problems.
In conclusion, this article has gone over what you can expect from PHP in 2020. While it is impossible to predict the future, these are among the trends and changes we are likely to see going forward.
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