Python is a scripting (programming) language that is excellent for developing web applications. Python developers use a framework such as Django or Pylons to develop web sites; unlike PHP, the vast majority of projects use a framework. Most Web frameworks and web components for Python are similar, making it relatively easy to switch between frameworks.

I have developed several sites using the Django framework (including this site). Some use a traditional database such as MySQL. For other sites I have used Google App Engine, which requires that you use its datastore.

I love working with Django. It makes it easy to produce custom web applications fast, and it's my first choice when no off-the-shelf software is going to fit the bill.

For projects where a combination of off-the-shelf software and custom programming are required, Django can still be a good choice. I have used Django-CMS in the past with good results as part of a custom software project.

I used Java extensively while a student, and I have a few commercial projects under my belt.

I'd like to start using Java more extensively, so I am offering a discount for projects that use Java.

I have limited experience with C++. Most of my recent experience is in writing an NPAPI plugin. For this project, I used the Boost libraries.

Google App Engine (GAE) can be used to host projects written in Python and Java. It is a high performance, scalable system that requires zero system administration. It has excellent tools for monitoring performance and logfiles, and basic tools for examining the datastore.

The big difference from traditional hosting is that it does not use a relational database. Instead, it uses the GAE datastore. Applications written for relational databases must be modified to work on GAE and vice-versa. There are more applications written for relational databases than for GAE (e.g. Django-CMS, Satchmo). This also means that your application will only run on GAE.

I would consider Google App Engine for any Python or Java project, especially for projects that expect fairly large amounts of traffic.

Every web programmer needs to use javascript.

PHP is very popular and a number of refined web applications are available off the shelf: Magento for ecommerce sites with small catalogs, Ubercart for ecommerce sites with large catalogs, Wordpress for blogs, Drupal for content management systems (CMSs).

Frameworks such as CakePHP and Symfony allow rapid application development.

I have worked extensively with PHP. Most of my experience is with custom applications and Wordpress. I have limited experience with Magento, Ubercart, Drupal and CakePHP.

This is something new that I am going to be doing starting November 2009.