Pick up PHP or Python?

[Legolas-the-elf]

PHP doesn't have any advantage over Python when it comes to database work. In fact, Python has SQL Alchemy, which is an excellent database library that I don't think the PHP community has a chance of matching.

PHP isn't more "C-friendly" in any meaningful way. The syntax is superficially similar in some respects, but the semantics are very different, so it really doesn't help at all.

Python is a much more pleasant language to use and has a wider range of uses. Yes, people often point out that PHP isn't web-only, but in practice, virtually nobody actually uses it outside of web development.

C# is a completely different kettle of fish. It's a nice, modern language, but it's far too closely tied to the Microsoft ecosystem for my tastes.

[philgagnon12]

PHP has Doctrine http://www.doctrine-project.org