a coder who is currently being 'forced' to write marginally better code in Python than he would in PHP because of the language constructs, or a coder who understands good code design and knows how to apply it?
That's an esoteric question.
A good coder wouldn't choose PHP in first place, unless there are pressing reasons (i.e. a legacy code-base).
Consequently you can speed up your hiring process simply by weeding out candidates who propose to use PHP.
FWIW my hiring process rarely includes a request that candidates propose the language that they will perform their work in.
(oh, and its not an esoteric question. It is a deeply practical one. I desperately want to hire good, pragmatic coders, not people who are only capable of writing good code if they are in an environment that makes it easy)
Well, you probably want your coders to create and maintain an environment that makes it easy to write good code in. PHP has no place in such an environment.
Moreover it's highly unlikely that a good coder would apply for a PHP job in first place.
> Well, you probably want your coders to create and maintain an environment that makes it easy to write good code in. PHP has no place in such an environment.
I agree with the second part, but I think the first part is wrong.
I think he wants coders to create and maintain software that the company will use on a daily basis, in which case, PHP is perfect for that.
That's an esoteric question.
A good coder wouldn't choose PHP in first place, unless there are pressing reasons (i.e. a legacy code-base).
Consequently you can speed up your hiring process simply by weeding out candidates who propose to use PHP.