Web applications are something I’ve done very often in the last few years. I’ve refined my technique significantly.
· Frameworks – I don’t think it is realistic to build a maintainable web site using hard coded HTML anymore. The hackers win if we go that route. I think of it like coding an entire application in assembler. Sure you can do it, but it’s a nightmare. I use HTML5 Builder for PHP/Ajax/Javascript. I still had to harden it, but it was a more reasonable starting point.
· Javascript – My bias is to use as little Javascript as possible, and place the bulk of it in functions. Javascript can crash more easily, and there are several different implementations.
· PHP – I like object oriented PHP, this ties in with the frameworks. PHP can be compiled and be even faster, but usually that’s not your problem if you code it right.
· Ajax is harder to debug than normal PHP/Javascript, but it’s well worth it