Internet project. Compiled vers. PHP?

Factual Questions
1

I’m working on some kind of online gallery-program and message board (much like this. I know there’re lots of them already - mine is with a twist :slight_smile: )

I have made small a prototype in C++, but when I look around most everybody else seems to be working with PHP (this message board is PHP if I’m not mistaken?).

Now to the questions:

  1. What would be most ideal language for the job?
  2. Since it’s a non-compiled language (I know you can compile it also, but that’s not what people seem to do), wouldn’t a PHP program with the same functionality be slower and more of a memory hog.
  3. PHP and other non-compiled language make it east for competitors to rip off some part of the code. Is this an actual problem, or just something I imagine?

Rune (An Internet programming newbie)

2

re 3): This risk applies only if there is a way for your competitors to get at the actual PHP file (e.g. via an unsecured FTP access or another security hole on the web server). The output that you get via HTTP from whatever server-side application language you use (Perl, PHP, etc.) does not contain the application code but its output.