Hello programmers!
If I wanna become a programmer, wanna make money, say, as a freelancer - is it true that I better choose PHP over C/C++ 'cause the first one is in more demand these days and it'll be easier to find a profitable projects with?

Personal suggestion.
Learn C++, then learn PHP.
And I'm saying this only because, C++ really gives you a programmer's mindset after a while, and it would be so much easier to learn other languages afterwards. Of course C++ also makes you jump to the conclusion that it is indeed the most powerful language, Its like a disease! Everyone who starts C++ thinks that is true after a while, and maybe it's not true, but it never failed me.
But to earn money, web languages are in these days. If you want to be appreciated, better learn languages like PHP, I'd certainly recommend Java (very useful), also HTML5 is really gonna hit it off in the upcoming decade.

To wrap it up, if I were you, I'd start with C++, its complete, really good exercise as a programmer, and also it would be waaaay too easy to learn other programming languages after you're a C++ programmer.

Goodluck!
Hope you'll enjoy programming (:

1 members found this post helpful.

Choose something that is interesting for you. Freelancing is a tough business, and it will be significantly harder to make money working with language you don't like.

It wouldn't hurt to start with English, if you're going to need to promote yourself to customers.
In terms of programming languages, many general fields of computing have one or two languages that are somewhat standard. For example, low-level kernel/driver coding and embedded systems use almost exclusively C, maybe a little C++. Web programmers use PHP or some of the other scripting languages. System administrators tend to use Bash with lots of other scripting languages in smaller doses.
The point of this is that it seems to make more sense to let your niche in the computing world dictate the language(s) that you learn. It is also true that learning a computer language is only the first step to being able to write good software. One must also know about the details of the specialty area, as well as software design and implementation methodology.

--- rod.

Is my English that bad?

As a very humble side-note: do not make a hobby your profession. Secondly, there's no fortune to be made as programmer, I should know. I was a programmer by hobby, then by trade, it failed...

Learn a craft.

Thor

Unless Nbomr is referring to something I didn't notice, I would say your English is fine for general conversation; he's talking about the contractions you used.

If you were trying to present yourself to a company as a freelancer you wouldn't want to be using "wanna", "'cause" or even "it'll". Also, you could rephrase "I better" to something a bit more formal. You could be more technical and move prepositions around and use slightly different punctuation, but that's becoming more a matter of style nowadays...

1 members found this post helpful.

The care with which someone writes for communication or conversation could be taken as a reflection of the care with which the person writes software. Don't forget that prospective employers and customers may also read these forums (I do), and that the Internet never forgets. What you write will be on the record for a long time.
It behooves you to chose your language carefully (pun intended).
--- rod.

There is probably more freelance work with PHP than with C++. Especially for self-employed invididuals.

Do you think customers and employers will be looking for PHP programmers & C++ programmers, or will they be looking for webmasters and GUI builders (or whatever people tend to use C++ for)? The people who pay you are more interested in the end result than the implementation details. They will need to believe that you have knowledge of their field of enterprise, or of the special field for which they are buying your expertise.
To ask what programming language to learn is a bit like asking whether it is better to learn how to use a chainsaw or a dozuki. The answer all depends on whether you are building fine furniture or log structures. Better to decide on the big picture first, as that will dictate the details; and a programming language (just one?) is a detail.

Shouldn't the real question be about what vertical market one should enter?
--- rod.

Hmm... An interesting argument, but as far as I know doing a job you hate or working for a small amount of money is extremely hazardous to your health. I'm not sure about "making a hobby your profession", but a person should at least like his/her job.

I'd say there is probably more freelance work for artists, writers and designers than for programmers.

OF COURSE, because it's common to hire people to maintain and modify existing code, or to hire for teams where the choice of implementation language has already been decided.

But if he's looking for freelance work as a self-employed individual, then it's very likely that his clients will be individuals and small business who need web development work. That is a large market with a low entry barrier. Of his two choices, that means PHP. Not C++.

I'm actually getting that impression just from clientsfromhell.net, which seems to have more stories from artists than from programmers.

A: No

A: Sure.

But ONLY if you're conversant with HTML, CSS, Javascript and at least a bit of SQL, too.

IMHO .. PSM

SO true!

@SigTerm
You're right...I liked programming, until i "HAD" to...