This isn't a game, there are no hard and fast rules. You can be successful in this world as a highschool dropout and you can live in abject poverty with a PhD in economics.
Learn JavaScript, or don't. In about a year, you'll be able to do Python and Ruby in the browser. I'm pretty sure there are JavaScript libraries that will do a conversion for you right now, but Mozilla is pushing to have native support for it anyway. I mean, what was the point of having the DOM if you weren't ever going to access it from anything but JavaScript? You can do C# and VB in the browser right now, too (SilverLight).
But really, learn every language. There is no "killer language" to learn. You should be learning them all. And once you get 10 or so under your belt, the others come with little effort. Languages aren't special. They're mostly all the same.
edit: and if you thought 6 years ago that PHP was the hot language and 3 years ago Ruby was the hot language, you have only been paying attention to your little corner of the world and need to get out more.
That's a bit unfair. I actually program in Python, it's not a language war I'm fighting here. My point was to point out a language that would be a marketable skill which 3 years ago Rails was really kicking into high gear. This was not a matter of a "killer language". JavaScript has its quirks just like all of them. A tool is a tool is a tool is a tool.
You can be as pragmatic and all-language-embracing as you like, but you eventually have to come to a conclusion, damn it. It's my conclusion that JavaScript is a necessary tool in the tool belt of web developer.
That being said the irony of you using your little corner of the world to insult my little corner of the world was a bit disheartening. I assure you that the general populace of my corner are now sad and are taking down the "Welcome your little corner" banners and polka-dot party hats we were preparing for your arrival.
I think it's fair to speculate a language's future market share as this allows us to anticipate demand. I think most modern languages are "good languages", but the application of JS is skyrocketing. I use javascript as a storage medium , web server, in the browser, native mobile apps (appcelerator) and more.
"In about a year, you'll be able to do Python and Ruby in the browser."
No, in about a year you'll be able to do Python and Ruby in X% of browsers, where X is depressingly small.
Depending on what segment of users you're targeting you're stuck with JavaScript for probably between 2 and 8 years, and that's assuming Mozilla and other actually start putting other languages in the browser immediately.
That's languages that can be compiled to JavaScript and execute relatively efficiently. And Flash, Silverlight, Java, but those are only useful for a certain class of web app.
But JavaScript really isn't that bad. You should learn it.
The title here should probably be something along the lines of "You Should Develop For The Web." Javascript happens to be the focus because it is THE client-side language on the web.
By the way, when were Python and Ruby declared to be absolutely available in any given browser (chrome, safari, firefox, opera, ie9 at least) within a year? Either I've been underneath a rock, or this is absolutely crazy.
"In about a year, you'll be able to do Python and Ruby in the browser."
I've been hoping for something like this. But I don't see any indication that it's going to be a reality any time soon. Did you see this somewhere, or is it just wishful thinking?
Also, even if it comes to a browser, how long until it's in place on all mainstream browsers? (I'm looking at you, IE)
This isn't a game, there are no hard and fast rules. You can be successful in this world as a highschool dropout and you can live in abject poverty with a PhD in economics.
Learn JavaScript, or don't. In about a year, you'll be able to do Python and Ruby in the browser. I'm pretty sure there are JavaScript libraries that will do a conversion for you right now, but Mozilla is pushing to have native support for it anyway. I mean, what was the point of having the DOM if you weren't ever going to access it from anything but JavaScript? You can do C# and VB in the browser right now, too (SilverLight).
But really, learn every language. There is no "killer language" to learn. You should be learning them all. And once you get 10 or so under your belt, the others come with little effort. Languages aren't special. They're mostly all the same.
edit: and if you thought 6 years ago that PHP was the hot language and 3 years ago Ruby was the hot language, you have only been paying attention to your little corner of the world and need to get out more.