Why use Ruby when you could have developed Basecamp in less time with PHP?

hrm, why use ruby when you probably could have developed this thing in less time with php?

Before finding Ruby, I spent about four years developing PHP web-applications (including a few for 37signals), so I think I can say with some authority that we most certainly couldn't have developed Basecamp in less time with PHP. On the contrary.

On the subject of finding developers, we've found exactly the reverse to be true. It's really easy to find highly qualified applicants for Ruby development.

Jason posted a small note some time back that we were possibly looking for some help. We received a ton of extremely qualified applicants that we're more than just a little interested in getting Ruby work.

This is so because Ruby is still a relatively unknown language in the mainstream, which makes Ruby job listings few and far in between. So when an opening finally comes along, you have a large community of devoted Ruby fans eagerly applying.