[Roanon]

PHP/mySQL is definitely more standard for web applications than Pearl now, having at least the same power and is easy to learn too. Java is nice too, but more complex to learn for beginners.
Pure C++ is great for professional developing, but it requires very good style and education to programm in a way where you can read the code after half a year and still recognize what it does - or should do. Most amateurish C++ can be thrown away if it ever malfunctions and the guy writing the original application isn't available any more. Yes, you CAN do unreadable programs in any language, but most of the time it takes effort where in C++ it takes effort to do clear programming.