[icey]

You're going to have to define what sort of speed you need for #2. If you're talking about basic CRUD, then all of the languages you've specified will work just fine. If you're doing a lot of scientific work, then you might want to look at Python, along with NumPy / SciPy. If it's a small core of calculations that you know you'll have to execute over and over again, then all of the above are fine if you're happy to interop with C.

So... whatcha building?

[dangoldin]

If you do stick with Perl, they have a NumPy/SciPy equivalent called PDL.

[OneSeventeen]

I, personally, prefer Ruby because it thinks the same way I do (if that makes sense). So that's what I'd pick. But Python would do you just as well, if you like the way it reads, etc. better. They key, I think, is to not be too worried about speed up front. Get your thing working in Python, say, and then do testing (another comment mentioned this) and rewrite what's slowest in C. I guess I'm warning against premature optimization.

[xenoterracide]

(Co-founder) well we are/aren't trying to prematurely optimize. It's more like 4 great languages to choose (depending on option) and we don't really know enough to pick and learn one. So we're polling to find out if there is really something that we should with a few requirements. Like we care more about how fast the code runs than the speed of coding.But generally not to the excess of writing in C (etc).

[icey]

In my opinion, Python, Ruby or Perl are all good choices. You can get things done quickly in PHP, but I would recommend staying away from it as a first language.

Honestly, if you care about speed as much as you say you do, you should be looking into Java. (Or Lisp, if you're not worried about hiring any time soon).