Developing a team of programmers

Question

So, I have a web application that I need to build. The application will be done in a LAMP environment. I'm being given the resources to bring in 2 other programmers to work on my team. I have team lead and architecture experience before, so taking charge isn't a problem.

The roadblock that I am experience is that I am currently living in a developing country. They have plenty of Software Engineer programs at universities, but no training/classes on really anything relating to LAMP. It is all C++/Java. So, I have a set of resumes I've culled as experience programmers that seem intelligent sitting in front of me. They come from various backgrounds, which include a couple Java developers, an old-school C++/MFC type guy, some C# devs, and a whole bunch of young out of school C++/Java developers. I'm honestly already leaning one way on which skillset I think would mold the easiest to web dev, but as I am not an application developer (exposure in school, but that was a while ago), I though I might open it up and ask you guys: Which skillset of these do you think would lead into the easiest transition to web development? I'm especially curious to hear from anyone who moved from application side over to web development.

Answer 1

A great developer who is "smart and gets things done" (via Joel Spoelsky - credit to @EricBoersma) will likely be more productive than a poor one no matter what language they work in

Unless you're on an extremely tight deadline (and you need the specific skill set) then simply hire people who are smart and work hard. They'll pick up the web development tech quickly enough, just give them some time to bash out a prototype or two first.