what is the best way to compare two programing languages

there is no best programming language it's depend's on how u use it.
for comparing & use..
-support of developers -sources -understanding the language

There is no way to compare two programming languages than taking some factors into consideration which can be general and sometimes personal.
The general view may also different from personal view.
Example, if you are open source person you will consider open source programming languages like: PHP, Python, Node.js, perl, ruby e.t.c Then, if you are close source person you consider C#, J#, F#, VB, JAVA, Codefusion e.t.c Then, you will now consider if you are developing web app or native app.
Moreover, Your location as something to do with it.
Most programmers in your environment may be using a language then if you don't stick to that you may have problem In short, there are hundred of thing to be considered.
So, when someone tells you that PHP is the best web language then what happen to the rest.
So, ...

well, write the same program in the both language..
then see which one is easier to learn or to use..
the best program is the one who do the same work with a less lines of code

If just comparing the two same featured languages, I would choose its coding methodology.
That means whichever is easy to learn and implement.
More over the first thing to be choosen from any programming language would be its features.
For example, PHP is cross platform compatible while ASP.NET is only window based.
Another one is that PHP code syntax is easy to learn and implement while ASP.NET has to work with VB or C#.
I like PHP to develop web applications but I do not mean that ASP.NET has disadvantage over PHP.
Developing a desktop based web application you one will find that ASP.NET is right choice.
So,my conclusion is that you should choose the language according the requirement of a particular project.

Assalam u alaikum Shoaib Thanks for inviting me to this question.
To answer your question is not easy as this is a debatable topic to be honest and everybody has its own way of thinking.
It all depends what you are interested in to see in the favorite programming languages.
For example: I like both C# and Java with different aspects but i like Java most as it gives me a little bit freedom with flavors of operating system but i like c# due to Microsoft integration environment, new features.
So i guess if you can contact me on my email address with regards to the specific point then we can come to an agreement.
Hope you can understand.
Thanks

will check the language is operating system independent, integrated development environment tool, browser independent, language features ,suport all databases and object oriented programming, networking features and support mobile technologies.

It usually depends on your specific needs, target audience numbers, requested traffic, ...

It depends on the requirements that what you want to develop.1.
Then check which one is free/open source or whose annual license fee is suitable.2.
Which has more features, like builtin classes and packages, which may help you to code less by yourself and avail the already created packages and classes.3.
Which is easy to debug, and which is more userfriendly, Like during debugging some languages through exceptions with the exact line number containing the errors or some time mention the word or phrase with the mistake.
there are many more things to notice when comparing programming languages, but afterall its all depends upon the requirements and nature of the work you want to achieve.
Many Thanks, Abdul Rehman Janjua

All languages have importance on different levels and each language has priority and rank over others on different places in different situations so we can't say which has high rank over others without defining any criteria.
Suppose: If someone just wants a simple site to display its profile / company profile then I would prefer to go with PHP.
Because other language solution would expensive for such site.
If someone wants to have some corporate level website, then I would prefer to go with .NET solution.
If someone wants to have some enterprise level website, then I would prefer to go with JAVA solution.
So each language has higher rank over other in different situations.

Comparing functional not worth , comparing based on your need or project nature.

Object oriented or Procedural oriented