I'm a total newbie to web development frameworks. Assuming I know HTML/CSS, a very little bit of experience in PHP/MySQL(basic syntax only), beginning to learn JS, should I focus on diving deep down into the LAMP or learn a new language like Opa?

Like mentioned, i think you should start with node.js. starting with a solution like Opa is the wrong way for a newbie. Opa is relativity new, and not much documentation or help will be available, but consider checking it later on. I would not get into PHP at all, not a first. With pure JavaScript + node.js you can do most of what PHP can do on the server side, implementation maybe very be different, but at least at start you won't find much things you can do with PHP and cannot do with node.js. this way you won't have to learn two languages, it's really confusing for new guys. + you will have the advantage of developing with JavaScript both for server-side (node) and client-side (DOM, browser) Here's some links that will get you started: http://nodejs.org/api/ http://mrjaba.posterous.com/a-gentle-introduction-to-nodejs http://blog.derekperez.com/post/4489069081/debugging-errors-within-nodejs http://www.nodebeginner.org/ Remember, although i said node.js can almost do everything PHP can on the basic level, you should be aware currently node.js provides solutions to specific kind of server side problems. you'll find it can be more complicated to do cretin things with JavaScript then PHP (and other easier), but i promise it's a lot better and easier then using and learning two language at the same time. Later i you wish to learn PHP you can and i recommend, but it can be very different from JavaScript. you should know one thing well first, later move to another. Another advice i can give, since JavaScript have lots of libraries and code available on the web, i would recommend using as little as possible of them (while learning). This for two main reasons: You will not learn much JavaScript when using jQuery, you will learn jQuery. for server side, you need good knowledge in pure JavaScript. Some libraries are created by smart people. Other libraries are created by people who tool lazy to search Google (and find out someone already built one), so they build their own implementation of the same thing, and they usually do this wrong, you will lean only bad things by looking at their code. as new to JavaScript, it will be hard for you to distinguish between the two cases.

You should get a node.js book and start reading and practicing. You'll save time by using javascript for both client side and server side code.

If you have very little experiences then , try to increase it ! The real time projects will teach you what market needs and what you have to learn....