1. Note support UTF-8 in PHP

You can very easily create a WEB application by PHP language.
Also, you should not write web page by local code like ShiftJis CODE now.
So, you will not be able to write web page by local code like EUC CODE on Linux.
Because Linux OS supported UTF-8(Unicode) for Web pages.
So, writing the WEB application program with UTF-8 now is becoming usual.

2. How to use php with console (command line)

Perhaps I guess that you think that PHP language is very useful WEB language.
PHP usage is not only that.
PHP can also use from the command line.

Very famous CMS (Ex. Joomla! , WordPress etc,.) is often developed by PHP and MySQL.
I often use Joomla! and WordPress because of being developed by PHP (and open source).
So, when I have problem, I will clear problem very easy. Also it is a favor of open source.