Here’s how civic hackers can build applications that will last, increasing adoption and longterm use. Because, at the end of the day, are you helping to show off your skills or to actually help people?
#1 — At the very least, the only programming languages you should use on the server are (in decreasing order of priority) PHP, Java, or Python.
I leave out .NET on my own philosophical grounds where I believe you should not be tied to an operating system, particularly one of a monopolist. If you can get past that objection then I would add it to the list since a lot of civic governments IT departments are currently Windows shops. Look I understand you know and love {insert favorite tech here} but if your goal is to really help civic governments, then make life easy for them, not for you.