When presented with a project which could not be properly completed with the available tool (a programming language called Lasso), I created a new tool superior to those available. It's called FX.php, and it's now used by people all over the world to connect FileMaker Pro to the web. This was my first experience with PHP.
A client brought me in to help build a rock solid, web-based survey system for a customer. It was built with a PHP/PostgreSQL backend. Componenets were object-oriented and modular to allow for quick turn-around on client requests.
As part of one summer job, I created one of four connection kits. Of those kits, mine was the only one to remain problem free.