Regardless of what language/platform he chooses your friend really needs to have a passion for this if he is to adequately self tech him self. By a show of hands, how many got into software development for the pay? I should see very few hands. Most of us are here because the idea of building something from scratch and seeing it to fruition was very appealing.

Whenever someone comes to me about getting into programming. I tell them they should think of an idea they think is awesome and start building it.