Career Change?

jack_spratt

jack_spratt

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I am a developer(8 years experience) using a fourth generation language, however I am not enjoying it(bored) and need a change.

I have been advised to migrant my skillset to open source focusing on upskilling into CSharp Core and JavaScript.

What are your thoughts on these two languages?

Would not Java be better for open source?
 
Which 4GL, and what was the nature of the codebase(s).
As for your 3 options; are any of these used in your current environment?
 
Why are you focusing on the language instead of the work you have to do? Unless of course it's something like JavaScript (shudders).

Open Source wise, do you mean for open source projects or the language? Really shouldn't affect you.
I'm busy starting to learn C# (coming from a Java background in university) due to Azure Functions from Microsoft.

Language really isn't that important, more important is the how you think and the work you do. If the work is boring, the language won't matter. Only thing I've ever had with languages is frustrations if a language doesn't allow for something as easily as another, not really ever having a language be "boring".
 
Johnatan56 said:
Only thing I've ever had with languages is frustrations if a language doesn't allow for something as easily as another, not really ever having a language be "boring".
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Nope, not all languages are made equal.
I've programmed in quite a lot including 4GLs and factors like a language's syntactic shortcomings, etc. including many times a lack of job diversity with that language can be depressive. So don't just dismiss it offhand, he probably has a very good reason why he needs a change of language.

As for Javascript; I'll hate on it as much as the next guy for its syntactical inconsistencies and lack of strong typing, but as for the basis of career path it's not bad at all; with many diverse opportunities.
 
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[)roi(] said:
Nope, not all languages are made equal.
I've programmed in quite a lot including 4GLs and factors like a language's syntactic shortcomings, etc. including many times a the lack of job diversity for that language can be depressive. So don't just dismiss it offhand, he probably has a very good reason why he needs a change of language.
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Yeah, that's why I said a language isn't boring, but rather frustrating. The work itself is what can make it boring. I think we're arguing definitions here rather than the topic.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Yeah, that's why I said a language isn't boring, but rather frustrating. The work itself is what can make it boring. I think we're arguing definitions here rather than the topic.
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Nope, there is always a strong link between the two.
If you have you have ever worked in for example: ABAP, COBOL, ILE RPG, Informix, ... you would know what I mean. The language itself is the hinderance; which doesn't mean it's useless, rather more a matter of limited scope.
 
SauRoNZA said:
That’s not a career change.

That’s a language change.

You will still be bored in due course.
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Well if he's working currently in let's say ABAP and moves to Javascript... then I'd say it's far more than just a simple language switch.
 
[)roi(] said:
Well if he's working currently in let's say ABAP and moves to Javascript... then I'd say it's far more than just a simple language switch.
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It’s a more substantial change sure but still amounts to same **** different day.
 
SauRoNZA said:
That’s not a career change.

That’s a language change.

You will still be bored in due course.
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I've tried this, even then thought about trying other types of dev like game/engine but in the end if it bores and frustrates you I do not see how that is going to just go away.

But I still want to believe that a lot of the due anger has to do with the direct circle of people you are involved with from a day to day basis.

Especially if one or more are that person.
 
ekske1 said:
I've tried this, even then thought about trying other types of dev like game/engine but in the end if it bores and frustrates you I do not see how that is going to just go away.

But I still want to believe that a lot of the due anger has to do with the direct circle of people you are involved with from a day to day basis.

Especially if one or more are that person.
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Not always; I've gone through a lot of languages, some just offer little variety, whilst others quite the opposite. This sentiment is arguably more reflective of the person than of coding in general or the environment. i.e. if you deem your current job to be a monotonous hum drum with irritating personalities, then maybe you should figure out why you haven't resigned yet?
 
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[)roi(] said:
Not always; I've gone through a lot of languages, some just offer little variety, whilst others quite the opposite. This sentiment is arguably more reflective of the person than of coding in general or the environment. i.e. if you deem your current job to be a monotonous hum drum with irritating personalities, then maybe you should figure out why you haven't resigned yet?
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Good question, but then there is necessity.
 
ekske1 said:
Good question, but then there is necessity.
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Sure... but nobody has to choose this option.
Trying to make coding sounds like it's a "one shoe fits all" is just wrong.
 
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jack_spratt said:
I am a developer(8 years experience) using a fourth generation language, however I am not enjoying it(bored) and need a change.

I have been advised to migrant my skillset to open source focusing on upskilling into CSharp Core and JavaScript.

What are your thoughts on these two languages?

Would not Java be better for open source?
Click to expand...

You need a change of scenery, a new language, maybe, a new reason to code, something you can sink your teeth into, get excited about. Remember when you solved business logic problems and you felt good about it? When you rendered stuff to screen and it all worked, you felt a sense of excitement. It's our high, to create. Anybody can sling code, it's what it means to us, and the people that use it, that matters.

Another language? 6 months to fluent, 2 years to bored.

It's your environment that needs a mixup.
 
Depends what u want to do.. 4GL is back-end integration so when you want a career change you do you mean change to back-end application or front-end?

Another back-end would be more natural progression so choice would be Microsoft .net stuff, Java or newer language/frameworks. While I went Java route with the license changed coming I’d say consider the newer stuff.

C# & Java have been around for a long time so you would enter an established market.. while I don’t say you shouldn’t learn it, consider the gap with other tech.
 
A new language is not necessarily going to change anything for the better, what it will do is guarantee you start at the bottom. Maybe a change in environment. Different industry. Different employer. Different country.
 
Don't blindly jump into a new language without considering why you are doing so.

The type of work you do should drive the language that you use - not the other way around. Select the type of work that you want to do, and the choice of languages becomes easier.

Why are you bored? What parts of your job bore you? What work do you think you would enjoy?

Imagine you go for an interview for a C# and .Net Core position, and the hiring manager asks you why you want to switch. Are you going to tell him "because someone else suggested I should"? No, you need to make up your own mind and part of that is knowing the answer to the question WHY.
 
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