Wanting to move into development - which area?

Hamster said:
Languages dammit!? :p
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Been coding for 30 years, 24 professionally. So there's been quite a variety.

The past several years though:

On the server it's LAMP.

On the client we use non mainstream tools and we take our Windows code and compile 90% of it unchanged on Linux and Android. Sorry can't share which, it's a competitive advantage.
 
Hamster said:
IMO you are always going to end up doing some maintenance work. And all n00bs should work on existing systems first to calm the **** down before they are let loose writing the base code of new products.

I'm curious though. When I look at these job ads I see a lot of .Net ones claiming to be greenfields work and "non-client facing" and cutting edge etc. I never see these for other tech.

Which language would you advise people take up if they just want to do "new" work?
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What do you mean by "greenfields" work? IT systems for gardeners ? :) sorry but I have only ever looked for jobs in ads twice and never seen this term.

Wrt "non-client facing jobs", In SA I worked in a non-client facing dev team and it wasn't .Net

Because you haven't seen them, doesn't mean they aren't there :)

Edit: at my current job, nobody wears a suit and tie in the entire building except for one dude. And no. He isn't the IT director. I have never seen the IT director with a tie. I'm sure he wears a suite and tie to board meetings etc.

The dev that does wear a tie is one our contractors ... :)

If any of the permies came to work in s suit and tie we think they where on their way to a job interview. Or where having mental breakdown :)
 
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zippy said:
What do you mean by "greenfields" work? IT systems for gardeners ? :) sorry but I have only ever looked for jobs in ads twice and never seen this term.
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Greenfields = brand spanking shiny new


zippy said:
Wrt "non-client facing jobs", In SA I worked in a non-client facing dev team and it wasn't .Net

Because you haven't seen them, doesn't mean they aren't there :)
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Yes they are there, but you (I) don't see them in jobs ads as often as I do .NET.



I suddenly have an urge to study ip on Java again :/
 
Hamster said:
Greenfields = brand spanking shiny new




Yes they are there, but you (I) don't see them in jobs ads as often as I do .NET.



I suddenly have an urge to study ip on Java again :/
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South African job market seems to dominated by .Net

According ads anyway. In SA I never EVER used job ads to get a job. It was always, word of mouth. A friend recommending me. I don't think I have ever seen an Oracle job add in SA.

However, in the UK, there are shed loads. And they are a mix of corporate and software house.

Oracle may be different to .Net in this regard, but an Oracle developer can fit into a corporate or software house, maintenance or new project equally well. It's all down to individual really.

My first ever project was a new Oracle system 10 years ago. It's a long story how I swung that one :)
 
biometrics said:
Been coding for 30 years, 24 professionally. So there's been quite a variety.

The past several years though:

On the server it's LAMP.

On the client we use non mainstream tools and we take our Windows code and compile 90% of it unchanged on Linux and Android. Sorry can't share which, it's a competitive advantage.
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Not sure what anything in this post means, or even if it makes sense....

What is windows code? If it is not java, then the "compile 90% unchanged" is obv BS. Even is it is java, awt/swing is not remotely compatible with android
 
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_kabal_ said:
Not sure what anything in this post means, or even if it makes sense....

What is windows code? If it is not java, then the "compile 90% unchanged" is obv BS. Even is it is java, awt/swing is not remotely compatible with android
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Mmm, perhaps this thread has drifted a bit from the OP.

But anyway, to answer your post: Windows code = the source code of our Windows application. Because of the development tools we use that source code can be compiled on Linux and Android, 90% unchanged. Most changes are related to components which are different.
 
biometrics said:
Mmm, perhaps this thread has drifted a bit from the OP.

But anyway, to answer your post: Windows code = the source code of our Windows application. Because of the development tools we use that source code can be compiled on Linux and Android, 90% unchanged. Most changes are related to components which are different.
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And you think thats a competitive advantage? People have been doing cross platform compilation for years. I mean ask Hamster he does it where he is. And if you want to write once run everywhere there are easy ways to do it.

http://www.tarnyko.net/en/?q=node/25
 
biometrics said:
Ah but we do Windows too.
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So you just add an extra compiler to the tool chain. Really not complicated at all.

Then there's phonegap as well.

But in any case I would rather drink battery acid than write for android.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Interesting views :)

For those of you who haven't read - I am starting my first development job as an iOS developer, next week. Lots to learn and grow and I cannot wait! :D
 
Tander said:
So, it's a career change for me but I'm excited and this feels right to me. :D:D!
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Getting butterflies for you bud :P I'm glad you could get help from the MyBB Community! Good luck for the trials ahead!
 
If you going to develop for any platform, remember that a UI is also needed and even if your app has brilliant functions, if the UI sucks then ppl will see your app as good as that. Maybe brush up on the design area as ell, else you going to be outsourcing to a graphic designer.
 
Nemeses said:
Getting butterflies for you bud :P I'm glad you could get help from the MyBB Community! Good luck for the trials ahead!
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Thanks bud! :cool:

Shardie said:
If you going to develop for any platform, remember that a UI is also needed and even if your app has brilliant functions, if the UI sucks then ppl will see your app as good as that. Maybe brush up on the design area as ell, else you going to be outsourcing to a graphic designer.
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Thank you for this tip.

When I see any app - the first thing I focus on is the UI. Right down to the app icon. If the icon doesn't look right, that has to change.

So I will use this same level of criticism / scrutinizing when it comes to my own work and that will go right up the the UI - which is very important, as you say - the user won't see my code, they get a UI. If the UI sucks, the app sucks. It's that simple.
 
It truly is a masterpiece:

Priapus said:
Howzit guys,

So, I want to get out of the I.T field. Currently, I am a field technician.
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Premise established

Priapus said:
Last year, I played with some iOS mobile development and enjoyed it
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Character building. This is good, connecting the subject with the reader.

Priapus said:
but since I no longer have a Macbook,
I cannot carry on with it.
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Right in the feels :'( We have drama ladies and gentlemen!

Priapus said:
However I will get another one soon
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Our intrepid hero has a plan, motivation and we can look forward to a marvelous adventure!

Priapus said:
My question is though, is mobile development the best way to go?
I was thinking along the lines of PHP
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Like all good stories the hero steers towards disaster. Will fate save him or will this be the start of the end?

Priapus said:
and C# / Java maybe?

Any thoughts and advise?

Thank guys
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Luckily for us he is well aware of the dangers around him and asks for advice knowing something better is out there.
 
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