Where are South Africa's Software Developers?

I'm trying to teach myself C# ... Used to be ok in VB6, then moved out of the field completely, but opportunity has knocked at my door again... So I dove into MS Visual Studio 2008, tried C#, but not as easy to me as VB ... so using VB.Net at the moment... Will still try C# tho!
 
IRG said:
I'm trying to teach myself C# ... Used to be ok in VB6, then moved out of the field completely, but opportunity has knocked at my door again... So I dove into MS Visual Studio 2008, tried C#, but not as easy to me as VB ... so using VB.Net at the moment... Will still try C# tho!
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Persevere with C# if you can, it's a very good language and is actually far clearer and simpler than VB when you get used to the syntax. It is much more structured and intuitive once you learn the conventions.
 
IRG said:
I'm trying to teach myself C# ... Used to be ok in VB6, then moved out of the field completely, but opportunity has knocked at my door again... So I dove into MS Visual Studio 2008, tried C#, but not as easy to me as VB ... so using VB.Net at the moment... Will still try C# tho!
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:wtf: People still code in VB? :p Seriously though c# is a far more logical language. I find VB syntax annoying.

As to where the Developers have gone, they're still around but until companies treat them better they will always be short job hoppers. There still seems to be an employer mentality that developers are similar to support IT staff.
 
Soon companies are going to start relocating certain divisions like development to other countries then let’s see how governments plans to increase jobs without skilling/educating the youth works out
 
I got headhunted by a company offering a 35% increase on my current salary. Starting that job at the end of the month. They don't even want me to do actual development for them, but rather function in a design role due to my strong soft-skills.
It has to be said though, up until very recently, thanks to the recession, companies didn't really want to fork out for the experience, offering relatively small salaries. During the last 3 months or so, that I've noticed anyway, things have started to get momentum again and companies are starting to offer proper salaries again. They shouldn't complain about not being able to find people if they aren't prepared to offer very tempting packages.
 
rsd said:
Persevere with C# if you can, it's a very good language and is actually far clearer and simpler than VB when you get used to the syntax. It is much more structured and intuitive once you learn the conventions.
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I agree with u completely... C# is the way to go! I just have a deadline and need to get the job done. But longterm, I will convert the VB Code to a C# project. Then its gonna be Java (neva done it), Want to be able to offer my client an Android version...

@kosmik .. it depends where one started ... C# is a little greek to me at the moment... but I'll get there!
 
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DavidP said:
While (salary <= insult)
{
worker.move(overseas)
}
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TBH the bigger problem is being forced to either:
a) prop up less skilled workers being the same (if not more) than you
b) deal with management that has no idea of how to manage the SDLC

I know a lot of developers (being a geek thats no suprise) but I struggle to think of people who can effectively manage development.
 
It's simple. Pay sucks, and companies rather outsource overseas (especially India it seems)... I know a few VERY good developers that left the country.
 
TheTourist said:
I know a lot of developers (being a geek thats no suprise) but I struggle to think of people who can effectively manage development.
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That's a big issue I hear a lot of people complain about. The people who actually understand what's required make rubbish managers and the people who are excellent managers don't know what the hell is going on. Obviously there are exceptions, but that's generally the situation.
 
I coded C, C++ and Delphi for 5 years.
The salary for software development isn't fantastic and other IT positions such as senior system administrators are more relaxed and pay just as well.
Why have the headache of always racing against deadlines due to someone else's bad planning and scope creep when you can do less and get the same pay?
I'm not a stressaholic - maybe there are people who enjoy the stress of software development while working under clueless management.
 
but windows based programmers are limited to the compatibilities of new software development in AIR development, its a much better system to design than crappy windows based that is limited :D
 
Paul_S said:
I coded C, C++ and Delphi for 5 years.
The salary for software development isn't fantastic and other IT positions such as senior system administrators are more relaxed and pay just as well.
Why have the headache of always racing against deadlines due to someone else's bad planning and scope creep when you can do less and get the same pay?
I'm not a stressaholic - maybe there are people who enjoy the stress of software development while working under clueless management.
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Man, good to know I'm not alone in this.

Your failure to plan, shouldn't constitute a crisis for me

But it does, basically crap management. I would prefer to work as a contractor, that way if I screw up because of poor planning I have only myself to blame. How many times has this scenario played out?

Big Cheese: I need <x> to do <y>
You: OK, got the specs for the changes to <x>
Big Cheese: No, but I promised <z> that <y> would be done tomorrow

Perhaps this data did not take into account the number of developers becomming guns for hire?
 
I've been developing in C# for 8 years now in a whole range of industries. I can't complain. Pay is good and the offers I get are even better. Given the fact that 9/10 people today who go looking for a job will end up struggling to find one. I am just thankful that we are in demand. For now that is :)
 
IRG said:
@kosmik .. it depends where one started ... C# is a little greek to me at the moment... but I'll get there!
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Oh no, I agree totally. I was trained in c++ during tertiary, first real job was VB.Net for mobile extending to a c# webfrontend on a sqlmobile to sql database and to top it off , the initial data was controlled in a access db and program that was "pumped" into sql once a week. Hope that gives you any ideas about how confused that dev environment was and the number of developers it went through.

But you should soon realize that language is merely a platform and be able to cross code if necessary. C++ was for low level coding ( by this I mean direct addressing etc ) when I was studying ( '97 ) and when I was first introduced to the .net framework I was like," It does what for you? ". It took me years to overcome the fact that you give up a lot of control to the .Net engine, well for it to feel natural.
 
no one wants to pay ... but expect you to be their slave .... not gonna happen ... I have already turned down a few jobs for this and the stupid recruitment agents that they employ who try to get you to bring down your asking salary just because they think it might be too high !!
 
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