16 replies to this topic

[mikehende]

Hello all, I am new here, have just finished studying basic XHTML, CSS, Javascript and Php. I am seeking a job as either a webmaster or programmer. Can anyone advise me please on what else I should study which will help me in both fields mentioned? Thanks.

[WingedPanther]

Studying graphics software, such as GIMP or Photoshop may come in handy. SQL would also be good to learn.

[mikehende]

Thanks, yes, I intend on doing PS for designing purposes. I have planned to do jquery next then MYSQL but tell me please, to get a programming job these days or for the future, which other things should I consider studying?

[Alexander]

I am sure understanding relational database systems (i.e. how current structures can be optimized, and scalable) is important to website owners. I am sure you could get good jobs money with that experience on your hands.

I would look at some job sites and see what is expected, feel free to report back here on what you find and we can review those aspects with you.

[mikehende]

I have searched and searched the net trying to get answer and I simply CANNOT, it seems every job requires something additional aside from the standard JS and php which is why I am simply going to keep on studying everything I can. Some research suggests NOT to study C++ and Java because those will no longer be in demand in the near future, is this correct?

[sam_coder]

I don't see Java or C++ dying any time soon.

it's difficult to say than any language or technology will not be in demand in the near future (the last company I worked for had more mainframers on the payroll than anyone else).

It's been my experience that keeping your training up to date keeps you "relevant". Just don't strive too hard right away to be a jack of all trades. You want to be the master of something....

[Alexander]

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it seems every job requires something additional aside from the standard JS and PHP

If you choose program development as a trade, it would be very wise to learn many languages. The IT sector changes very often and fads (cloud computing, and what have you) will generate interest. The economy in some places can be fairly bad at times, why not hire somebody who can do two jobs instead of one? does that show they are more capable? (I do not necessarily agree, although big places often expect too much of you.)

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Some research suggests NOT to study C++ and Java because those will no longer be in demand in the near future, is this correct?

I would say this is complete nonsense. There is no possible way to replace the petabytes of code written in C/C++ (look at COBOL and tell me if it still lives on in our day to day lives) and I am sure that C will always be the appropriate language to write high performance applications and servers, how could you replace such a language that is so close to its assemblies?

Anything that could replace C++ would be higher level (i.e. C#, although not portable) and there is no reason business wise to replace it any time soon, operating systems and a majority of applications will be written in it for quite some time to come as it is familiar and very performant. What would be the point of rewriting the Linux kernel or something important to something that performs the same?

Just my tired observation on that.

[mikehende]

Well, here is my predicament guys, I have been a Pc/Laptop Repair Tech for many years but here in NY, there's at least one Tech on every block so that job went south years ago so I then had no choice but to branch out into something else so I started web design 2 years ago but I am now 49 years old so time is not on my side. Anyway, due to outsourcing, the web design cannot work, at least not here. So I then decided to start programming but I am being advised not to specialize in any one field because I will never know if I will get a job in that field which is why I am trying to learn as many different fields or languages as I can but only covering the basics of each field.

Main problem is, both fields [designing and programming] are over saturated and outsourcing is doing a lot of damage to NY personnel so I am really lost trying to decide if to specialize in something specific, I do really think the programming may provide best results for me in the future.

[Alexander]

mikehende said:

Main problem is, both fields [designing and programming] are over saturated and outsourcing is doing a lot of damage to NY personnel so I am really lost trying to decide if to specialize in something specific, I do really think the programming may provide best results for me in the future.

It is unfortunate, unless you have large companies near you (non-remote work pays most) along with a salvo of certifications it is hard to find a job you could live by. It is why I would enjoy contract work more, getting a small chunk, although you have to really dig in to find something you specialize on (usually the jobs are tedious and require too much as everything is expected to be cheap)

[WingedPanther]

The reality is that being a professional programmer is as much about constantly learning new technologies as it is about mastering what's in demand now. Ten years ago, .NET was a new, untested technology. Now, about a third of the programming jobs want C#. I still see high demand for both Java and C++, and don't expect either of those to diminish any time soon. Ruby and Ruby on Rails didn't event exist ten years ago, but they are core requirements for some jobs, now.

Java is strong enough that it has spawned new languages, like Scheme and Clojure, to run in the JVM. .NET has added F# to its pool of languages. As a result, if you studied Lisp on a lark a while ago, it suddenly becomes a valuable bases for learning some of the new languages that are coming around. The more languages you know, the easier it is to pick up new ones. The more core technologies you know (relational databases, web servers, application programming) and programming paradigms you know (OOP, Functional, etc) the easier you can adapt to new requirements.

[mikehende]

To be quite honest, programming languages doesn't come easy at all for me so I am being told that C and Java are very complicated languages and if I am having trouble with the likes of Javascript and Php then C and Java would be hell for me to grasp effectively, any truth to that , meaning that C and Java is so much more difficult to learn than JS and php?

[sam_coder]

I can't speak to the industry in New York. I could understand that it can get hard to stand out with all the competition.

I live in a very rural area, I do residential PC repair, Managed IT services for companies that are near me, custom software development, I license software that I've built, sell third party software,
and I also have a day job, working for a large-ish high tech company in another province.

It's more a lifestyle than anything else, and it does get difficult to stay a float. (it's a lot easier now, now that I've been doing this for so long). I have a reputation around here, and a lot of experience. The languages and platforms that I know and use, and the ones I've learned and don't use are really secondary to the big picture.

As primary bread-winner in this family, I really just follow the money (I think that's all anyone can do). Hardest part is answering a non technical person who asks what I do for a living. =) Inevitably, it's always comes out as.. I work with computers...

long story short, I use C# primarily. Getting more into Java.
I have a long C++ and vb history as well.

.NET has paid more bills for me than anything else I've ever worked with.