Programmers and their future...

merendo · Post by **merendo** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 8:31 pm

Hi everybody...

I need your opinion. Do you think programmer is a good and future-save job?

A good friend of mine has been unemployed but can't get a job as a programmer anymore because he is over 40 years old.

Are the chances to get a job as a programmer really that low or is this just a local problem of my area?

Bye! merendo

Codemonger · Post by **Codemonger** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 10:07 pm

I am not yet 40, I have a sort of a network admin job right now. It pays terrible, and their are no big cities for at least an 8 hour drive in any direction. Their are jobs available wher I live, but they don't pay enough to make a living. Our city has declined at least by 4000 people in recent years.

My biggest fear is in about 5 years I will become unemployable as far as being a programmer, I may have the experience, but with time I have become very bull headed, and most employers are looking for young people with piss and vinegar. But I'm still young enough to climb the non-existant ladder where I live ....

dmoc · Post by **dmoc** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 11:34 pm

No, unless you specialise in certain business apps, SAP, Lotus Notes, high performance db's, etc. Even then it all depends... a lot of work is being sub-sub-contracted to India, Hungary and other places. I say "sub-sub" because it's not always obvious, eg, gov department have to be seen to be offering work in their own country but then I don't think they care if the sub-contractor farms it out elsewhere. Project management is always in demand, prob always will be, and typically has to be locally employed.

Other things to consider is how much satisfaction you expect... don't, it can get boring pretty quickly. Do you want to have to keep up with all the latest marketeer driven fads? And like others may tell you, it may get difficult as you get older but not just because of age, eg, older people have morgage, kids, loans, etc to pay so employers prefer younger so they get away with paying less.

One final point: in 15..20 years time do you want to look back and think you have done or create something worthwhile? I once spent 4 very busy months with three other people creating an application which sole purpose was to win our customer a contract, nothing more. If they had told us then it would have taken 2 people 2 wks to botch something together. Personally, my time is priceless and I hate to find people have wasted it.

merendo · Post by **merendo** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 4:25 pm

So you think that a job as a programmer can be difficuilt and disappointing.

What do you think, is PureBasic an industry-capable language?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 6:09 pm

In my opinion...

1) If you working for a large company as a programmer, you are expendable and when it becomes to costly to keep you around... bu-bye.
Their bottom line is to make money, not use it to pay high wages. If they can keep a staff of younger, less experienced and less costly employees, that is usually the route taken.

2) If you can do "code for hire" and contract work for large companies, you can make very good money because they are coming to you for very specific/custom software and are very willing to pay for it regardless of price.

3) You can make good money creating software where that type of software is needed but not available. Most people think they will retire by writing another IRC client or MP3 player.. good luck

People will pay for something that is new, inovative, does what they need and is hard to find elsewhere.

>>is PureBasic an industry-capable language?

If you mean "can it be used to make professional commercial software?" then I can certainly say YES.
I have written a number of commercial packages that are now used in the Television Broadcast Industry (click here), and I am now currently working on another

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 9:45 pm

I program for a "large company". Well, State of Alaska is my employer

I'm only 25, been working for the State since 1997. Still a programmer, but the way sucks big time, $23.65/hr. And this is just for mainframe crap. My job is secure until they move the Capital... grr.

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 11:14 pm

merendo wrote:Hi everybody...
I need your opinion. Do you think programmer is a good and future-save job?

The asnwer is so difficult because 'programmer' can mean many different things.

1.- You can live from your applications if you make shareware or scripts (PHP, ASP, .NET) and you have good luck, God help you and you try to make your own business.

2.- I think that a internet programmer (php, asp, etc) can live from his work if he is smart enough to find the way.

Maybe as an employee is not always so secure as a job, but as an idependient work, i think you can make money.

About Shareware:

I dont think that you HAVE to be innovative...
My point of view is that you have to understand the needs of the people and you can offer some application that resolves some of them.

Many people lives from programming, no question about it.
Personally i live from my own software.

merendo · Post by **merendo** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:15 pm

Is the gov going to move the capital of alaska? (As far as i know it's Juneau)

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:09 pm

There are currently no roads in and out of juneau. The only access is Plane or boat (I live here, I know

). Anyways, they have been planning to move the capital for over 15 years due to this issue. Recently they is a road issue where they are thinking about building a road out of Juneau. If that happens, the capital will stay. If it does not happen, most likely the capital will move from Juneau.

If the above happens, I'll still stay in Juneau. One of the best cities in the US to raise a family. Unfortunately, due to our new corrupt governor, we have an over 400% increase in various taxes.

Max. · Post by **Max.** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:12 pm

To my experiences, the best chances you will have as a programmer, who connects different software or integrates them.

Like connecting Exchange or Docuware to SAP. People like to have any functionality in their main software and companies pay to get them added value. Especially if the feature sounds cool.

In my hometown, a city of 15000, there are only a very few full-time programmers. Maybe 20 to 30. They don't get paid too well. And chances to keep the job are not too high either.

And to a company, it doesn't matter if a programmer sits next door or next continent... :roll:

Post by **Rings** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:45 pm

if i remember Merendo, you are german too. i prefer to read the last CT (German maganzine) about salarys in the computerscene .....

merendo · Post by **merendo** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:23 pm

What or who is Salarys? (Babylon didn't find a match)

Post by **Berikco** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:53 pm

merendo wrote:What or who is Salarys? (Babylon didn't find a match)

I'm not native English, but i believe it's salary or more than one salaries.

Karbon? Where are you now...lazy again?

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 10:21 pm

Yes yes.... work work work

Salary is just the amount of money you make...

I think it's possible to make a living doing just about anything, so I don't see why that would be any different.. I lived in a town with 7000 people in it and still made a successful go at custom programming for businesses in the community - anything is possible...

Remember, it's not what you know but who you know that makes the difference. I spend %90 of my time finding jobs and the rest of the time planning and working on them. If you're a freelance programmer that sits at your office (or what ever) and expects to see work come your way then you'll go broke quick!

Get out, talk to people, pitch ideas, beat people up - anything to make that sale!

Tell your friend good luck!

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Programmers and their future...

Programmers and their future...

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