Hi guys
Currently I’m a C# developer with experience of 1 year and I’m thinking of switching to Java, it isn’t I don’t like something about C# as a language, but as a career, it seems to me like there’s way more opportunities to find a good job with Java than C#. What pros and cons can you see? Do you agree that it’s better to switch to Java as a career language? Not like personal favorite etc.
Should I switch?
Personally from my experience I see the opposite. Yes there are many things developed in Java, but I feel the community is getting more toxic day by day, and I don’t blame the people for this but actually the corporate behind Java namely Oracle. I think you are well of in both languages as most business use either or.
I personally think Dotnet is becoming the choice of the future, and I know I am most probably going to get down voted to hell for this comment, but so be it.
Can you give some example of this toxicity?
Whatever answers you get here, ask this question on r/java too.
I do not have much information about Java but it is clear for me that C# definitely has good perspectives with the cross platform .NET and the continuously improving language features.
I wouldn’t switch personally but mostly because I like where .Net is going with .Net Core. There should be plenty of opportunities both ways but I really don’t see Java the language improving or evolving like C#.
If you strictly want to use the most popular language for job demand then you should look into Python or JavaScript. They are large and growing while Java is going the other way.
It’s the opposite for me in my area. I graduated with mainly java experience but most of the local jobs were for .net. I ended up getting a .net job with the assumption I’d pick it up and I’m so glad I did. Even if your area doesn’t have as many opportunities as mine, you still only need 1 job at a time and with remote working becoming more common, it may not be such a big issue.
You can pick up jobs involving either language knowing either language. Find the job you like, don’t worry about “switching”. The languages are broadly very similar. If there are jobs you want that use Java, then brush up on Java, get those jobs.
Really depends on the job market in your area. If you already know C# its not like you can’t switch again if you feel you made the wrong decision in 5+ years. Make a list of top employers in your area and based on job postings if they are primarily Java, C# or other. The only downside I think is that your # of years experience is kind of low so might benefit more by learning what you currently know better than switching to something else at least for a bit. It kind of depends on the interviewer but not knowing Java is not necessarily a deal breaker for a Java job. In some cases it might be better to show you really know your stuff in C# and that ecosystem rather than “Knowing a bit of C# and Java but not being great at either”. With more years of experience you don’t have to make that trade off.
Java continues to be top programming in business, so that’s a plus. Personally I think C# is where all the exciting stuff is happening, but if your area is Java-centric I guess go for it.
C# devs
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