I guess I wouldn't disagree with that. Same experience here.
I'd also note that while there does seem to be a shortage of good Java/C# devs, there's an even bigger shortage of every other kind of developer you could name.
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As far as what's best careerwise, I still think Java and C# are going to be the big two for quite some time. There is a shortage of Java/C# devs in my city and and my company has been taking pretty much any good Java dev we can get for years.
I wouldn't say that for certain, especially as far as PC gaming is concerned. Having said that, I myself am learning to use OpenGL in my code, as DirectX is somewhat too limited for my taste, being available only on Microsoft platforms and all.
Having barely etched the surface of C++ coding, I wonder what differences there are between programming x86 (Windows) and ARM(Android).
I guess I wouldn't disagree with that. Same experience here.
I'd also note that while there does seem to be a shortage of good Java/C# devs, there's an even bigger shortage of every other kind of developer you could name.
I'd have to disagree with the "PC gaming is dying" sentiment. It's far more niche than consoles or mobile, but quite away from dying as well. Fire up some L4D2, a couple mods, some friends, and have some lols. Contrary to a few elitists, graphics aren't exactly the sole reason to step to PC gaming either. For god sake, I'm rolling a Radeon 6370M (wanna ask "can it run Crysis?").PC gaming is kind of dying too given more and more thing just focus on lowest common denominator system on chip etc. Its probably already in decline as most gaming is done in consoles / web browsing.
That said I'm a java web dev dev now. Pretty easy transition from c++. If you know c++ almost anything is an easy transition.
The place c++ is useful is for Unix and driver devs and such.
Even .net is losing popularity as people don't want to be tied to Microsoft ecosystem if they don't have to be. Myspace... was a .net shop. Gotta stay nimble in this field and choose your career transitions wisely I guess.
Java is pretty hard to hire for. I'd say the "hot" jobs are front end js and html5 type stuff even though technically I don't think that type of stuff is as hard to work on as say c++. I work on it at work sometimes and it seems like its more people don't have experience on say jquery or whatever but its quick to learn. Ruby on rails was crazy hot a few years ago too but not as much now.
Anyway, I'm programming for a hobby, not a career, and considering the time I've already invested in C++, I'm not exactly keen on moving onto another language unless forced to. So for the time being, I'll stick to C++.
So far as I know, OpenGL is used in just about anything current that can render graphics except perhaps the Xbox (though, I think there are at least one or two games that use OpenGL even then). It somewhat used on the PC as well, Minecraft being a popular example.I agree. Java seems to have a higher level of entry due to the scope of the ecosystem. I wouldn't start in on that today.. due to that and there's just more exciting technologies out there (and TONS of it). Same with C#/.Net.
Regarding PC gaming, I think we're at a moment of flux or change in gaming.. but PC gaming is stronger today than it has been at points in the past 30 years.
I think we'll see PC (mouse and keyboard) gaming rely less on Windows and migrate to all 3 main desktop environments (Windows, OSX, Ubuntu).
While Windows will decline even in gaming, overall developers will move towards crossplatform titles.
This is just the way I see things, which is more towards OGL rather than D3D. I wouldn't put a dime of effort into D3D or anything Windows specific if making a game today.
Not to mention, if you want to ride the mobile wave with a slightly altered version- OGL is the KING there. It's also used with many consoles as well to my knowledge (PS3 at least). Outside of the Xbox, MS is so pigeonholed into corporate it's stupidly ridiculous.
Now please, don't take this as disrespect towards VS or C#. I do think both are great as well, it has nothing to do with the state of the market.
Rage is the best looking (confirmed) OGL title on PC. Also Heroes of Newerth and Serious Sam 3 might use OGL in their Windows versions but I think they use DX for Windows and their OSX/Linux versions use OGL. I'd personally treat Windows as the outlier, because it is and wouldn't touch a non cross platform engine. That said like most things its easier to do it for and with Windows tools.. there's more people out there that can work on it.
It's not hard to find a C# programmer, I know plenty (I could fill that role myself). I'm not sure I personally know a C++ OGL programmer though.
The gaming parallel is a fair comparison to the OP's question about Windows programming. Windows specific code is just a bad idea unless you're so good at it and been doing it for so long that doing it another way would be 5x the work. Making a desktop crossplatform has its own challenges due to the differences for input latency and network stack. I'd be interested how people have dealt with those differences across platforms, but once you did answer those questions and get a framework hammered out that deals with it- you'd be in a much better position than your competitors going forward.
Ehh, considering my friend wants me to make a quick app for her iPad, I'd probably bother with the Apple ecosystem, if it wasn't for the requirements for a Mac.So suggesting Apple's ecosystem over MS is garbage, but the opposite isn't true? Hmm.
No hatred.. most people here actually agreed with me that's the way the winds are blowing. Not that I need people to agree to validate anything, I work a fulltime job in the field.. I'm actually career-locked with MS myself. I'd say a knee jerk reaction like yours is more telling of your own insecurities than mine.
I'd def learn Apple's ecosystem over MS's.. no agenda just being honest on how I see it. That said, I don't know ObjC. I only use crossplatform technologies myself. No way am I paying to any corporation my efforts and time.. if I were though, I'd go to the top for money earning potential and nothing else (Apple). That's just being a good capitalist and in your own self interests. I feel what's best in the end-users interests are opensource, free, and free of corporate control. But if you're going for money, don't screw around with MS.. go for the big fish and sell to a growing consumer segment.
.Net and anything else that's Windows specific is dead. Ok, back to doing some Python!
So suggesting Apple's ecosystem over MS is garbage, but the opposite isn't true? Hmm.
No hatred.. most people here actually agreed with me that's the way the winds are blowing. Not that I need people to agree to validate anything, I work a fulltime job in the field.. I'm actually career-locked with MS myself. I'd say a knee jerk reaction like yours is more telling of your own insecurities than mine.
I'd def learn Apple's ecosystem over MS's.. no agenda just being honest on how I see it. That said, I don't know ObjC. I only use crossplatform technologies myself. No way am I paying to any corporation my efforts and time.. if I were though, I'd go to the top for money earning potential and nothing else (Apple). That's just being a good capitalist and in your own self interests. I feel what's best in the end-users interests are opensource, free, and free of corporate control. But if you're going for money, don't screw around with MS.. go for the big fish and sell to a growing consumer segment.
.Net and anything else that's Windows specific is dead. Ok, back to doing some Python!
.Net and anything else that's Windows specific is dead. Ok, back to doing some Python!
That "statistics" has already been debunked in this thread.The trends say C# is getting stronger each month. Python has been stagnant and lately is getting weaker.
I was a c++ dev on windows for 5 years. Wrote 1 android app for fun and toyed with java randomly which got me hired somehow a year ago to write front end javascript and mid tier / back end web services in java on spring framework .I agree. Java seems to have a higher level of entry due to the scope of the ecosystem. I wouldn't start in on that today.. due to that and there's just more exciting technologies out there (and TONS of it). Same with C#/.Net.
I get the feeling because I'm anti-vendor lock, and even more so anti-MS now that they are no longer the great poobah...