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Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

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Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#181

Post by MuffinFlavored »

agentultra wrote: post #5

I've heard of people going from a bootcamp course straight into Google and optimizing 100% for the career path. They make embarrassingly more than I do, have been programming for a scant few years, and I couldn't care less. I've been programming for most of my life. I've poured hours into learning 6502, BASIC, 8086, C, C++, Perl, Python, Javascript, Common Lisp, Haskell... to say nothing of physics, linear algebra, g…

> They make embarrassingly more than I do, have been programming for a scant few years, and I couldn't care less.

I think the bigger question is, with programming being made more common to the public (aka being taught in elementary school), will the supply/demand ratio that makes US development a six figure job go away with the influx of "new would-be coders"?

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#183

Post by DaniloDias »

sybarita wrote: post #174
leetrout wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I look at my skills compared to the earning potential of some other trades. This is certainly not 100% accurate because it’s based on what I pay in more rural America but I like it: Barber - 3 cuts per hour @ $20 ea = $60 / hour Mechanic - $60-80 per hour Lawn Care - $40 / yard up to 3-4 yards per hour = $40-$120 per hour Steam cleaning = $150 for a couch = $150 per hour (carpets are less) Plumbers in East Tennessee…

You have a really distorted view of how much people doing these jobs actually take home

Your cheap shot that doesn’t point to data fosters similar opinions about you.

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#184

Post by xivzgrev »

Also remember just because someone is smart doesn’t mean they can code. The most lopsided class in college I took was a computer programming one - half the kids got a reasonably easy “A” and half got very hard “C”s, even though everyone was smart there. I don’t remember very many people in the middle. Likewise I think you will find many of these kids drop out before college is out.

Swim in your own lane. In demand majors rise and fall but your passion can last a life time.

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#186

Post by bdcravens »

microtherion wrote: post #178
bdcravens wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would have done something in business, in accounting or the like.

Sounds pretty solid to me, but (a) do you enjoy accounting? (b) that may be a job I could see as potentially vulnerable to AI.

I actually did. Something about the balancing of double entry accounting was oddly satisfying to me. While I agree much of it can be automated away, it seems there's no shortage of companies that still struggle with profit/loss and balance sheets.

I also remember really enjoying business statistics. (I was a pretty terrible college student with regard to discipline - both biz stats and accounting were rare courses that held my interest, as well as being classes where others seemed to struggle while I did very well)

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#187

Post by cableshaft »

afpx wrote: post #161

In the 1990s, there were a few hundred thousand good programmers. In the 2020s, there will be a few hundred million good programmers. I agree with the other comments: programming is no longer a good career to make money, but it’s become an essential requirement of many overlapping professions. I charge $100 / hr. There are people on upwork who are much better than me that charge $20 / hr. The market forces will quick…

There is not a "few hundred million good programmers" right now. As of 2018, there's only 23 million software developers worldwide total, let alone whatever you qualify as being "good".

From my experience, I'd guess that the percentage of "good" programmers is probably maybe 30% at most (and that's probably being generous). If so, that would mean 7 or 8 million "good" developers out there. At least two orders of magnitude lower than your claim.

"According to a study by EDC, as of 2018, there are 23 million software developers worldwide. This population is expected to grow to 27.7 million by 2023."

Source: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-many-software-deve...

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#189

Post by trashface »

Age discrimination is real. If you choose a programming career and don't enter management, then when you are 40+ you might find that you have trouble getting hired for a decent paying job, even if the industry otherwise appears to be booming. When I was studying CS 25 years ago I didn't even think about the age problem. Even if I had, it would not have seemed real at that time, but its real now.

That said, I don't know what else is a good career now. Perhaps primary care physician. I understand there is a shortage of them, but it's also the least paid medical profession. On the other hand, in the future few people may be able to afford most specialists. I already avoid going to them due to high copays.

Generally it seems like the US employment situation is getting less stable over time. But I admit my outlook is rather pessimistic.

Re: Ask HN: CS, still a good career in 3-5 years?

#190

Post by agentultra »

MuffinFlavored wrote: post #181
agentultra wrote: post #5

I've heard of people going from a bootcamp course straight into Google and optimizing 100% for the career path. They make embarrassingly more than I do, have been programming for a scant few years, and I couldn't care less. I've been programming for most of my life. I've poured hours into learning 6502, BASIC, 8086, C, C++, Perl, Python, Javascript, Common Lisp, Haskell... to say nothing of physics, linear algebra, g…

> They make embarrassingly more than I do, have been programming for a scant few years, and I couldn't care less. I think the bigger question is, with programming being made more common to the public (aka being taught in elementary school), will the supply/demand ratio that makes US development a six figure job go away with the influx of "new would-be coders"?

Time will tell. I think there will always be a market for people who can solve problems.

Programming may become a lot like maths in that it’s mainly used by other disciplines to get things done. Learning something other than programming itself will always be an asset.

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