Ask HN: Why are Java developers so boring?

Over the past few months I've interviewed about 2 dozen Java developers. I'm leaving a consulting position with a large online auction company and they've asked me to help interview replacement candidates. They mandate use of Java for all software development. I don't generally stereotype, but I've become very frustrated with the type of candidates I'm interviewing. They are just so boring. While most of them know Java well enough, they don't seem to know or care about much else. They are usually very narrowly focused, accustomed to working on large teams where they manage some little cog, have little understanding of full stack web development, and don't seem very passionate about software development. I'm new to interviewing, and I'm interested to know if this is typical, or if we are just getting a bad batch of candidates.

I think this has less to do with Java per se and rather the types of candidates you will see in 'safe' languages.

By safe, I mean, easily employable languages. People working with haskell, clojure, scala, factor or whatever more obscure language probably aren't doing it because it makes them employable.

Plenty of people working with Java, PHP etc are doing it because it makes them employable. That doesn't mean that all PHP, Java etc developers are only interested in getting a paycheck but given the pool you are selecting from, you are more likely to select such a person at random then if you were selecting from a pool of developers working in a 'purely for the love of it' language.

I've started doing Java development for a day job again and between that and other projects, have met plenty of people who are java developers who are quite the opposite of what you have seen so they are out there. I've also met plenty of people who fit the stereotype you are talking about.

This might have nothing to do with Java and everything with your company.

Maybe you are attracting boring people because the company presents itself as a place for such people.

Maybe the company has a reputation or a vibe that simply does not attract the kind of people you are looking for.

Maybe job openings are worded in such a way that they attract these kind of people.

Doesn't matter if it's Java, .NET, ColdFusion, PHP or whatever. The majority of programmers out there are 9-to-5ers and couldn't care less about your company's vision. They're just looking to get hired, be told what to program, write code, turn it in and go home.

I think the problem is that most of the passionate, big picture developers already have jobs or have started their own companies.

Maybe change the candidate requirements to ask for Python or Ruby knowledge, even if it's not required for the actual job. You might get more people with enjoy programming rather than those for whom it is just a job.

However, be upfront with anyone who contacts you and asks about Python/Ruby usage, e.g. "The environment is basically all Java, but we want a candidate who has broader knowledge of development outside the Java ecosystem".

My two cents.