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The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

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Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#451

Post by markus_zhang »

stefanos82 wrote: post #250
markus_zhang wrote: post #63

Well, hire me and train me. I'm a mediocre Python data engineer but self taught myself a bit of C and C++ plus I don't ask for high salary. Something like 90K CAD is good for me.

I came here to say more or less the same. I have been playing with C++ since 2003 (university years) and still haven't had any opportunity to get hired due to my lack of previous professional experience. For some reason, my web development experience does not matter for them, nor they care that I do my best to learn from C++ experts we all know. If they are so scared they cannot find talented C++ developers, it's abo…

Totally agreed!

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#452

Post by VintageThinkpad »

Huh, I need to pick me up one of those plentiful jobs.

Just thinking out loud, for us folks who have done that for a long time, I can see more reasons why people don't look for more gigs once they have stepped off of the wheel. (aside from the real or imagined problem of ageism of course).

. The torture of the modern software interview. Not worth it if you have enough money to live on already.

. The tendency for modern companies to simply grind out more of the same. There was a time when there was a lot of genuinely new product development going on in the larger embedded and workstation app space.

. The strong notion of small stepwise increments in development rather than being cut loose for some time. Writing to a series of tickets really sucks if you are used to being left alone.

I'm not saying that things are worse, just different.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#453

Post by epolanski »

electrondood wrote: post #315
mhfu wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. I build glorified CRUD apps in NodeJS + React, my friend works on some embedded C++ stuff. - My working hours are way more flexible. I pretty much only have to attend meetings which are rare, so I can basically work whenever I want during the day. That means that I can go to the dentist and stuff like that without taking the day off. She has pretty strict hours. - I can work from anywhere, only requirement is de…

> glorified CRUD apps Why is API design/backend engineering the only software discipline that gets maligned like this? These are bread-and-butter operations. I don't mean to attack you, just noting that I never hear anyone talk about mobile development in the same way, for example.

> Why is API design/backend engineering the only software discipline that gets maligned like this?

It's web development in general.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#454

Post by daveslash »

joezydeco wrote: post #215
Ragnarork wrote: post #170

I find it funny that the headline states it as a general trend while it's looking at it only through the prism of "the finance/crypto industry struggles to find C++ developers". Maybe part of the problem is that people don't want to work on your bullshit crypto products, or just on HFT.

Bingo. I've been approached continuously by recruiters looking for finance and/or crypto firms and I won't go anywhere near it. 2x the salary but 10x the stress with type A finance bros yelling at you constantly? Fuck that. Full disclosure: I'm a sucky C++ programmer. If if they're approaching me that means they've chewed up everyone else they can find. So, another red flag.

Yep - you're right. This is a red flag I learned to recognize when I was young. When I turned 16 and could legally apply to jobs, I walked into a local restaurant and asked about a dishwashing position. I filled out the application right in front of the hostess, handed it to her, and without her even looking at the name she asked "Can you start today?". I took the job. I know better...now....

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#457

Post by magicloop »

insanitybit wrote: post #383
lumost wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having recently learned C++/C.. I don't see why it would be taught as a first language outside of specializations. The gains from C/C++ coding are vastly outweighed by the costs. The reality is that there is no good, agreed upon standard in C++ for how to manage memory... how would you teach this to junior engineers at university?

Having learned C/C++ as my first languages I can say I'm quite glad for it. I was able to learn so fucking much. 1. Object oriented programming, complete with inheritance and virtual dispatch 2. Pure Functional Programming, lambdas, const correctness, template metaprogramming 3. Type system fuckery - the things you can do in C++'s TMP is insane. Both nominal and duck typing in the language. 4. Hardware - I watched so…

I'm glad someone pointed out these things, as I concur. I learnt C++ via the C++ programming language book, and it gave me many of the above benefits/insights. (The book has its faults though). It is akin to trawling through the CLRS book. It does make you a better programmer but no-one knows why. (An attempt at sarcasm - I know most of us never need to do advanced data structures/algorithms but it helps refine the mind for programming challenges).

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#458

Post by weatherlite »

riskable wrote: post #418
metalforever wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah same, I’m an EE camping out in software because of the pay. It’s also just easier work. I would much rather be intellectually challenged coding firmware or embedded work. I didn’t go to school to build web widgets. It’s just EE pays so badly you can’t make the bills. I was getting offered numbers that wouldn’t have afforded my own studio apartment to rent. For EE work. It’s insulting.

...which is ridiculous because of what it takes to become an EE VS what it takes to become a "web developer". Basically anyone who can handle basic logic can be a web developer if they just put in a bit of effort. Degree or not! To become an EE you need a 4-year degree and a whole heck of a lot of knowledge about things that are a real pain in the ass for laypeople like calculating inductance, capacitance, and impeda…

> Basically anyone who can handle basic logic can be a web developer if they just put in a bit of effort. Degree or not!

A "modern" web dev needs to know a whole bunch of crap nowadays. Not saying it's insanely hard but its not that easy. But sure, getting a job as a junior should be way easier than EE.

Re: The pool of talented C++ developers is running dry

#460

Post by zabzonk »

DeathArrow wrote: post #401
synergy20 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

system programming is a tough and low reward path indeed, be it in c/c++ or whatever. embedded/EE is worse. unless you made into the big few(google,amazon,meta,apple,microsoft,...), salary will plummet by half in general, or even more.

Well, I am happy I transitioned from C/C++ to backend. And frankly, I do like backend more.

c & c++ are backend languages, in my experience - what do you mean?
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