Most Valuable Software Dev Skills (profit, company, pay, business)

[joey2000]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

It really depends on the type of work you are doing.

- Shrinkwrap product dev work is mostly still C++ on Windows
- High performance server stuff is Java, C++ and C# on Linux/Solaris and Windows
- Web Development runs the gamut from PHP to Java to C#/ASP.NET on Linux and Windows
- SQL Databases (Oracle & SQL Server) are must-have skills these days

Generally speaking it's most lucrative to specialize in a business domain, which is why ERP/CRM/DBA consultants make money. If you are going to move forward as a generalist I would concentrate on C# or Java, VB.NET is more or less a dead end.

Pretty much sums it up. Java and Oracle were the 2 that immediately came to mind; I see them far more than anything else. Hon. mention to C#/C++. Frankly stuff like UNIX and SQL are almost assumed to be known it seems, much like MS Windows and Office are for many non-techs.

[NJBest]

In my opinion, Java is on it's way out. J2ME might have some more life.

My recommendation: Sharepoint Sharepoint Sharepoint. It's Niche right now, with massive growth.

[Opyelie]

a little Perl on the side never killed anyone's chances

[DennyCrane]

Originally Posted by NJBest

In my opinion, Java is on it's way out. J2ME might have some more life.

My recommendation: Sharepoint Sharepoint Sharepoint. It's Niche right now, with massive growth.

Not sure where you're looking, but I work with Java and I see lots of demand. It just depends on what city you're willing to go to.

[RowingMunkeyCU]

Since this was necro-posted... I'll add to where I'm at today:

Found a position in C#, ASP.NET 3.5 and SQL Server enterprise development (SOAP/WCF) after putting a year in at an ERP company working with C#/VB.NET and Sharepoint.

Side note: Sharepoint is an abomination of a product and should be banned from any actual development projects outside of an easy setup for team communication and basic document management.

I'm currently in a class for my MCPD 3.5 cert, which is being fully paid for by my company.

[qsr]

I'm a tester, not a developer, but here's the stuff I'm seeing right now. For testers, you need to learn
1. Selenium or Watir (Ruby)
2. HP Quality Center and Quick Test Pro
3. Fit/Fitnesse
4. Bugzilla (or any bug tracking product)
5. General--Unix, Linux, or MS Windows 2008 with power shell, some type of SQL, Oracle

For devs-- C/C++ are hot right now because of the mobile device boom. Objective C is easy to learn after that. Java is a decent starting point if you want to move to C++. Python is another nice niche for people with OOP backgrounds. Some of the MS platforms like .Net are always in demand. Look through the listings on Dice if you want to get the feel for the market.

[RabidTiger]

Originally Posted by NJBest

In my opinion, Java is on it's way out. J2ME might have some more life.

My recommendation: Sharepoint Sharepoint Sharepoint. It's Niche right now, with massive growth.

Ugh, sharepoint. The money might be good now but it won't last and sharepoint itself is *horrible*.

Java is far from "on it's way out". So many sites and so many companies have a significant investment in java. It's the cobol of our era and will be around for decades.

Originally Posted by qsr

C/C++ are hot right now because of the mobile device boom. Java is a decent starting point if you want to move to C++.

For mobile devices you need either Objective C for iPhone or Java for Android. Don't bother with anything else.

Learning Java so you can move to C++? I've never heard of such a thing.

[Thomas_Thumb]

I attend to agree with some of the comments.
I agree, Java is far from "on it's way out". Java is everywhere.
Also, "a little Perl on the side never killed anyone's chances". I always try to get customers to buy into python or ruby; but, for many, perl is always lingering around.

[Thomas_Thumb]

Personally, I hate VB.NET. However, if you are only doing FoxPro or COBOL, any alternative would be better.

[Rich_CD]

Originally Posted by RowingMunkeyCU

So after graduating college and working for a company at $38k annually for 2 years using dead languages (FoxPro and COBOL) with mostly break-fix type 'development' running quick and dirty SQL queries for one-time data pulls, I'm in the process of searching for a new position.

Leave IT, the wages are dropping and the hours are increasing.