Ask HN: Switching from full-stack to embedded | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Switching from full-stack to embedded

4 pointshajderr6 comments

So what's your tips on switching to working with C++ / Embedded programming for a person that has worked mainly with Java, JS, SQL. I'm inspired by working with hardware and assume that I'd have to learn more about electronics and such?

I'm a CS major, done some C++ programming (not professionally) so I got much of the theory but not applied it tbh.

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I have exactly the same background as yours. To recover from a CRUD boreout I plan to play with some RaspberryPI and a bunch of Arduinos for home/building automation and monitoring coupled with an autonomic solar power supply. No futher plans about making career out of that yet but who knows - such bundle may be an interesting business in remote/rural applications.

Play. Publish. Get an offer.

Hehe I got myself an Arduino and Raspberry PI. Maybe we could share projects and the like?

Great start. Unfortunately my electronics are piling on the desk and their priority is still a bit low, so not much to share at the moment :( But I promise a Show HN.

Generically, it's possible to get jobs with technology stacks you don't know. E.g.

1. Find company that does both what you do now and what you'd like to do. Get job you're more qualified for, then switch internally to company.

2. Apply for jobs that interest you even if you don't know the stack, give compelling story about wanting to learn new things, and give evidence you can learn new things.

Longer version here: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/01/23/job-with-technology-...

Buy a raspbi/beaglebone/etc, think of a cool project you want to make, and build it! Before long you’ll be down the electronics rabbit hole and you’ll figure out what to do as you go.

I’ve never gotten the point of reading before doing. Just get your tools out and build something. It’s no different than learning to code by shipping.

Embedded is a BIG area - and even bigger now with IoT - so there are a lot of things you could learn - but what specifically are you interested in? You could for example take a look at some of the newer OSs like ARM Mbed OS, or Google Fuchsia.

Anyway, I'm sure you will fit in somewhere. Good luck!

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