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Comment by 2ion | Hacker News Reader

That's like picking a plumbing job because you get to work with hex instead of torx screws. As a professional solution-provider, you're free to offer only work with a specific set of tools but don't expect jobs to magically appear to accommodate your preference of tools. If you're a plumber, your worth is in the value you create and the tools are a footnote (which you might have to justify anyway). Software engineering is not any different.

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That's like saying a painter should be happy to get a sculpting job, because he is a professional art-provider.

The other person’s analogy is better, yours sucks.

Using the previous analogy, but applying your critique, it would be asking the plumber to become an electrician.

Personally I cannot imagine being a programmer and only writing in one language. I currently code in multiple languages, and have forgotten more as well (at least I hope I don’t need PexBasic anymore)

I recently had to choose between two job offers, and language was among the most important (although not the only) factors. I ended up choosing the job that lets me write functional Scala, rather than continue writing Python, which has been a major source of frustration in my current job.

A better analogy might be a carpenter who chooses to build houses in the traditional nail-free Japanese joinery style, vs the American nails-everywhere style.

well, some engineers are lucky enough to get to specify the environment that makes them the happiest, even if it's rare compared to the number of opportunities out there.

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