Why you shouldn’t be a Javascript Developer | Hacker News Reader

Why you shouldn’t be a Javascript Developer

blog.joaopescada.com

16 pointsjpescada20 comments

I oftentimes avoid working with people who describe themselves as a [Rails|JavaScript|Python|etc] developer, for a few reasons.

First, when you're a [language] programmer, every problem is solved with [language]. If there was one language that was perfect for everything, we'd just name it "programming" and be done with this whole debate.

Secondly, and more importantly, I've never worked on a website or app where only one language or technology was used -- and that's completely ignoring the importance of skills like design, usability, product management, databases, etc.

One-language-programmers tend to have a "that's not my job" approach to anything that isn't their language, meaning code from them often isn't wired up or well designed or whatever.

(Naturally, there are some amazing one-language-programmers out there, however my experience tends to be the opposite.)

yea its mostly the interviewers who ruin this mentality. I'm currently programming a few languages at work (js, Java, using a bunch of other tools) and unfortunately when I apply for my next job they're not gonna believe I did anything other than my job title. Bigger companies aren't so hung up on this thank god but a lot of the startups and mid-size companies are.

> when I apply for my next job they're not gonna believe I did anything other than my job title

If you feel that's the case it's probably worth asking for a title change.

hmmm that's true. The issue is I'm a "Front-End Developer" but front-end in this case means... anything above DSL. So I work on Java / model building tools / deployment scripts / js / css / html. In lots of dev circles the annoying-ass recruiters seem to think if you work on front-end or UI it means you can't code. I used to be a full-stack RoR dev so now the notion that I might get pigeon-holed is scary to say the least, since I've only been doing increasingly more technical work every step of my career.

My workplace (I'm a "consultant" at an international corp) is politically complicated enough that I think it may just best to just try to explain it when the time comes lol.

Just put "Developer" as your title in your CV. When (if) someone asks you about it, then tell him/her.

Lots of problems can be solved with one language depending on the language. And I have worked on several single language stack projects. Having a single language stack has many benefits. Right too for right job is only relevant if the right tool doesn't do many jobs good enough.

You should probably just be whatever sort of developer gets you the job. If someone posted a listing for a "JavaScript Engineer", they probably don't know the difference between a good programmer who happens to have used JS for a while and someone who exclusively uses JS. So what the hell, go ahead and call me a JavaScript engineer if it helps you sleep better and justify hiring me to whoever you report to.

Your whole argument about buzzwords is unfortunately contradicted by the linkbaity title. One goes in to the article expecting some flaw in Javascript, instead to find out that the topic is waaay broader. Both the use of buzzwords and linkbait titles are pretty similar....

I agree with the main point but disagree with the often regurgitated utopia of choosing the right platform/language to fit the problem. That has never been an option in my experience, and even it was an option there would be multiple equally good choices available. The ultimate decision on what choice to make will be influenced by many other factors, team skills, experience, availability of talent, long term strategy, risk....

It is no utopia, it is how I work.

In our consulting company everyone is polyglot and we tend to assemble teams based on the technologies requested by the customer on the RFPs.

It is quite natural that the technology stack completely changes between projects.

I am polyglot too but my skills are still finite. I bet you still choose from a finite set of technologies rather than the best tool for the job. Otherwise you are playing with your clients money, and you can't really know a tool is right for the job unless you have some experience.

Clients get to choose the technology not we.

That is why many projects have a ramp up phase for the developers new to the technologies being asked.

Funny. Haven't you just proved the point you were arguing against? I said that being able to choose the right tool for the job is not something that happens in practice,you disagreed and then later you say the "the clients get to choose the technology not we".

I agree with the premise that one shouldn't associate their title with a specific technology but I stopped reading when the author suggested Java doesn't make the short list of employable skills/technologies.

Why shouldn't skill associations change as rapidly as technology, if not faster? It's not like you permanently pigeonhole yourself if you call yourself a javascript engineer.

Having said that, javascript is pretty ubiquitous now and it only seems to be growing. I wonder what the odds are of it being replaced, given how slow the specifications evolve. Is there any reason to think it won't be here to stay for a long time?

It pays to present yourself as a JavaScript developer to a company that's looking for a javascript developer. You should hardly mention any other technology you are proficient with. Once I got rejected from javascript developer recruitmetn process mostly for reminiscing fondly about my expeirience with C#

I see your point, I do the same for myself, but it cannot be applied to everyone. Actually, for most developers, this isn't actionable advice. Many brands post jobs looking for specific players to join their team. Someone who can whip up some ruby or node.js easily (but not solidly) will be useless.

I believe there is a difference between tagging & thinking yourself to particular technology.

I agree that being programmer we should not _think_ that we are .Net or PHP or Javascript or XYZ Programmer, rather we should have confidence in our developerness with "loose coupling".

Being interviewer I would personally judge if the person is master in particular technology, if he/she is I would conclude that, he/she could code anything using any technology and it has been proven in my case.

Too bad college graduates are leaving college like indoctrinated Haskell/Scala/Python drones. No one wonder China and India are leaving us far behind in terms of technology. Western colleges have been infected by teachers/professors with a programming language as religion.

Haskell, Scala, and Python drones? I've never heard of those before. Could you expand on your point please?

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