Re: Programming project required

From: James Rogers (jamesr@best.com)
Date: Fri Jan 19 2001 - 19:05:06 MST


On Fri, 19 Jan 2001, Emlyn wrote:
>
> Don't choose languages/platforms/OSes etc based on what you like; choose
> what people are using, and are going to be using more in the future. In real
> world coding, you very rarely get to choose your tools; they are part of the
> initial parameter set.

Which is absolutely correct, though with a little foresight, you can help
drive what tools will be used next.

 
But then you say:

> I highly recommend ASP, on IIS, with SQL Server backend, as a good
> starting set of employable skills. I'm currently working using this set
> of products, with the caveat that the same products must also support
> Oracle,

With respect to ASP/IIS/SQL Server, not just no, but *HELL NO*.

Those skills are quickly becoming unemployable. Over the last year or two
I have been involved in several large migrations away from these
platforms, and most everyone else I know who has been involved with a
company that uses ASP is doing the same thing.

Forget ASP, Java will be more employable, both now and *especially* in the
future. I don't know of anyone migrating from Java to ASP, but I know of
several going the other way. That and most new development seems to be
done in Java for the most part.

SQL Server was never a big player. Learn Oracle and you'll be employed
forever. Oracle Server is one of those few ubiquitous enterprise products
that I actually feel comfortable predicting most businesses will
still be using in 5 years.

IIS? Well, I've seen the Netcraft results, and every shop I know that is
currently using it is either in the middle of a migration or planning one
to Apache. Hell, I know of shops that use Apache on Windows NT for
production systems...

If I was going to recommend environment skills for someone looking
strictly for marketability I would have to strongly recommend
Java/Apache/Oracle. This will allow you to hit the biggest market segment
with most staying power. For better or worse, this is where the market is
at and where it will be going, at least for the next few years.
(Thankfully -- I've used ASP/IIS/SQLServer on projects and it makes me want
to hurl. Oracle and Java have their problems, but they are a good bit
better than the MS solution in this case.)

-James Rogers
 jamesr@best.com



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