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Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by ryanthedev on Saturday April 13, 2019 @11:56AM (#19653716)
I work for an airline. I known about constraints. If I knew only one language, I never would be at the level I am. Here is the tech stack I deal with daily.

VB6 Kix scripts Powershell .net 3.5 Winforms WPF .net 4+ .net core .net asp Java JavaScript React Angular C++ Golang.

If programming is a job and not your craft, it will be harder for you. You just have to practice more.

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by blub on Saturday April 13, 2019 @01:43PM (#19654520)
> VB6 Kix scripts Powershell .net 3.5 Winforms WPF .net 4+ .net core .net asp Java JavaScript React Angular C++ Golang

That just sounds like some mess that one is forced to deal with, not reasonable software engineering. I mean yes, some jobs will drown one in useless stuff. Doesn't mean that learning the useless stuff is a virtue now.

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by dahart on Sunday April 14, 2019 @12:03PM (#19660154)
What, exactly, makes you think any of that stack is useless or unreasonable? Do you know what all the pieces do? I don’t have a clue from a single comment, but I have enough experience to know that all stacks came from a series of reasonable decisions, and more importantly, specific problems to solve.

So, TBH, my gut reaction to your comment is you might lack experience developing & shipping any large applications. That’s not an insult, and not a judgement; experience comes with time. Plus I don’t know your experience, I’m just letting you know what your comment leads me to assume. My only suggestion is to be a bit careful throwing around judgmental words like mess and useless and ‘not reasonable’ when you don’t know precisely what you’re talking about.

FWIW, this stack looks very normal even for a web-only application, and it looks simpler to me than the stacks & tech people use for shipping console games. Hell, I’ve written personal projects with tech stacks that have as many pieces.

If I’m off the mark about your experience level, you could make your case stronger by demonstrating that there’s a simpler cleaner alternative that solves the same problems, provides the same or better performance, build utility, maintainability, deployment, user experience, etc.. Do you have any suggestions?

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by blub on Tuesday April 16, 2019 @04:01AM (#19671918)
Frankly, that particular enterprise is probably screwed and will be stuck with their legacy code until the end of time.

This is what happens when one gobbles up whatever Microsoft throws over the fence... and it's clear they haven't learned their lesson because .NET core is on the list. There is no simpler, cleaner, alternative for them. By their nature such companies will (almost?) always end up in this situation.

Any developer working for them must now learn VB6, ASP.NET and Powershell and other great future-proof tech. That is, once again, not a great career move and certainly not an argument for learning many languages.

For the sake of discussion, that entire stack could probably have been kept to C++, Java, HTML5 and something for scripting assuming a talented engineering team.

C++ would have covered their Windows desktop needs from Windows 9x until today, including going cross-platform if needed.

Java would have covered cross-platform desktop apps and back-end, likely including whatever they're using golang for. Had they wanted more agility on the BE they could have gone with Python which doubles as scripting language.

HTML5 is self-explanatory. No need for fancy schmancy React or Angular which I bet they'll have to replace (or rather append to) in 5 years time.

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by TeMPOraL on Sunday April 14, 2019 @06:52AM (#19658608)
It looks perfectly reasonable to me. VB6, KiX, Powershell and .NET suggest some part of the overall system is done through Windows desktop apps and Windows computers automation. JS, React and Angular imply that at least two frontends are involved (or possibly one under rewrite). Java, C++ and Golang are probably used for other parts.

It's only small and well-defined software that can get away in being written in one technology. For anything larger/serious, you're bound to end up in a polyglot environment.

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by blub on Tuesday April 16, 2019 @04:07AM (#19671945)
KiX is funny, had to look that one up, and it wasn't easy to find: it's apparently some closed source "careware" batch scripting language developed by an MS employee.

Yes, most environments use several programming languages. Done right, this can be Google's blessed languages approach. Done wrong, it can be every technology Microsoft ever brought into existence, ending up with a triplicate solution for each problem.

Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by ryanthedev on Saturday April 13, 2019 @11:59AM (#19653750)
I had to use a jar in a .net program. Do you know how much of a pain in the ass that was?
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by ozim on Saturday April 13, 2019 @12:05PM (#19653795)
That is very nasty joke sir.
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by UlisesAC4 on Saturday April 13, 2019 @02:17PM (#19654727)
Sometimes our daily job tasks are nastier jokes than we would like to admit.
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by skrebbel on Sunday April 14, 2019 @04:57AM (#19658269)
Is IKVM not a thing anymore these days?
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by pjmlp on Sunday April 14, 2019 @05:18AM (#19658329)
Not really, and last time I checked there were no plans to ever migrate it to core.
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by skrebbel on Sunday April 14, 2019 @09:28AM (#19659291)
Woa, bummer! That stuff was amazing. It opened up the entire Java ecosystem to .net apps, in an impressively seamless way.
Re:Learn more programming languages, even if you won't use them by pjmlp on Sunday April 14, 2019 @10:11AM (#19659523)
Here, the project end announcement.

http://weblog.ikvm.net/