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Thread: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

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    Default C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    Hello, everybody. This is my first post.

    I've been a C programmer for decades (real-time embedded S/W), but have been unemployed for a year. I'm 62, but don't look it, and am able to learn new technologies. I'm thinking about learning Java and getting an IT related job. I live in Indianapolis. Anybody made the switch from C to Java and, if so, was it relatively easy? Note that I have almost no object oriented experience. How do you think my late career transition will look to prospective employers?


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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    Welcome. I'm long time retired and can't talk about employment. I started learning java many years ago as a hobby after a career as an IBM mainframe assembler programmer. It took a while to get the OOP way of thinking. I took an evening course in a local college in beginning java and then have been learning on my own for years. Trying to help students has exposed me to lots of new parts of java. I've written many tools for my own usage and to learn java. I really have no idea how java is used in the real world.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    Thanks, Norm. Sounds like a great way to keep your mind sharp.

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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    That's what I'm hoping. Also I love programming. Current project is learning Android programming. The touch screen and multiple tools available on a tablet: GPS, camera, internet, etc make for a whole new environment.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    Is Java also used in embedded systems?
    I am a beginner programmer though would like to make myself more rounded so programming embedded systems is something I've wanted to try, how would I go about learning or practising by myself, or is it a field really restricted to a workplace kind of environment.

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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    I'm not sure about Java that compiles to run on microprocessors typically used in embedded systems. My impression is that is more for internet related apps. You'd have to do some research to find that out.

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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    As a coworker of mine says regarding recruiting: "anyone can learn the java language over a weekend, but finding someone who knows how to utilize java's more complex infrastructure is the hard part."
    Some of the more annoying and complex infrastructure in java can be difficult to learn, but are widely used in the business community, which is probably why the salaries are still pretty high. Due to java's shift towards a server-side language over the past few years, learning about things like the Spring Framework (Spring Framework - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) can be very important.
    From what I've found, there are really two primary paths you can take as a java developer right now (as far as making yourself marketable to businesses):
    1. Android development. Norm mentioned this above. Getting good at this can make you worth a lot of money.
    2. Web-based server-side development. This is not to be confused with Java Applets, which are web-based client-side applications. Applets, from a typical business perspective, are pretty much extinct. Client-side applications are normally written in javascript, HTML5, ect. these days, but utilize a java server-side system. For these server-side systems, the typical java business environment will probably see the use of the Spring Framework, Maven (a build tool which is used as a replacement for ANT), Tomcat and JBoss servers, JUnit and JMeter (for unit testing), and a lot of other stuff. These are things to be familiar with if you want to go down this employment path.
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    Default Re: C Programmer, Late Life Transition To Java

    keepStriving, embedded systems software generally does't run on a PC. In my case the C compiled into code to run in a Motorola micro that was in a diesel engine controller. That's not something that can not be easily and cheaply done at home.

    Thanks aussiemcgr - great reply.

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Jim Corner For This Useful Post:

    keepStriving (December 4th, 2013)

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