4 ms·

Because I already know: C, C++, Obj-C, C#, Php, Lua, x86 ASM, ARM ASM, Linoleum (some ASM-like esoteric languagE), BASIC (not VB), Java, Python, JS, MushCODE (i

Because I already know: C, C++, Obj-C, C#, Php, Lua, x86 ASM, ARM ASM, Linoleum (some ASM-like esoteric languagE), BASIC (not VB), Java, Python, JS, MushCODE (it is derived from LISP), SQL and some application specific scripting languages. I started coding when I was 8, I am 32 now, and in my government-issued employer list, I had zero employers. My dad knows COBOL and MUMPS, and kept talking about how horrible they are... but maybe I can get a job if I try these.

jeroenhd 6y ago
If you're fluent in all those languages then I doubt COBOL will be your breakthrough. Those high earning COBOL jobs don't pay so well because the programmers are hyper intelligent, they pay well because there's not that many people left that have experience running mainframes. If you've only just mastered COBOL, you'll probably be last in line for any good COBOL job out there. With a portfolio like that, you might want to look at why you can't get a job. You sound capable enough on the technical front, so there must be something else that's preventing you from advancing your career.
the_af 6y ago
If you're having trouble landing a job even though you know all those languages, COBOL won't be the magical solution. It's likely your problem lies elsewhere...
- read_if_gay_ 6y ago
  Exactly. Adding one more to such a long list probably won't have much impact.
rovr138 6y ago
Most of the interfaces I've seen that interact with COBOL running on mainframes are built with Java. Not sure if this helps, but could also lead into working close/near with mainframes and COBOL.
- rhabarba 6y ago
  Quite a few companies have specialized in migrating COBOL to C# or Java code, so I’m not surprised. I wonder why they choose those languages as one-trick ponies though. Seems like the “we only have a hammer” problem.
  - dividedbyzero 6y ago
    I guess because it's very very likely the rest of the custom internal systems is already written in one of those languages, they are both used a lot in such contexts.
  - retrac 6y ago
    Java would be the safest bet for the "other" language known by a COBOL programmer.
    - testrun 6y ago
      Why?
- kjs3 6y ago
  For a while a lot of them were in Smalltalk, but Java pretty much owns it these days.
generalk 6y ago
Getting a job or building a career in software development isn't about the languages you know. Your list is pretty broad and COBOL probably won't help. It's what value you can provide with those that counts. One of my earlier companies started with a policy against hiring folks who just knew PHP, even though that was our main language. We wanted folks who knew SQL, some JS, maybe some C or something to prove they were well-rounded and could think about tech as a whole. We dropped that policy when folks started coming in with _just_ Ruby on Rails under their belt. They were destroying our project-based interview and blasting out projects in weeks that typically took us months. And we found that we could easily teach them the SQL they needed when they needed it. I'm not saying it's _just that easy_ but if a dev hits my interview process and shows they can understand my customer's needs and build out a solution to those needs quickly, I _very much_ want to give them a job.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
watermelon59 6y ago
> government-issued employer list Do you mind sharing where you live? That’s such an odd concept to me.

jeroenhd 6y ago

If you're fluent in all those languages then I doubt COBOL will be your breakthrough. Those high earning COBOL jobs don't pay so well because the programmers are hyper intelligent, they pay well because there's not that many people left that have experience running mainframes. If you've only just mastered COBOL, you'll probably be last in line for any good COBOL job out there. With a portfolio like that, you might want to look at why you can't get a job. You sound capable enough on the technical front, so there must be something else that's preventing you from advancing your career.

the_af 6y ago

If you're having trouble landing a job even though you know all those languages, COBOL won't be the magical solution. It's likely your problem lies elsewhere...

read_if_gay_ 6y ago
Exactly. Adding one more to such a long list probably won't have much impact.

rovr138 6y ago

Most of the interfaces I've seen that interact with COBOL running on mainframes are built with Java. Not sure if this helps, but could also lead into working close/near with mainframes and COBOL.

rhabarba 6y ago
Quite a few companies have specialized in migrating COBOL to C# or Java code, so I’m not surprised. I wonder why they choose those languages as one-trick ponies though. Seems like the “we only have a hammer” problem.
- dividedbyzero 6y ago
  I guess because it's very very likely the rest of the custom internal systems is already written in one of those languages, they are both used a lot in such contexts.
- retrac 6y ago
  Java would be the safest bet for the "other" language known by a COBOL programmer.
  - testrun 6y ago
    Why?
kjs3 6y ago
For a while a lot of them were in Smalltalk, but Java pretty much owns it these days.

generalk 6y ago

Getting a job or building a career in software development isn't about the languages you know. Your list is pretty broad and COBOL probably won't help. It's what value you can provide with those that counts. One of my earlier companies started with a policy against hiring folks who just knew PHP, even though that was our main language. We wanted folks who knew SQL, some JS, maybe some C or something to prove they were well-rounded and could think about tech as a whole. We dropped that policy when folks started coming in with _just_ Ruby on Rails under their belt. They were destroying our project-based interview and blasting out projects in weeks that typically took us months. And we found that we could easily teach them the SQL they needed when they needed it. I'm not saying it's _just that easy_ but if a dev hits my interview process and shows they can understand my customer's needs and build out a solution to those needs quickly, I _very much_ want to give them a job.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

watermelon59 6y ago

> government-issued employer list Do you mind sharing where you live? That’s such an odd concept to me.