4 ms·

If you have an employer, this is usually a pretty easy sell. Approach your boss about transitioning Aging Product X to a new technology stack because the curren

If you have an employer, this is usually a pretty easy sell. Approach your boss about transitioning Aging Product X to a new technology stack because the current one is becoming defunct. Of course this will require some training for you, but it is easier to teach you a new skill set than to hire someone with that skill set and get them to learn about Aging Product X. If you aren't employed and are contracting/freelance, it is just as easy. Since your skill set is niche, not everyone has it, and you can charge more for that niche. Up your rates enough that you can cut 10 hours a week out to study something new.

nemmonszz 11y ago
Is convincing employers to transition technology stacks really something that is generally considered easy (or even doable)? I'm stuck maintaining 'enterprise' software running on VB6 and ColdFusion 9 and the idea of getting my employers to sanction a migration to something newer is laughable.
- mcdougle 11y ago
  We're finally starting to consider talking about transitioning old software from Access 97 to a C# .NET web app at my job.
- wmil 11y ago
  Honestly if they expect you to maintain that code then your salary should reflect the long term damage to your career and sanity.
- lsc 11y ago
  It's a thing. I don't know about convincing employers, but employers do it. I've participated in such projects. hell, I know people who have done such things in government and military contracting contexts. It does happen so yeah, it happens. Legacy systems are re-written. convincing your employer? yeah, I've never seen that part happen, so I can't say anything, but I certainly have seen the aftermath.
- grayclhn 11y ago
  Not necessarily, but convincing your boss to be mindful of your medium-term career goals definitely is and at largish companies there should be opportunities for you to spend time working on something else. Career-wise, I'd be more concerned about working for someone that wants you to stagnate than about the specific software you're maintaining. (Not saying that that's necessarily the case, BTW.)

nemmonszz 11y ago

Is convincing employers to transition technology stacks really something that is generally considered easy (or even doable)? I'm stuck maintaining 'enterprise' software running on VB6 and ColdFusion 9 and the idea of getting my employers to sanction a migration to something newer is laughable.

mcdougle 11y ago
We're finally starting to consider talking about transitioning old software from Access 97 to a C# .NET web app at my job.
wmil 11y ago
Honestly if they expect you to maintain that code then your salary should reflect the long term damage to your career and sanity.
lsc 11y ago
It's a thing. I don't know about convincing employers, but employers do it. I've participated in such projects. hell, I know people who have done such things in government and military contracting contexts. It does happen so yeah, it happens. Legacy systems are re-written. convincing your employer? yeah, I've never seen that part happen, so I can't say anything, but I certainly have seen the aftermath.
grayclhn 11y ago
Not necessarily, but convincing your boss to be mindful of your medium-term career goals definitely is and at largish companies there should be opportunities for you to spend time working on something else. Career-wise, I'd be more concerned about working for someone that wants you to stagnate than about the specific software you're maintaining. (Not saying that that's necessarily the case, BTW.)