Java or .Net?

Zirax · 29-06-2008, 21:48

Well I have been out of the coding game for about three years. I was thinking of going the PMO / Risk Manager / Project manager route. For some unknown reason work is pushing for me to become a developer for a while. No idea why with 3 years Team lead / PMO behind me.

Anyway, the point of this thread is they want me to specialise in Java or C# .Net. I really don't have a clue. The co has a number of projects in Java and less in .Net. Anyone have any advice?

Daz · 29-06-2008, 22:11

.Net seems more in demand at the moment ime. I think demand for .Net may fall a little as things go increasingly cross platform but it certainly isn't going to go anywhere.

Zirax · 29-06-2008, 22:16

This was my thinking as well as .Net really seems to be in demand. However I have been chatting to some other mates and they are saying that Java is more server side orientated whereas .net is more app based. Personally I would prefer a more direct enterprise server hookin.

Not convinced either way yet but its something to think about. Thought I had moved away from development, but i'll chalk this down to more experience either way. You never know as this could be something that gets me thinking in my job again.

Mark · 29-06-2008, 22:20

It depends partly on whether you want to be Windows-based or platform agnostic. There's no doubt Microsoft are continuing to throw money at the .Net world so that's certainly not going anywhere, and Java has plenty of support in the Open Source world so that's not going anywhere either.

I suspect either will serve you well.

As for the Enterprise world, Microsoft are marketing .Net and supporting technologies against low/mid-end Mainframes, and doing fairly well at it, so there's growing demand for that, but yes, Java does tend to be the weapon of choice in a lot of cases.

Zirax · 29-06-2008, 22:27

You sum up my confusion really well Mark

Either one is good. I'm going to start ringing around more to see what the kind of .Net or Java projects there are. I do have some Java books on the side so I might start reading tomorrow (got nothing else to do). I would probably want to go cross platform due to open source server deployments.

I could go either way.

Its fair to say originally I was pissed that I was moved out of PM. However i'm taking this as a positive to get more experience, hey its all cv building.

Mark · 29-06-2008, 22:39

In truth the technologies are fairly similar so even if you pick one the jump to the other isn't huge (save learning a new class library). I know people at work who do both. Of course, this may or may not help your CV.

LeperousDust · 29-06-2008, 22:40

Out of just language preference, i'd choose Java over .net, but thats because i've never touched .net, nor am i a fan of its platform dependence. But in a commercial environment i think its different, and i wouldn't know which one to pick

29-06-2008, 21:48	#1
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Java or .Net? Well I have been out of the coding game for about three years. I was thinking of going the PMO / Risk Manager / Project manager route. For some unknown reason work is pushing for me to become a developer for a while. No idea why with 3 years Team lead / PMO behind me. Anyway, the point of this thread is they want me to specialise in Java or C# .Net. I really don't have a clue. The co has a number of projects in Java and less in .Net. Anyone have any advice?

29-06-2008, 22:11	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	.Net seems more in demand at the moment ime. I think demand for .Net may fall a little as things go increasingly cross platform but it certainly isn't going to go anywhere. __________________ apt-get moo

29-06-2008, 22:20	#4
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	It depends partly on whether you want to be Windows-based or platform agnostic. There's no doubt Microsoft are continuing to throw money at the .Net world so that's certainly not going anywhere, and Java has plenty of support in the Open Source world so that's not going anywhere either. I suspect either will serve you well. As for the Enterprise world, Microsoft are marketing .Net and supporting technologies against low/mid-end Mainframes, and doing fairly well at it, so there's growing demand for that, but yes, Java does tend to be the weapon of choice in a lot of cases. Last edited by Mark; 29-06-2008 at 22:23.

29-06-2008, 22:40	#7
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Out of just language preference, i'd choose Java over .net, but thats because i've never touched .net, nor am i a fan of its platform dependence. But in a commercial environment i think its different, and i wouldn't know which one to pick __________________

29-06-2008, 22:16	#3
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	This was my thinking as well as .Net really seems to be in demand. However I have been chatting to some other mates and they are saying that Java is more server side orientated whereas .net is more app based. Personally I would prefer a more direct enterprise server hookin. Not convinced either way yet but its something to think about. Thought I had moved away from development, but i'll chalk this down to more experience either way. You never know as this could be something that gets me thinking in my job again.

29-06-2008, 22:27	#5
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	You sum up my confusion really well Mark Either one is good. I'm going to start ringing around more to see what the kind of .Net or Java projects there are. I do have some Java books on the side so I might start reading tomorrow (got nothing else to do). I would probably want to go cross platform due to open source server deployments. I could go either way. Its fair to say originally I was pissed that I was moved out of PM. However i'm taking this as a positive to get more experience, hey its all cv building.

29-06-2008, 22:39	#6
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	In truth the technologies are fairly similar so even if you pick one the jump to the other isn't huge (save learning a new class library). I know people at work who do both. Of course, this may or may not help your CV.