I am currently taking a class on VB.NET. I graduate this spring and
was considering taking Java ? I'm looking to go into web
development/design. I have been having second thoughts, so help me
understand the ins and outs of the following. Here's the scenario:

(a) I can take Java next semester as planned. This is an extra class I
don't need, lots of extra work, so let's assume I have no time to self
study and learn another skill (see below).

(b) OR I can develop my VB.NET skills, and focus on self learning ASP,
ADO, databases, etc.

(C ) OR I can self learn C#.

THE QUESTION:

Career wise, what is wisest (what will make me more competitive or
more likely to find a job)?

Please comment on all scenarios, but make an argument. Remember, I
want to do web stuff, like development or design, preferably both, but
either is fine. Please site your inside knowledge, facts, anything to
back up your argument. Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by odulsmin-ga on 01 Sep 2005 08:26 PDT

I guess I'm asking this: what is the most valueble skill for what I want to do?

I'd say learn what you find interesting. 
Try and learn that one thing very well , rather than knowing a little
java , a little .NET etc.
From a design and development point of view the language is not
important - its just a tool to do a job.
to answer your last q , you can develop web stuff with all languages , although
java would be the most common , in my opinion.

I've worked in software dev for 6 years , -  5 as a developer , using
both VB and Java

Thank you for your input.

So you would say that it is better to kick butt at VB.NET then to know
a moderate amount of both VB.NET and Java?

As a prior "dinosaurial legacy" programmer I am currently learning C#.
I am finding it both interesting and surprisingly challenging.

I very much agree with the first comment (joey1234555555). I think
knowing any ONE of the languages you mentioned will serve you well.
The trick is knowing at least ONE language VERY WELL

DPRK007

PS I am still having nightmares about Contructers and Destructers. I think  
   the inventer of C# must have watched too many Dr. Who episodes.

I've been a software developer for 17 years, and now I'm a manager. 
I've worked with a lot of programmers.  I agree with joey123455555-ga

I know from experience that the actual language is not very important.
 The most important thing is to understand the basic concepts of
software design, code and test.  I'm not very familiar with C# and
VB.NET.  But I know that after a day or two looking at it, I could get
the general meaning of what is going on.

If you know one language forwards and backwards, you will be able to
demonstrate that you know the process required to develop real code in
a production environment.  You will be able to demonstrate that you
know how to read and write specifications, read and write design
documentation and test plans.  If you can prove your ability to think
like a good developer in one language, then an employer will know that
you can jump to any language they throw at you.

You must also know how to debug code.  Most software development work
involves getting someone else's code tossed at you and finding out
where it is broken.

The language is a tool.  I had Ada given to me once, and no one cared
that I had never seen it.  Buy a book, ask a lot of questions, and
dive in head first, you will be swimming in no time.

If I had to pick a language, all things being equal, I'd pick the hardest language.

.NET == If you have a propensity toward things Microsoft. 

JAVA/JSP/Servlets == If you have a propensity towards the Internet. 

ColdFusion == If you have a propensity towards the Web.

PHP == If you have a propensity towards the Web and Open Source.

Because you said you're graduating soon, I'm guessing that this will
be your first programming job.  If that's the case, I agree with the
others, it's better to know one thing well than have less knowledge of
more tools.

Search the online job sites for entry level web development jobs. 
That will tell you what language will most likely get you your first
job.

I'd spend the time learning ASP.NET, using VB.Net as the language. 
You'll learn more about VB and when job hunt time comes an employer
will like that you can do both windows apps and browser-based apps in
.Net.  The two companies I've worked in that use .net only hire people
who can do both, though they expect the candidate to be strong in only
one - the other skill is for backup when they need to throw bodies at
a project or need someone to spend a few days adding a feature.

jatto-ga said: 
>.NET == If you have a propensity toward things Microsoft. 

Or want to do intrAnet development, i.e., in-house applications.

There is a great article on CodeProject.com about the various web
servers and their languages: 
http://www.codeproject.com/books/1861005040.asp  You may have to
register to get to the page.

I've been programming sincd '89, using VB since '94 and have moved to
vb.net and asp.net in the last two years.  From what I've seen, VB.Net
programmers get less respect and pay than c#.net programmers. 
Articles and sample code written in vb.net often strike me as
amateurish.  On the other hand, and this is important to someone
looking for their first programming job, VB.net programmers aren't
expected to be as good, so it's easier to get hired.

That's right, mrplow42, it would be my first programming job.

I wanted to thank everyone here for their input. I really appreciate
it, I'm very glad the comments here cite from professional experience.
Thanks!

One thing you might want to consider is how popular the language is:
http://mshiltonj.com/sm/categories/languages_a-m/
http://mshiltonj.com/sm/categories/languages_n-z/

ADT Magazine compares Java with the .NET languages.  It's kind of
biased because there is a general sentiment that programming in .NET
is slightly easier because of the Visual Studio IDE.  Any body that
says this is probably just trying to give Microsoft some credit even
though it isn't really due.  Java has extremely good editors,
especially Eclipse and IntelliJ Idea.

There are really VERY tiny differences between Java, VB.NET and C#, at
least as far as structure and syntax goes.  There is not a whole lot
to learn as far as the language goes.  But Java has a lot of libraries
to make things easier to program-- and VB.Net and C# do too, although
they share the same libraries.

To make things simple and cheap, I would highly recommend learning on
Java.  Especially if you live on the East coast where there is a high
concentation of java jobs (Java jobs outweighs .Net 3 to 1).  Even in
the Midwest Java holds 1.5 job openings over .Net.  See
http://www.adtmag.com/article.asp?page=1&id=1

Another point to consider is operating system and Vendor support. 
Java puts you in the same camp as Sun, IBM, Oracle, BEA, Tibco, etc
running on Unix, Linux, Windows, etc.  And .Net puts you in the camp
with just Microsoft and running on just Windows.  That's not fully
true because there are some non-Microsoft supported implementations
that will let you run .Net on Linux or Unix.

In any case, either language will get you somewhere.  But consider
this, if it wasn't for the fact that Microsoft supports .Net, would
any body have ever even heard of it?

For an entry point programmer, it will be best from job offering
perspective to see which technology will land you the largest number
of job offers. This gives you the highest leverage during job
negotiation. It is best that you do some research by:

Look at www.moster.com, www.computerjobs.com
Talk to people
Look at websites of major companies in your area.

I think you should search for job ads around your area, and see which
skills are most popular.

I have worked in San Francisco Bay Area for 6 years and Seattle for 1
year. My observation is around seattle, due to heavy concentration of
people with Microsoft skills, VB/C#/C++/ASP are highly demanded.
However, in Bay Area a lot of companies uses Java/JSP/J2EE. Part of
the reason is that there is a general sentiment around Bay Area to
counter the dominance of Microsoft. Such feeling is fairly high in
Google, Sun, Oracle, and quite a few companies around this area. If
you have watched the recent news that Google decided to cooperate with
Sun and support its Java technology, you will see what I mean.

Functionally, these competing technologies can both do the job well,
regardless whether you are building web site, or stand-alone
application. Once you learned one technology well, there is no major
barrier to learn another one. In fact, when I moved to Seattle, I only
had Java background, but I got good offers from Microsoft Win FX group
to do C# and C++ work. (Yes, even Microsoft people who devote their
life solely to C#,C++ & VB can read Java code without any problem.) So
from personal experience, you just need to be very good in one
technology and it will land you jobs in both technologies.

Hope that's helpful. If you can let me know your education background
(apart from taking a few programming classes), work background and
desired geography region to work in, I probably can help you some more
on it.