I've been a C# and MSSQL guy for a pretty long time, and I'm wondering lately if I should start to focus more heavily on Node or Python as my primary server-side language. Web dev isn't an issue, I'm rock solid there. I want to switch employers to work somewhere with a great culture, and a really interesting mission, but all I'm finding are financial/insurance companies. I'm done wearing a tie, know what I mean? It seems like the more attractive the company is, the less likely they are to use the MS tech. For those who've walked away from the MS stack, what's your story? Did you make the "I've been coding long enough that language is a technicality" argument? Did you take a pay cut for more potential? Something else?
When you are a seasoned engineer you shouldn't have a focus. You should be able to choose the best stack for the job.
I used to use mainly Microsoft stack. Now I use only open source technologies. I love it and it opens many new doors. I didn't need to take any pay cut because they know not many people know NodeJS. They just need experienced and talented hard working people who can learn the new technologies quickly. It's fun to learn a lot of new stuff.
I completely agree! I've been doing personal projects with Node and Swift lately, just to learn new things and keep it fresh.
Any company worth working for isn't going to care if you've only focused on C# when they don't use it as long as you can show you know the fundamentals and can learn new things.
I interned in MS and rejected the offer because of their stack.
I think it depends on what role you want and where the team/project is in its maturity: there are times when teams need a head-down programmer with specific experience in X tech so they can hit the ground running and maybe teach others. But if you're joining a mature team, or if you're moving more towards team lead or architecture, it matters a lot less. I spent 12 years 100% MS, but I've been a consultant architect the last few on all kinds of projects no problem. One big adjustment is how much MS' integrated stack and tool set do for you, and what it takes to build and connect with a bunch of independently-developed tools (but a lot more choice).
No you didn't, and if you are looking for a full stack developer role and are willing to live in Fort Lauderdale FL I can help.
There is a bias outside msft (and specially in the startup world) against Msft tech. It is real even if doesn't make much sense. Msft stack is not where most new stuff happens if it happens at all, so yes, depending on what you want to work on it indeed can be limiting. It's just a tech stack, easy to learn others.
Software Programming is about problem solving and making companies money. Be good at that.
I might have to quote that in a cover letter.
MS stack makes it really easy to be a code monkey and not a software engineer. As long as you can move up and down the stack, not just the code level, it shouldn't matter. Concepts are portable... if you are too dependent on some sugar like "Parallels" in c#, and don't know how to manage a pool... then you should be worried.
I've thought about that before; does MS want everyone in-house? My wife has a thing about living near her folks. :/