java is different from javascript...from my (limited) experience it's hard to have anything look good and work fast w/o using javascript.

 

Maybe I was doing Javascript....




Shit I can't remember. Guess it would help if I knew the difference between the two




<---- not majoring in Java

 

I feel that web development is easy to learn too.
And a lot more useful if you want a side job (also useful for a career)

Basically it boils down to the fact that if someone is looking for a C++ contractor, they'll want someone very experienced as most problems you are trying to solve using C++ are those that the average programmar cannot do.

Web dev on the other hand is a lot more flexible and simply offers more opportunities.

 

You may as well concentrate on HTML5. it is the big buzz word now with the Apple/Adobe dispute.

even more valuable would be to do HTML5 AND Flash so you can articulate the strengths and values of each.

it is good to know a product, it is better to know the competition as well.

Most programmers know what they are comfortable with and their canned response to "why?" is "because thats how i have always done it". if you can do that combined with sales/people skills, you can do this as more than a side job.

 

My uncle is a programmer and he makes over $100,000 easily. He has a java sun certification the highest level I can't remember the name. He has two degrees one is electrical engineering and the other one in computer science. He works for homeland security. He gets to write code for aircrafts like predators/drones. If your good at programming then there's always going to be work for you because programmers are in high demand.

 

Yeah, but there is a much larger supply of WebDevs than there is of people that can write real-time, reliable software for a device like a predator. So, while your uncle might make upwards of 100K, somebody looking to build web pages for a living shouldn't expect the same.

 

Avoid anything with the word "Java" in it like the plague. I work with a lot of shitty IBM products (against my will) on a daily basis and Java is apalling.

 

If your goal is to do something programming-related as a side job ... learn to develop iphone apps or android apps. Really, you aren't going to get side jobs doing REAL programming with 0 experience. You'll be competing with guys overseas who have plenty of experience AND will work for next to nothing.

 

Theres a pretty high demand for SQL programmers; we have over 4 at my work. Whenever I see job postings they are always seeking people with SQL experience.

 

CFML