Discussion on:

Poll: What development skills do you plan to learn in 2012?

Going to finally commit to learning C/C++. I messed about with them in the past but I'll be taking a systematic approach to learning them.

I am a retired software engineer (really only a programmer) and at one time, from about 1990 to 2000, I was an expert on C++, often posting solutions to questions on newsgroups (now Google groups) . I loved the language but it had a problem that I think is still there. When a programmer made an error, a typo or other, which caused a program not to compile correctly, it sometimes took a lot of time to find the typo and correct it. This problem was mainly when we used templates heavily. When we switched to Java, we became a lot more productive, never having to spend significant time finding errors.

In 2001 I got a job with a federal agency where they had already started a large project in C++. Examining the existing code, I noticed they did not use templates at all, not even the standard ones, so I asked the boss why. She told me the same reason: they had tried using templates and had decided they were too complicated.

Now, C is a different story. It's not OO, so it can sometimes take more time to build a large program, but I like it. But the language I like best is Java and I use it for all my current code -- except when modifying old code. It is great to be retired and able to use whatever language I want.

Good luck in learning the language(s).

NT

J.Ja

hey..his comment is now having "0" votes.
really a nice comment
--
ok now hes at +1 cool!

Definitely HTML5.

in the context of HTML5 and CSS3.

should be fun.

I think the desktop model will continue to survive for a long time. The reason is that the mobile model isn't useful for performing many tasks: word processing, spread sheets, graphical design, programming, and CAD. These tasks require multiple windows on the screen at the same time and often multiple monitors.

Mobile computing seems revolve around communications: Facebook, email, web browsing. Sure there's an app for just about everything, but they will always be limited by the form factor.

I think it depends on how you define mobile. You're right when you say that a tablet or smartphone screen isn't suited for word processing, programming, ... but when you connect that device to a 24" monitor, a keyboard and a mouse you got yourself a full blown computer. Just unplug it and it's mobile again. I believe that is the future: everybody carrying his 'personal computer' in his pocket to be used everywhere in any form factor.
Sounds awesome, no?

So instead of mobile taking over the desktop, I would say it will be more like a merge of both.

Currently, the only problem with that concept is that the mobile device still has a mobile OS even when docked. It brings up one application on the screen at a time and supports one monitor. My hope is that in its final release that Windows 8 manages to provide both a mobile and desktop interface seamlessly. Then the concept you describe could work well. From that point we need the mobile hardware to become powerful enough to compete with the traditional desktop machine.

I agree, I can't imagine a portable with the power of my workstation. And I need that power along with the multiple large flatscreen displays to do my job efficiently.
I design circuit boards and the enclosures for them all as a solid modeled assembly. Massive power is required to handle the multiple heavy graphics programs involved. My 3.4Ghz Quad core w Dedicated Graphics workstation card is being upgraded this year for more CPU power, RAM and Graphics capacity. Because it can no longer handle the load. Portable? You gotta be dreaming.

I think desktop will survive and contribute to the vailbility of many industries which are database intensity and application design.
Mobile technology will continue to grow aongside the desktop to the capacity but will not reach the potential of the desktop in few years.

Desktop technology will just need some remodeling and renovation in architecture wise.

I will be starting a new eLearning (one man) company this year and want to start with the next best thing.

I totally agree with atemjohn that the desktop will be around for a long time. Can you imagine developing an iPad app on an iPad. I am guessing it can be done, but it is kind of inefficient.

I can't say I'm excited about Windows 8 Metro, but I'll have to learn it anyway.

I think HTML5 will be hot this year. There has been lot of acquisition in 2011 HTML5 domain.

Anand
http://bootstraptoday.com

I polled to improve my skills in HTML5 and related (CSS, JavaScript). In fact, in 2011, I bought one book on HTML5 Programming and I'm making my way through that now.

However, I am a web developer for a company in which I am also required to handle server-side processing and server administration as well. Many web developers are required to wear multiple "hats".

So, as in years past, I will ALSO be trying my best to stay on top of the latest in:

Server-side web development: latest PHP (5.4 or 6, whatever it will be!?) and Zend Framework 2.

Systems administration: CentOS 6 upgrade, puppet systems management, etc. etc.

So I refuse to vote

HTML5, Javascript, WinRT, CSS, XAML. Please explain in what way those are tools?

and achieve a similar result if you have the skill, e.g. program....

You can drill a hole with and augur, abit and brace, a power drill.

Drilling the a hole of the correct diameter, depth and position, is the skill.

nm

It takes skills to utilize tools properly.

It takes skills to utilise skills properly....

Tools = physical object that aids in accomplishing a task
Skills = learned power of doing something competently (with "Tools")

Help me out here.

These are all skills

The skill is in using the tool.

If you can provide me the operation that links these two statements other than, you put them in the same post, I would be most grateful....

One HR Numpty and one certified panacea seller downvoting me. which mean's at least two of them are unjustified....

Perhaps you can get together sometime and talk about me behind my back. Sad people...

... is beyond aggravating. I sent an email last week to the staff about it, prompted by this thread. I know that you are a frequent poster and thick skinned and it won't affect you, but what about the first time poster? Will they want to come back and offer up their well intentioned opinions again if some random, anonymous strangers can bash what took them 15 minutes to think and type with a single mouse click? While there were lots of things in the last TR redesign that I didn't care for, the downvotes are the only thing I actively dislike and feel that they are hurting the site immensely. It creates an extraordinarily negative atmosphere. At least with nasty comments, if they were well reasoned I could take it as harshly worded criticism and if they weren't it could be seen as a bad attitude, and if it cross a line it was a TOS violation. But with the downvotes, who knows? I've seen on some stuff, it seems like any opinion that disagrees with the author, regardless of how well argued, gets negged, I'm convinced that it's just the author doing it. How juvenile is that? The whole thing is just bothersome.

J.Ja

(if that's a word).

I think downvotes are useful for flagging spam, otherwise not too much. However, they might be more useful if every downvote showed the identity of the downvoter (maybe get a list of them by hovering over the score or something). Then you could publicly ask for an explanation if they didn't feel compelled to give one.

... of the people who do them.

J.Ja

In the recent years the number of growing platforms , each with its own set of rules requires lot of investment on the part of application developers to make the same application on diff platforms. HTML5 offers one way to minimize this overhead

This year its going to be Wordpress. Last year was Joomla which is excellent but the tide is very much with Wordpress it looks a lot simpler as well.

My current company is slowly removing our development and not giving much hint on what they intend to do with us.
So I am not sure which skills to learn/polish up.
I don't know what the job market is currently looking for.
My guess is HTML5 development,

Now mobile is the device of generation and ios & android platforms have changed the way we were using mobile. In next 2 years most people will prefer to use tablets & pad over laptop & desktop. And this is because the popularity and portability of the device. This makes the mobile application development a bigger emerging market and today's requirement.
http://www.uninov.com

Developing skills for mobile App development will be at high.