Need Language/Career Path Advice

Question

I am interested in getting a few Microsoft Certs and I am currently facing the option for .NET Framework app development language.

My choices are C++, C#, and Visual Basic.

I have some experience with C, Java, and Visual Basic .NET primarily through college. I honestly would like to know what the best would be for developing stand-alone applications in Windows workstation (local) environment.

This is for my career and honestly, 90% of the developers are all experienced in the above three languages and I wanted to improve my chances of staying employed by learning/certifying myself on my own time.

Answer 1

I think that studying Visual Basic or C# is the best choice. C++ is used but I think that its use is mainly in its native version, without .NET support, and in the future I think that it will be used only for high performance tasks.
You can also study WPF if your intent is developing a stand-alone application.

Answer 2

I feel this is not going to be a popular answer with the OP and I know it's been discussed to death before (here and in general), but do you really need certifications to "stay employed"? Perhaps branching out into some more radically different technology/way of thinking is a better way to be a well-rounded developer, and be employed in the better part of the industry where programmers are not viewed as some sort of interchangeable generic resources?

Especially considering that Microsoft's technologies are usually a moving target, this seems like an expensive endeavour that does not have a good return on investment of your time and money.

Other than that, as far as I am aware, building up your domain expertise and a professional network is a more valuable (and more slowly depreciating!) investment in the long-term career-wise.

Answer 3

It may not help you hang on to your current job, but my advice is opposite Maurizio's. In my experience, a less commonly mastered language (of those you mentioned, that's C++) will ensure you are always in demand... with a few caveats. As long as you can be fairly certain your chosen language isn't going anywhere for a while, you're good. C++ certainly isn't going to be outdated in the foreseeable future. And, if you can learn to program well in C++, C# and VB will be really easy to pick up. My most valuable languages are the handful of assemblies I know. It is uncommon nowadays to know assembly, but it will never go away, so I'll be gainfully employed forever (assuming I want to keep working for The Man 'til I die). ;)

Answer 4

I'd be more concerned about being embedded too - it seems more and more development is heading towards smartphones, which is not a .NET area at all. You'd be wise to choose C# for employability (its the same as VB.NET really, just has ; and {} which you'll pick up quickly) but C++ for the 'I can do anything' roles coming up in the future.

I can say, from an employer perspective, that we would never turn anyone away from a C# job who knew VB.NET - the two are so similar that its just syntax differences. The important thing is to know .NET, not one of those two languages.

Answer 5

A recruiter whom I trust told me that once you're working in a field, certifications in that don't count for much. Certifications can help, if you're not currently in that field, but they're no guarantee.

Having said that, the certification study materials are very helpful in terms of basic coverage of a technology that you don't know. Read them and use them for reference.

Microsoft certifications don't tend to be language-specific; there's no certification specifically for VB or C#. They're all about .NET technologies. You can use either language, although it's good to know both, and they really aren't that different in the .NET world.

My advice would be to pick a broad technology area (web or desktop), and focus on that area. There's a lot to learn, and some common areas (services, XAML) that will be valuable in either world. Dive in and just "build stuff". Hands-on is the best teacher.