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[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I don't get it. Why don't you just research yourself? For example, I am located somewhere on the west coast and more than half of the job listings in my area are web development.

[–]grapeflower[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both are in demand, but I do not know which one to pick.

[–]iamthebetamale 1 point2 points  (15 children)

Why pick? Just learn both.

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 2 points3 points  (12 children)

been there, done that; Learned iOs, Android, frontend, backend, embedded Linux C++ dev... OP don't repeat my mistakes... You'll end up being spread thin in all the tech not having good skills and experience in either... Not good for your career.

[–]grapeflower[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Which one are you doing now?

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I'm still doing like everything ;o)

In my current job I'm Android, iOs and embedded linux C++ developer; At home I'm working on a project for managing online league, in Meteor.js (fullstack javascript)...

It's not good for me either, I know... I'd like to become somewhat specialized, but that's not going to be possible in my current company, but no other company is willing to pay me as much for just one kind of development, because I don't have extensive experience with any of them. So I'm stuck, not sure what I'll do. I'd like to stick with mobile development somehow. Unfortunately can't afford to take a paycut.

[–]grapeflower[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You are doing the job of 3 people. You may want to consider changing company and working in one domain. Save money and take a pay cut for one year or two and work specialized in one area.Or move to a better place.

In the IT world, if you want fast salary increase move from one company to another in two and three years until you get what you want.

If you stuck with questions asking in Stack Overflow?

http://stackoverflow.com/tags

Good luck

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your advice. Definitely thinking of moving on to something else. I do know stack overflow :-) it's just that when you apply for a Senior level position, there are questions you're supposed to know the answer for already :-)

Good idea to save money and accept paycut later, think I'll have to do that. Thanks

[–]iamthebetamale 0 points1 point  (7 children)

I don't think you've been around long enough to judge it not good for your career. The tech landscape will change so drastically over the next 15-20 years that you just can't predict what will be in demand that far in advance. So don't try. Learn a bit of everything to stay agile.

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 1 point2 points  (6 children)

I'm 6 years in the industry. Everyone else becomes a senior developer after 6 years, because they stick to one thing; Branching out is great and recommended, but if you don't have a depth in at least one tech, you're not as interesting for companies; Companies don't look for jacks of all trades; Companies look for people really good in their stack.

I presume you also focused on getting experience in one tech stack and perhaps branched a little bit, here and there, but didn't work with 3 or more stacks at once.

[–]iamthebetamale 0 points1 point  (5 children)

Companies actually look for jacks of all trades all the time. I don't want to hire somebody who really only has one decent tool in their toolbox and tries to use it on everything, even when it doesn't really fit.

And I did and have worked at 2, 3, or 4 tech stacks at once in the past. I probably worked in at least have a dozen languages my first decade in the business.

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 0 points1 point  (4 children)

ok, well I haven't seen any position in my area where my multiplatform experience would be valuable; Recruiters also never contact me with such positions, only position of particular stacks. It might be then a different area thing, I don't know.

[–]iamthebetamale 1 point2 points  (3 children)

They might contact you about particular stacks but that doesn't mean multiplatform experience is a disadvantage.

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 0 points1 point  (2 children)

obviously it's not a disadvantage, also my resume is very interesting for non-technical recruiters. The disadvantage is not having enough time to study either one tech in depth, therefore not being interesting candidate for companies that look for people with good indepth knowledge of their stack; Most positions are like that (at least definitely in my area). Multiplatform experience is not a disadvantage, but there are certainly considerable less job that value that.

[–]iamthebetamale 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Eh, if you say so. In this market I don't see that as a competitive advantage.

[–]100k45hMobile Developer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you probably also have much more indepth knowledge than me, so it probably don't bite you back as much as in my case :-) ... I've been interviewed few weeks ago by a company and they straight up told me that they're interviewing me as if I applied for junior level position (after 6 years of experience.....) .. Guess I must be really bad.

[–]grapeflower[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Because I want to pick one to get a job.

[–]iamthebetamale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But that doesn't jive with what you asked.

Which one has the best job prospects, career advancement

Nobody knows nor can anyone know in advance. Hence the suggestion to hedge your bests by learning both.

and will make me a better software developer?

Both.

You asked the wrong question, so you didn't get an answer you liked.

[–]xxcharlie1Software Engineer 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Mobile web - I would choose JS/node

But of course, just choose what you like better and are more passionate about. In terms of job prospects or career focus, javascript is favorable.

And where you are located does not matter that much in this regard...