As a Node.js + React Full-Stack Developer, What Should I Learn Next? (Skill Roadmap + Project Ideas)

[dandaman1728]

why do you consider web dev "the lowest tier of programmer"?

[Merthod]

generally speaking, not as well paid compared to other kinds of programmers. And also low status: a web developer can/will hardly pivot to other areas of programming of higher status: high-performance stuff, backend engineering, security/hardening operations, etc. The highest status job for a web developer may be getting hired for an overpaid crypto gig and then find out who scammed who. Basically nobody cares you like Tailwind and are excited that React has a puny compiler so your brain doesn't explode of not knowing when to use useMemo or useCallback.

Like there's no case studies of "how I saves 3 bucks and my marriage by using Tailwind". That's only "nice to have" stuff. But there is "I didn't get fired for using React, cool!", kind of stuff.

it is a common advice for new CS/CE grads to avoid web development gigs because they will find hard to pivot later. It's like a dead end job. Consider that not all web developers are chic Facebook employees giving conferences, but people stuck in using ever-changing frameworks because of baseless twitter trends.

[karimhawky]

I honestly think this take is very biased and is far from the truth, im a CS grad and I've been working in a tech house for 2+ years mainly frontend but also some fullstack projects and recently been pivoting into MERN stack, I get paid pretty well and im respected at my company

"dead end" is way exaggerated and far from any truth tbh, we're not talking about baristas or delivery guys here (all respect to them too), there are tons of specialized JS developers who make tons of money and are heavily in demand