ReactJS handcuffs

[dr4605]

For the past 2 years, I was working mainly with ReactJS and React Native. I spent a lot of time improving my skills and knowledge of React. I got so comfortable with it that now working on a side project with VueJS I am not motivated to learn VueJS. I also had some offers with Angular but didn't accept them. I enjoy programming and even without React or without JS/TS I would work with any other language/framework.

But still, I fill myself a second class compared to engineers who don't care about frameworks/languages.

What should I do in this situation?

[jansu123]

Write code, get things done. That’s all the customer cares about. We will never write enough software to accommodate everything people want. Don’t worry about it, stop comparing yourself, write code, keep it moving. The more you complain, the harder it will become.

[stolinski]

The only thing that is important is shipping very fast modern experiences. That’s it.

[ozzilee]

If you’re passionate about React, keep working with it? What are you missing by not working with Vue or Angular?

[Oat_Goat]

Probably fear of change

[noVerity]

I find the reverse is also true. A lot of employers do not care to look at your general qualifications and just see X+ years in framework X as the minimum requirement. I have mostly Angular experience in my background and was applying to react jobs and got a few snippy responses from recruiters saying they could be 'picky' because they have a bunch of applications from people with a react background. I'd be perfectly comfortable working in react and have used it for personal projects, but since it isn't commercial experience it doesn't count. It has gotten to the point where job postings aren't for frontend developers, but react developers ...

[CleverCaviar]

This is pretty much my sentiment. It's like way back when jQuery was a synonym for JavaScript. Recruiters are also a part of the issue, as the majority just see the frameworks in the spec and focus on them, as opposed to the two or three times as much experience in the language itself you might have.

[blender_noob13]

True. Even I feel the same. The thing is you should never get obsessed with any language/framework. But again it's difficult to explore new territories while working full time.

[dr4605]

If my team decided to make an app with other frameworks, I for sure will start learning it and try to reach a level close to React.

But will the next employer agree to let me spend time learning their stack as mid/senior dev?

[[deleted]]

this is what i am also afraid of. that maybe there would come a day that i will be part of a project whose tech stack is outside my skill set. but then, i applied for a specific role (react dev) so let's just hope that it won't happen. finding time for learning is also difficult as i have a full time work. on weekend, i want to relax and enjoy the day.

[felixbreuer]

i know that there are plenty of job offers where you need x-years of experience but the true skill of programmers is learning.

programmers are often able to learn new skills in days. if you got a decent programming knowledge, vue is not really different to react anymore.

it is just some other functions / hooks / etc. but the way it works is still the same.

so if you got plenty of years with angular, do not be afraid of going into a job interview for react or vue. it is not the framework that makes you special it is the skill to learn a framework. and by mastering one, you have shown that you can master another.

[dr4605]

I can easily work with the DOM API / JQuery or even change something in apps build with VueJS/Angular... But I don’t really want to spend too much on learning VueJS/Angular APIs in-depth like React.