Career and Technology Choices in Software Development: Where to Start?
When starting a career in development, one of the biggest questions is: What technology should you learn? And should your decision be guided purely by current market trends? The reality is that following trends can work—until it doesn’t. The tech landscape evolves rapidly, and what's in demand today may be obsolete tomorrow.
Choosing a flashy, cutting-edge technology might seem appealing, but it comes with risks. A slight economic shift—like a rise in U.S. interest rates—can slow down funding, reduce the number of startups, and shrink job opportunities for technologies mainly used in those startups. In such cases, you may find yourself with little guidance, frequently switching tech stacks, and needing to adapt constantly to new teams and projects.
You also need to consider where you want to position yourself within the tech stack. Are you aiming to be a front-end developer, or are you leaning toward a more foundational role like database engineering?
If you choose front-end development, be prepared to learn quickly and stay on your toes, as front-end tools and frameworks evolve rapidly. By contrast, roles like database engineering require a deeper, long-term understanding of both the technology and the business it supports. This path often demands a longer learning curve and a stronger investment from your employer. However, it offers stability—data layers change less frequently, and once you master them, you become a critical asset to the company. This can translate to greater job security.
If you're entering the industry and want fast-paced growth, focusing on emerging technologies that appeared in the last couple of years might be the way to go. You’ll be competing mostly with peers at a similar experience level, giving you a chance to stand out early. But if you prefer stability, predictability, and long-term value, consider choosing roles where employers are likely to invest in your growth over time.
Whichever path you choose, prioritize understanding the core concepts behind technologies. Tools and frameworks will change, but foundational principles remain relevant.
Investing your time in learning core ideas—like REST, GraphQL, OOP, ORMs, Agile practices, design patterns, CI/CD, and architectural models like MVC, MVVM, and MVP—will set you up for a successful, adaptable career in development.