From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.0 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,447bd1cf7a88c198 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2000-12-31 13:45:38 PST Path: supernews.google.com!sn-xit-02!supernews.com!newsfeed.online.be!europa.netcrusader.net!205.252.116.205!howland.erols.net!news-out.nntp.airnews.net.MISMATCH!cabal10.airnews.net!news.airnews.net!cabal14.airnews.net!news.airnews.net!cabal1.airnews.net!news-f.iadfw.net!usenet From: Robert Love Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: What to Do? Date: 31 Dec 2000 15:47:05 -0600 Organization: PDQ.net (using Airnews.net!) Sender: rlove@smtp.neosoft.com Message-ID: <90012C522EE3BA22.FE5B654CD19DCE06.7739C9AC9E5C8D06@lp.airnews.net> X-Orig-Message-ID: References: <3A4F5A4A.9ABA2C4F@chicagonet.net> Abuse-Reports-To: abuse at pdq.net to report improper postings NNTP-Proxy-Relay: library1-aux.airnews.net NNTP-Posting-Time: Sun Dec 31 15:39:13 2000 NNTP-Posting-Host: !`IJm1k-WRlT4!U (Encoded at Airnews!) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii User-Agent: Gnus/5.0807 (Gnus v5.8.7) XEmacs/21.1 (Bryce Canyon) Xref: supernews.google.com comp.lang.ada:3500 Date: 2000-12-31T15:47:05-06:00 List-Id: >After reading several threads discussing C++, C#, Java and Ada I'm in a >quandry over what system to concentrate on. I'm learning C++ at the >moment but wonder if that is the best choice. After looking a Ada and >available jobs it would appear that there is limited opportunities for >someone >40 and outside of military/defense industries. Comments and >opinions are greatly appreciated. Petra. Here on New Year's Eve I went to Monster.com and did a search on Ada. I came with with 735 hits. Now you have to weed out the ones where "ADA" is the Americans with Disabilities Act and where American Dieticians Association registered personnel are being sought. Lets say that rules out 25%. Now you have many ads where the job description text says "C/C++/Ada" where it is really not an Ada job (why are HR types so frustrating to deal with?). Lets say we're down to 350 jobs. Of these, many have multiple openings. So I'd say there are good job opportunities. Now your concerns about defense industry seem valid. Ada is most often used in systems deemed critical. An airliner crashing due to software has a much higher cost than somebody's web page crashing. So Ada is most often used in transportation and weapons systems. Also, NASA is doing lots of work in Ada for the International Space Station if you have reservations about working for the military. There are web sites referenced in this newsgroup that track other non-military projects using Ada. Our European & Canadian cousins seem a little wiser in this area. As for the over 40 thing, I suspect most of us reading here are over 40. Hiring somebody as a new programmer that late in life is rare but it happens. The key is to get some experience programming in a professional environment, regardless of language. Then other opportunities will open. -- ============================================================= | Support Signature Minimalism | =============================================================