The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5) - Specialization

Specialization - Which field?

Where would you specialize for the next 3-5 years in development? Actually, do you think overspecialization is good?

Criterias:
- Require at least 50% programming work
- Big money (or is it a paradox?)

Please give me details, eg. go with .NET is too broad.

n/a
Monday, October 20, 2003

Plumming?

Matthew Lock
Monday, October 20, 2003

Note: We're going to tell you what interests *us*. That doesn't mean it's at all useful to you.

Anyway. I'd focus on emerging technologies. Celphones and other small handheld devices are proliferating, and are getting exceedingly complex. There's a lot of interest within the gaming developer community in massively-multiplayer gaming on celphones, for example.

Defense looks like a good choice these days, too. Defense contractors often pay well.

Pornography is perenially popular, so development of porn websites seems to me like a way to make a lot of money.

The Pedant, Brent P. Newhall
Monday, October 20, 2003

This is along the lines of picking stocks. Can somebody tell me what stocks will do well in the next 3-5 years? Don't say NASDAQ, that is too broad.

:)

m
Monday, October 20, 2003

---"Pornography is perenially popular, so development of porn websites seems to me like a way to make a lot of money. "-----

I thought the competition was intense, and the profit margins razor thin.

Pornographers were certainly the web pioneers of the late and mid-nineities and we all owe them a debt for fuelling the expansion of the web, but I doubt if they are technologicallly significant now.

Stephen Jones
Monday, October 20, 2003

I thought working porn was more about the fringe benefits than the pay...

Philo

Philo
Monday, October 20, 2003

Does anybody here specialise in a vertical market rather than focus on a particular technology?

Tony Edgecombe
Monday, October 20, 2003

I specialize in healthcare

Name withheld out of cowardice
Monday, October 20, 2003

Philo,

From what I understand, the money is a pretty strong driving factor. A good, well run porn site can generate a lot of cash. Not that I have a lot of direct experience from the management end of things.

Clay Dowling
Monday, October 20, 2003

I deal with public safety organizations.

apw
Monday, October 20, 2003

My startup combines porn, healthcare, public safety and plumbing.

We're also looking into recommending stocks. :)

... Is For Insects
Monday, October 20, 2003

> My startup combines porn, healthcare, public safety and plumbing.

What, the nurse puts teflon tape on your 6 inch pipe or something?

Snotnose
Monday, October 20, 2003

Well, there was a story on Kuro5hin about the porn industry that makes it sound like a lot of hard work, which doesn't pay off big unless you're very dedicated:

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/10/29/9314/1484

Sum Dum Gai
Monday, October 20, 2003