[stctgion]

I'm a little confused. React isn't a language, or at least I thought it wasn't a language. When I hire people I'm not the least bit interested in which JavaScript framework they have already used. I kind of assume that if you can learn one you can learn them all. The idea of labelling yourself a react engineer seems really limiting to me

[jasonlotito]

> I kind of assume that if you can learn one you can learn them all.

Knowing C doesn't mean you can't learn React, but if you've only ever done C and low level systems programming means you have a lot to learn to get to the level of someone who has specialized in knowing React and it's environment. It's not just React. It's everything around it that also matters. Such as browsers, HTML, CSS, and all the best practices there. And while I'm sure anyone can learn that, the question is, would you do it in reverse?

Would you hire someone who knew React, CSS, HTML, and web development to write systems level C and expect them to learn it all, and, most importantly, be effective in their role?

Labelling yourself as a react engineer isn't limiting. It's just one of many things. You can have many labels, and adding a label doesn't take away from other things you can do. However, it is an effective way to communicate what skill sets you have to people that would be good to work for and with.

[dasil003]

I would look askance at someone who calls themselves a "C Developer" in much the same way I would at someone who calls themselves a "React Developer". The reason being that it just smells wrong, like they read a "C for Dummies" book and are trying to fake it til they make it or something. The correct label is something more general about the domain (eg. systems developer, front-end developer, etc), although I realize these labels are imperfect and subject to their own anti-patterns (eg. devops engineer), they at least signal you understand something about the broader landscape.

[rtfeldman]

I totally agree - what I should have said is that we struggled to make hires for a React job opening.

We've always been happy to hire good people who don't happen to be familiar with our stack already.

[LeonidasXIV]

Where does that specialization stop, reasonably? Isn't this the same with JavaScript? If you have worked with any Algol-derived language you can learn them all.

[stctgion]

In theory it doesn't stop. Most developers have the capacity to learn anything. In reality though I've found its more that some Devs are not willing to work with certain languages.