[lordnacho]

I think the period where I grew the most as a dev was an interlude when I knew I was changing jobs, including moving countries.

From having built trading systems in c++, I ended up building, over about a year or so:

- A django (python / js) website. It integrated with both Android (java) and iOS (objective-C) apps that could read QR codes and ask the server stuff. It also made me interact with the app stores for the first time. It was also the first time I did anything on the web, including figuring out how pages are laid out. Bought a MacBook for the first time too.

- A consumer iOS app written in Swift. New language again. Went native, ran into a lot of constraint errors that eventually taught me a lot.

- A trading system in c++ that didn't use STL.

I remember at the beginning of each new language/framework thinking "OMG how do I do this". And yet it's not that bad once you've done it once or twice. I reckon it's a lot easier than learning a new natural language (German, Mandarin).

The thing it really gives you is a low opportunity cost. If you have some task, and the evidence points towards some specific framework/language being a good choice, hopefully you won't resist it due to internal anxiety about starting over again.

[otachack]

The constraints are such a pain at first for iOS! Then you get used to it and become a guru :D Happy you've had opportunity to try out a vast ecosystem.

[mettamage]

How do you get all these different jobs? I’d just hear: you don’t have enough experience in framework/language X.

[lordnacho]

It was an interlude, so not the normal leetcode grind.

I knew various people who needed an MVP made for their startup, and with a little bit of familiarity people will let you do things you haven't done before.

[nottorp]

Networking networking.

I know people I'd bring in to help no matter what the framework is because i trust them. And some people would do the same with me if they needed help.

[whimsicalism]

I'm assuming they are working for startups, typically startups do not require the same level of deep domain expertise as big firms.

[tekknik]

Absolutely incorrect. Big firms hire “jack of all trades” devs as well to fill the gaps of the “experts”. I’ve worked with masters degree holders at very large firms that can’t even explain how DNS works. Deep domain knowledge puts you in a niche from my experience.

[tekknik]

You remove your desire from making the absolute amount of money, then devote yourself to get compensation via experience. Do this for some years. You’ll end up in a better place with no degree than those with one.