r/javascript • u/endpointben • Aug 11 '15

Netflix.com Adopts Universal JavaScript, Drops Java From Rendering Pipeline

http://www.infoq.com/news/2015/08/netflix-universal-javascript
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u/[deleted] Aug 11 '15

Forgive my ignorance but I didn't really think you hired or were a {language} developer. Is Java that unique that you hire people that know Java rather than people that know various programming principles and practices and if they don't have to spend the 3 weeks ramping up on Java, that's just a bonus.

I love Python, but sometimes NodeJS is better suited, so I jump into that, gaining pleasure that I'm paid to learn more stuff. Or maybe some Java, ActionScript (shudders) or whatnot.

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u/juhmayfay Aug 12 '15

I think both are important. It's necessary to be able to pick up different languages and know the basics of static vs dynamically typed, compiled vs interpreted, etc. But just because you can pick up a language in a month and write a program doesn't mean you'll write it well. And that's why you see "<insert language> developer". The nuances, the shortcuts, the gotchas, how to debug quickly, how to tune... Those are learned from experience - even after several years you will still have more to learn.

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u/[deleted] Aug 12 '15

Very fair. So if you know you'll be focusing on one language, you can get veterans of that language.

Now I'm curious how common a job sticks to a language or two vs. how often it changes over time.

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u/juhmayfay Aug 12 '15

It happens, but I don't think it's common for jobs to completely change languages. Usually they'll pick a language that's good for the field they are in. Completely rewriting code in something else is time consuming and thus very expensive.