Recession-Proof Technology: Employment Trends in Computer Development

A big risk for businesses and software developers is backing and learning technologies that could quickly become obsolete. There is no crystal ball predicting what the future in computer development holds. But looking at current employment trends among computer developers can help shed some light on which technologies remain viable and valuable during these economic times.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 1, 2010 — A big risk for businesses and software developers is backing and learning technologies that could quickly become obsolete. There is no crystal ball predicting what the future in computer development holds. But looking at current employment trends among computer developers can help shed some light on which technologies remain viable and valuable during these economic times.

In Apress’s latest book "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010," author and Microsoft C# MVP Alex Mackey consults with Jonathan Keen, Head of Search Practice at Cognitive Group, a UK-based recruitment agency. Together they offer their opinions on the major trends seen in .NET Development.

Mr. Keen provides these ten observations:

1.   “Generally, companies are cutting back on new projects, which have caused a drop in the number of development jobs available.”
2.   “There is more competition for jobs. This increased competition has placed more importance on developers’ need to distinguish themselves in forums such as conferences, user groups, and blogs.”
3.   “C#, ASP .NET, and SQL Server remain core skills companies seek.”
4.   “The most popular and highest paid skills include SharePoint, Dynamics AX, and Dynamics CRM.”
5.   “There are many roles focusing on integration with existing applications such as SharePoint and Dynamics suite.”
6.   “There is some interest in ‘Agile’ skills and SCRUM, but less in TDD.”
7.   “Increasingly, WCF and WPF skills are expected on a developer’s resume.”
8.   “Many public sector projects are still using .NET 1.1.”
9.   “There is an emphasis on web programming over desktop programming.”
10.   “Technologies such as BizTalk have drastically decreased in popularity.”

About "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010"
Microsoft is introducing a large number of changes to the way that the .NET Framework operates. "Introducing .NET 4.0: With Visual Studio 2010" by Alex Mackey provides a roadmap to these changes in the new .NET 4.0. The book serves as a no-nonsense primer that will help experienced .NET developers understand the impact of the new framework and its associated technologies.

About Alex Mackey:
Alex Mackey is an experienced ASP .NET/ SQL Server consultant who has been working with .NET since version 1.0. Alex started out programming when he was 12 on the Amiga with a hobbyist program called Amos. Most recently, Alex has led development on a number of complex health care applications and has been lucky enough to work around the world in the Middle East, America, and Ireland. He is a Microsoft C# MVP and active in the development community. He runs the .NET user group DevEvening.co.uk.

About Apress:                                                   
Apress, Inc., part of Springer Science+Business Media, is a technical publisher devoted to meeting the needs of IT professionals, software developers, and programmers, with more than 700 books in print and a continually expanding portfolio of publications. Apress provides high-quality, no-fluff content in print and electronic formats that help serious technology professionals build a comprehensive pathway to career success. For more information about Apress, visit www.apress.com.