Hey everyone! I wanted to revisit a topic that seems to have come up in the past. What's the general consensus on starting a career in blockchain development? I am currently working as a Java Software Engineer and I enjoy languages where I can manage memory directly. I've tried some tutorials, particularly on Cyfrin, but I feel like they're not quite the solution. I mean, can't you just use a regular database instead of pushing for blockchain? I've heard South Korea is utilizing it, but to me, it seems like overkill (or maybe I'm just missing something here). I'm hesitant because I feel like choosing this career path might be risky, or maybe I haven't explored deeply enough to see the potential. I find coding in blockchain interesting, but I'm not convinced it's a field that will last another decade. I understand it can be used for secure auction systems, but what happens when you need to update the software? And how are banks actually implementing this? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
3 Answers
Honestly, I think you're a bit late to the blockchain party. Most of the hype has died down and it's become clear that blockchains mainly serve one purpose: the cryptocurrency world, which is full of scams. You’re spot on about preferring a standard database and a trusted party for most situations. If you want to specialize, I’d suggest looking into distributed databases or security instead. There are interesting parts of blockchain tech, especially around decentralized consensus protocols that are worth learning, but focusing solely on "blockchain" might limit you.
There’s definitely been a lot of hype lately, possibly due to all the buzz around the Solana coin. I was also considering jumping into Web3, but with all the confusion out there, it’s hard to know if it’s worth it.
Right? You might clear up the confusion, but the scams and risky investments can’t be ignored. If it's trending on social media, I'd be cautious.
You're definitely onto something! Although some folks out there still hype blockchain, in reality, it often doesn’t bring much benefit compared to traditional databases. The downsides like being unpatchable, slower, and more expensive usually outweigh the supposed benefits. I'd recommend focusing on solid database technologies instead.
I agree! Plus, scalability issues can arise with more users. It’s interesting to see how much LinkedIn is buzzing about it, but a lot of those posts come from people working in niche blockchain companies, which feels a bit like a pyramid scheme.
It's not too hard to grasp how consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work or Proof of Stake work.