Hey everyone! I've been a web developer focusing on the MERN stack for about three years now, but I've been seriously thinking about making the switch to DevOps. Here's why I'm considering this change:
1. The job market for web developers feels really tough right now.
2. AI is automating a lot of both frontend and backend tasks.
3. From what I understand, DevOps might have a longer-term outlook and is less likely to be replaced by AI compared to web development.
4. I think having skills in both web development and DevOps could give me an edge in job applications.
I have some questions for those of you in DevOps or who've made the switch:
- Is it worth moving from web development to DevOps?
- What's the learning curve like and what's the best way to get started?
- Does DevOps really offer better job stability and prospects compared to web dev?
- Should I just keep focusing on web development and improve my data structures and algorithms knowledge?
I'd love to hear your experiences and any advice you might have! 🙂
5 Answers
I’d say stick with web development for now. DevOps isn't really an escape route. AI isn't going to replace folks who have solid software development experience. Level up your web skills instead!
Thanks for the advice! I think I'll stick with web dev for a bit longer.
Glad I could help!
In my experience, DevOps roles are actually harder to come by than software dev jobs. You might want to just focus on learning coding challenges for job applications!
Is it really worse than software dev positions? I’m a manager, so I’d like to know.
The job market is tough out there. As a manager, I’d be hesitant to hire someone new for DevOps unless they had prior experience. It's often better to transition within your current company if you want to move into DevOps. Junior roles are rare, and context is key in this field. Maybe consider a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) role as a stepping stone if you can. Just stick to what you know unless you're dead set on switching!
So you're saying breaking into DevOps externally is pretty unrealistic? I guess I'll focus on web development for now!
Yeah, that's a safer bet unless you have connections.
These fields aren’t mutually exclusive! You can definitely learn DevOps skills while working in web development.
DevOps roles are challenging to land. I suggest continuing in web development but learning Linux, Docker, and Kubernetes on the side. Once you feel confident, go for it!
Is there really any escape route though? I'm in QA automation and sometimes dream about DevOps, but it feels toxic everywhere!