Winforms to where?

Question

I've been a developer since the early 80's. Currently my skillset includes 20+ years of SQL Server database development and over 15 years of C#. But it's all desktop and Winforms (old style not WPF) No patterns No unit testing or TDD No domain driven development Little in the way of CI/CD No loose coupling or inversion of control No web and only a very small amount of dabbling with android development In fairness my current job has no call for any of these but at some point it may do. Each time I look at moving to Web technologies I give up as it just seems so much effort. And which technology should I go for? So for any of you who have made the leap to modern development methodologies or tools. Where do I start?

Amit Gupta · Answer

Hey Marc Having 20+ years of experience in the industry itself is a big thing, many people have different opinion about the scenario. Ultimately, it is your choice of interest on which you want to see. As you have been a long in the industry you might aware that winforms is almost dead in the market (the successor is WPF) and now modern web development/ cloud computing is in the era. In the near future (and so long) the mobile technology will be boom more and more. So no matter which technology you choose, it will take a short timespan to learn it. Good Luck

Mahesh Chand · Answer

As Amit said, to stay relevant in software developement, we must continue to learn new technologies. Now WinForms are dead. I also don't see much future in WPF going forward. While there are many current projects in WinForms and WPF but most of them are in maintenance and fixes mode. To learn something new, it all depends what your interests are. But yes agree with you. I'm beging WinForms and then WPF background, it is not easy to go with Web development and JavaScript/HTML route. Check Blazer Server that you may find easier. Again, you will have to get your hands dirty and make yourself learn. Other option is to get into management or lead positions that is more about software architecture, DevOps, PM roles. Good luck!

Nitin Sontakke · Answer

Hello, If you need to talk to someone / need a bit of hand holding at the beginning, I am available. Feel free to write to me nitin at sontakke dot com and will take it from there. Hope it helps!