Where should a senior developer go next? New language, technology, open source, startup?

Question

Java

Good day!
I am 26 years old, I work remotely as a java developer on an enterprise project. The tasks are typical, almost every day I use the usual CRUD, the technologies on the project are the most common - java, spring, oracle, the salary is average. The only thing that pleases me is that the work takes an average of 6 hours a day and there is free time for sports and self-development. But lately there has been a feeling of some kind of dissatisfaction and unfulfillment, I want to develop and move on.
Previously, I eagerly studied everything new, read books, watched videos on YouTube (various courses, conference recordings), and now I don’t understand why I should learn this - you can google something and figure it out, something is very similar to what I already know (over time, the understanding came that programming is not knowledge of the language and frameworks). So, I don't know which direction to go next. Various ideas come to mind - learn scala, take courses on Big Data on Coursera, start sawing some kind of open source project or participate in someone else's, try to stir up a startup, or even quit programming and go into business. Usually when such an idea comes to my mind, I have enough for about a week, then I burn out, because there is no clear understanding of where this will lead. Eventually,
Now I am standing at a crossroads and trying to choose a vector of movement in the long term. I understand that there can be no specific answer to such a question, but maybe someone has come across a similar one and will share their life experience.

Answer 1

How do you do it?! In 17 years of working in IT, I have never had the question “Where to go?”, Only “Where can I get the time to master all this endless abundance of technologies, in-depth study of the already familiar and the implementation of many ideas?”

Answer 2

You will be a senior just when you know where to move.
There are no 26 year old seniors. This is fantastic
You just realized that it's not about languages ​​and frameworks? Congratulations you just stopped being JUNE

Answer 3

IMHO. You have to go into business. We programmers are just tools. I don’t really want to be a tool in the wrong hands all my life.

Answer 4

came to understand that programming is not knowledge of the language and frameworks

What answer did you define for yourself to the question what is programming?
The vector of future movement depends on this answer. For example, I understand that there are a couple more languages ​​that I would like to master, but there is no point in learning other languages ​​further and I am interested in either the development vector in the form of highly specialized algorithms for a specific task, or the study of databases, since now there is where to turn around in this direction.
Startup? Determine which need is not closed for you and your friends and saw it every evening for an hour or two.
Big Data is not an end in itself. Here you have completed the course. What will you bigdate, on what data?
Most importantly, answer yourself the question of what you really like and move in this direction.

Answer 5

I'll start from the end. The sum vector is zero precisely because your time targets are not targets. They are a way to solve the problem of accumulated dissatisfaction. That's why interest disappears after a while. By itself, such a goal does not ignite.
I was in your place 5-6 years ago. In the same way, I reached a certain level in Java, after which everything somehow became uninteresting. New tasks are no longer new. The creative process of programming has become machine coding. I think this process of burnout is typical for any profession, not only for programming. Psychologists say that professionalism is achieved in about 5 years. Further it is recommended to change jobs.
As a result, I tried to make several projects. Unfortunately, a high level of programming competence does not solve problems with project promotion. The same applies to startups. If you want to make your project not just for yourself and friends, first become an expert in the field of product promotion and startup promotion. Only then do it. In that order, and not vice versa or in parallel.
You can still look for a job on Upwork/Freelancer while chasing new projects. But Java developers have a hard time there. Either there will be a trifle similar to student term papers, or a remote developer will be needed for full time in a large project. Exactly what you are doing now.
Ultimately, I completely changed my specialization from Java to a narrow niche that used to be a hobby. In financial terms, it was more profitable due to narrow specialization.
Now this five-year cycle is coming to an end. I'm starting a startup :-). As Dmitry
correctly advised , you need to find what you like and go in this direction. Should be "moving to" instead of the current "moving from". Selection criterion: "Real work is as it should be - so that you are willing to pay extra for it, as long as you are allowed to do it." - NLPs. Good luck!

Answer 6

A new language or direction is unlikely to give anything, except temporarily.
Programming used to absorb me completely, there were a lot of mysteries. Then the interest left, but no longer in programming, but in any third-party projects. Just making another “order” is no longer interesting, no matter how much money is spinning there. I began to appreciate my own time and where I can invest it, and what I can achieve in the long term.

Answer 7

I see this way: 1) my open-source project → 2) my paid product → 3) my business.
1) Creating your own tools for solving typical everyday tasks is more complicated and interesting than just doing tasks. This way you can further improve yourself in theory, save your experience in the form of ready-made solutions and reduce future labor costs for boring routine work.
2) Using your own developments, make your own paid product that solves a larger problem. Scaling up the task is, again, challenging and interesting. By promoting and selling your product, you are directly confronted with typical business tasks: marketing, advertising, administration. This is a chance to gain business experience without leaving your main job and evaluate whether you like it or not.
3) If you feel confident enough, you can start your full-time business. Maybe your paid product will develop rapidly and require 100% of your time. Maybe you even decide to go offline business. But the experience gained in the previous stages will help.
I am now in the first stage and what will happen in the second and third, I can only imagine. But at least such a plan gives a meaningful direction for development.

Answer 8

Dude, get on with your project. This will add a lot of fun to life.
Not open source, but the embodiment of a commercial idea.
You can look at the product not only from the side of the code, but in general from all sides - product management, design, code, testing, deployment, support, marketing, traffic arbitrage, law, accounting. This is a great experience, which is valuable not only in your projects, but also in any company as well.

Answer 9

With age, on the contrary, you want peace, teaching to read is always yes, but without fanaticism. If you really want to spend 24/7 in constant studies and never sit still, then look for another job, in large companies in at least medium positions - today you can make a program in Java, and tomorrow you need a stack of web technologies, and the day after tomorrow they will go to business of networks and protocols, and after tomorrow you will need to write some kind of plug-in in C. And in a week, set up machine learning for certain algorithms.
Do you understand what I'm getting at? ) send out resumes and prove that you are competent enough for the nth position.
And the choice of a vector is such ... What is good for one is bad for another. For example, I like to do something with microprocessors, but at the same time it is too stressful for me. You probably like something else, but that doesn't mean I like it. And so it will be with every commentator, alas. And yes, with a seigneur you overestimate yourself. Senier is far from "learning 1 language".

Answer 10

You have a fat trump card in your hands - you work remotely, which means you can fully manage your time. The second trump card, also fat, is the programmer's salary (albeit an average one), which means that it is enough for life, for Wishlist and it turns out to save more. Here, in fact, you can turn around so well, if you wish :) You can safely implement any of your ideas and at the same time remain "on the drain", programming in your free time.
If you don’t see yourself anywhere other than programming, then look for another project or area, for example, gamedev. Learn everything that is connected with this and go to another team.

Answer 11

Here they wrote "I'll start from the end."
I would say: "Start at the end." Determine what you want! Not something to do. And in the end, what to have, who to be, your mission (if this word does not seem abusive to you).
After that, choose the path that seems most optimal for achieving your goals: programming, business, cooking classes, you never know what else. Then the plan and everything, do it! This will be what you do)

Answer 12

If you are cool in java - why not expand your horizons in terms of mobile development for Android on the same java?
If you are writing a backend for the web, then why not dig deeper in terms of the frontend in javascript or vice versa, towards the database.
In my opinion, one should cling to related areas, and not so that today is the web, and tomorrow is microcontroller programming.

Answer 13

Why are you suffering so much?
1. Choose a topic that draws you. Any, from finance to cats. Don't think about how competitive or money a given niche is.
2. If the topic is chosen correctly (what you are really interested in), you will quickly find something to program there.
3.1. Look for a project (s) or people who are sawing this topic, trying to join. In any capacity, even as a junior (you can use new technology), even as a volunteer, even as a CTO for 0 money, 2 hours a day.
3.2. Start sawing your project, open-source is better. Better mobile application or / and web service, or / and some kind of crap in the big data area. It is possible with new technology.
While 3.1 lasts, do 3.2 at the same time as 3.1.
In a couple of months, either you yourself will be able to write here what is in paragraph 4, or you will no longer ask yourself the question "What to do from not .. I do."

Answer 14

In my opinion, your career growth is hindered by the fact that you work remotely.
It is impossible to get a career promotion to the head of the development department remotely. For many senior programmers, the next step in their career is the head of development.
If you are a really good specialist and feel the strength in yourself for something more, then I would advise you to look for a job not as a programmer, but as the head of the development department in the office. Or look for a job in the office as a programmer with career opportunities.
If someone starts laughing that it's impossible, then it's impossible for them personally. of those with whom I studied, two became heads of the development department in the field of web development by the age of 25-27.
And how old was Pavel Durov's brother at the time vk.com was created? Like 23-25.
So if you listen to different whiners, then only self-esteem will suffer, but there will be no sense :)
Pavel Durov did not wait until 30 to take a step in his career and you don’t wait :)

Answer 15

Easy answer.
start sawing open source