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Is Delphi a Good Career Choice for Junior Developers?

Viktoria Bors-Pajuste on April 03, 2023

As a junior developer, I recently received an email from a company seeking a developer who is willing to learn and code in Delphi. While the compan...
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Joe Mainwaring

Delphi wasn't popular enough for me to learn it in the early 2000s, and it's still not popular enough for me to recommend it in 2023.

Are there opportunities with Delphi? Absolutely. Can someone make a career out of Delphi? Definitely, but you're talking about a very tiny niche across the global technology industry. There's a lot of data online regarding programming language popularity like StackTrends or IEEE that you can look at to understand the potential market for a Delphi Job.

I'd consider Delphi a Top 20 Programming Language at best. If I was a junior level engineer today, I'd likely want to focus on a Top 5 programming language instead - but that's me.

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Viktoria Bors-Pajuste

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and providing the links. After checking them out, it appears that Delphi IS ranked quite low on the list. :S :S

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Muhammad Raihan Satrio Putra Pamungkas

Personally, based on my findings, I have never found any Delphi job openings. Surprisingly, in my previous college, there was one major that is still being taught as part of its curriculum.

Well then, I would like to say that you are lucky enough to get this opportunity. However, there's an upcoming challenge that you might find difficult to handle.

When you encounter errors in your code, as we know, Delphi is currently not very popular. Therefore, there will be fewer communities for you to seek help from (e.g. Stackoverflow, Dev.to).

I'm just afraid that junior-level programmers will struggle with this. However, if you have good and deep motivation to explore, there's nothing to worry about. As others have said, it's all up to you.

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Viktoria Bors-Pajuste

Your observation about the challenge of finding help is very insightful. Even though there is a person at the company who is a professor with a PhD and could potentially assist, I prefer to attempt to find solutions on my own first. This is definitely a factor to keep in mind.

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James Batista

I believe you are right.
The popularity of Delphi has been declining. When thinking about choosing a programming language for a career move, Delphi isn't the first one that comes to mind. Although it does have a loyal following, Delphi's relevance has decreased in recent years, especially in the web development industry.

That being said, if you are junior now in your career, Delphi can still be a viable option. It is a well-established language and there are still many companies that use Delphi for their desktop applications, as you have noticed from the company that reached out to you. Delphi developers are in demand in certain industries, such as finance and healthcare, where desktop applications are still prevalent.

However, if you're passionate about web development and want to work with modern technologies, Delphi may not be the best choice. You'll likely find more opportunities and growth potential in languages like JavaScript or Python, which are widely used in web development.

Ultimately, the best career choice is one that aligns with your interests and goals, so don't be afraid to explore different languages and industries to find the right fit for you!

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Viktoria Bors-Pajuste

While I have a preference for working with modern technologies such as JS, I am concerned about the recent layoffs in the tech industry and how it may impact my ability to find a job as a junior. As a result, I am questioning whether I should be more open to other opportunities, even if they are not in my preferred technology stack. I also understand that making the wrong decision could have negative consequences for my career in the future.

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James Batista

Working with modern technologies such as JS can be advantageous, there are many other skills and technologies that are valuable in the tech industry. For example, developing skills in backend technologies such as PHP, Ruby, or Python could make you a more well-rounded developer and broaden your opportunities. Additionally, having experience in other technologies can help you become a better problem-solver and provide more context for your work in your preferred stack.

Remember that no job is perfect, and there will always be trade-offs. The key is to find a role that allows you to learn, grow, and contribute in meaningful ways while also aligning with your long-term career aspirations.

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Envoy49

Just open job market in your country and loor for a job in Delphi, then searchfor jobs in Python, JavaScript and C#
Now you got the answer.

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Viktoria Bors-Pajuste

Pretty much 0 for Delphi compare to the 100-1000s of JS jobs... :D

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Christopher Glikpo ⭐

As a junior developer, your choice of programming language may depend on several factors, such as your personal interests, the job market in your area, and the requirements of potential employers. While Delphi may not be as widely used as some other languages, it can still be a good career choice for junior developers who are interested in working on applications for industries that use Delphi, such as finance, healthcare, and government.

However, it's important to note that learning Delphi as a junior developer may require some extra effort since it may not have as many learning resources and communities as more popular languages. Additionally, it's always a good idea to continue learning and expanding your skills in other areas to stay competitive in the job market.

Ultimately, whether or not Delphi is a good career choice for you as a junior developer depends on your personal interests, career goals, and the job market in your area.

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byby

Delphi is considered a relatively niche language compared to more popular programming languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript. It has a smaller user base and job market compared to these languages. Delphi has its place in certain industries, particularly for developing desktop applications on the Windows platform.

Some may consider Delphi to be a legacy language. it's important to research the job market and industry demand in your area to make an informed decision.

Short answer: NO!