I don't have a CS background (I graduated in Neuroscience) but now I decided I want to attempt a carrer in software development. When I looked at the possible different types of software developer I felt that the one I was most attracted to was desktop developer or system developer. In general, I like creating programs than run offline on a local machine, or even dealing with the low level operating system stuff.
I altready know how to program in Python so I decided to start learning C++ as well since it feels like exactly the language that can be used for developing desktop apps or working with kernels. In general, I like the level of abstraction at which C++ works and I would like to keep working at that level.
However, when looking around for some jobs or in general talking with people who work in the IT field, I feel like most of the work of a developer is polarised between two extremes: either creating web apps using tons of different front-end and back-end frameworks, or working with embedded systems for different kind of electronic devices. C++ specifically seems to be used nothing more than for gaming and embedded systems nowadays (according to my very subjective impression ofc).
So my question is: is it still possible to find a job were the main task is to develop and/or maintain desktop apps? And if so, is C++ (or other languages that work at the same abstraction level like Rust) the right language to do this? Or maybe, given my lack of a CS education, it's easier to start as a webdev and maybe change later?
Sorry if I said some nonsense or trivial stuff but I just started to enter the IT world and I still don't have a clear idea on how the job market for SWD works.
It's possible, but rare, for me at least it looks like everyone is targeting web development, since you can do pretty much everything in the web now. I can see productivity tools being developed for desktop but when this happens the company is too small or too big (adobe, microsoft).
Even when people develop desktop applications it's usually electron (web for desktop).
My recommendation is, if you really like desktop, learn something else to work (web) while you find the perfect job, it's rare but not impossible.
You can look for mobile development also, it feels a little bit like desktop.
Yeah I know that JS and electron took over desktop development as well, so maybe it's worth investing some time in learning JS as well. Thanks for sharing.