How can you transition from a low level embedded software developer / firmware engineer (~10 years of experience) to web development? Serious responses please. Thanks.
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If you are interested in building a site to express your interest and start off with front-end development. Nothing beats WordPress right now. WordPress allows you customize front end look and feel, and allows you to add plugins to extend from basic blogging functionality all the way into e-commerce. You could try to learn on how to host your own blogging site in AWS to establish cloud computing knowledge. I did this site for a friend, the servers are hosted in Brazil, and it didn't take me very long to get it going: http://www.clinicaonecare.com.br.
If you want to leave embedded programming, do it! The companies that are willing to hire embedded programmers are few and far in between. In 10 years, where do you think you can show your resume saying you've done C in AMSS and get a job? I did a job search for C and embedded programming in a major metro area, and only got 3 hits, a transportation company, and a couple defense companies. No flexibility for life in those career tracks.
Okay, serious reply time. I've been snooping on this site for a while, I feel this is a first time I can really contribute to the discussion.
I have actually made a similar transition about 2 years back. I quit QIS doing low level debugging 2 years ago and I completely did a 180 turn and turned to do web services, web application development, and AWS cloud services architecture.
In terms of learning Web Development, it is actually a deep rabbit hole if you want to learn from top down, i.e. build everything from scratch. The amount of knowledge and framework that has been left in place in the last 10 years is astonishing: html (we are on version 5 now), (not just the language itself, but all the frameworks that have been built on basic such as jQuery, AngularJS, MetoerJS etc etc), CSS (various standards over time). Combining everything together is horrendously confusing task if you try to integrate and write everything from ground up. I read somewhere that even the new kids hired at Facebook go through a 2 weeks coding bootcamp. Some of the 2 weeks may be to catch them on some of the modern industry frameworks that no one really teaches in school.
I recommend you try to go from a existing template that someone has built, and try to modify content, add content and pick up things along the way. The path of learning that I originally put myself on was this: start from a single page modern html template with a lot of the modern framework (Bootstrap, advanced CSS with graphic transition, and ) and put your content on it. For example, the first time I try to put my modern resume together I took this resume template: https://wrapbootstrap.com/theme/3colorresume-personal-resume-cv-WB0265951 and added my stuff on it. With this approach, you get from 0 to 100 quickly, and you get hands on experience rapidly. The knowledge and confidence you get from these simple projects will propel you quicker than reading web development books in library, which by the way are already 3 years behind by the time they were written.
If you want training material check out www.udemy.com on specific skill set and frameworks. Look for coupon site that can get you most of their classes for $10. Web development is something that you really a good mentor to direct you from booby traps. You need good mentor and active participation in professional web development groups (meetup reddit, etc). I personally found learning Apple application development to be easier. I read a book, and within 2 weeks of practice I was somewhat proficient, and within more months, you could code up something interesting. PS. my email is liangcheng6@gmail.com, if you need more directions.
who says embedded software / firmware couldn't be outsourced/offshored? Are you kidding me??? get your facts straight
I'm thinking about the same. How about mibile app development. I'm working with android lower level, and am serii considering switching to app development.
I'll second @253. Why slave over the embedded stuff and the crappy debug environments when you could have access to the coolest/latest stuff. Web & mobile is where its at. People doing embedded are stuck 20+ years back in the technology stack. Most are C, not C++ (and if C++, not C++ 11 or 14) with minimal RTOS or bare metal (no RTOS), with printf style debugging and occasionally dealing with memory overwrites. As most of you know through the school of hard knocks, the monolithic AMSS POS code base is a nightmare to work on.
@246, "Trust me, if you're any good at embedded software your design eye is problematic.", I'll call BS on that. That may be your experience, but doesn't apply to everyone. No offense, but thats a pretty broad brush.
Although it can be outsourced, there are tons more job opportunities or web (client or server) and mobile devs now vs embedded. If I were starting out, there is no way I would do embedded now. Its fun, but if you want to maximize your employment options, its not the best way to go. Don't believe me? Do a job search for embedded vs web on dice/stackOveflow/monster... and see for yourself.
It doesn't hurt to add a few years of web development on your resume. You can almost always go back to embedded later. However, most people I know who made the switch have stayed with web development happily. They can work from home.
To Anonymous158184:
Because the money is in the web development. All these JAVA, PHP etc...craps are where the money is being made. And pretty much all the semiconductor companies are going to have a layoff in 2016..... I am not the Original Poster, but as an embedded software engineer, I have been thinking about switching to web related development. It seems way simpler than embedded and lots of $$$$
Embedded software dude for 40 some odd years now. Spent 12 years at QC, retired in '13. That said, why the fark would you ever want to go from embedded engineering to web development? Embedded engineering is tough to off-shore, web development can be done by script kiddies who have a better design eye than you. Trust me, if you're any good at embedded software your design eye is problematic.
Start with a few good books on the subject. Check out your the UCSD library, or local bookstores. If you see books that appear promising, order one or two on line. Read them. But the best way to learn anything is "hands-on," IMHO. Start by making your own website. Pick an interesting topic to build your site around--dogs, surfing, food, bullsh*tting about politics or the stock market--whatever. If you are ESL, you might want to have a good basic style guide and pocket dictionary. Choose a platform that will ultimately pay you for increasing traffic to your site. Keep upgrading and improving. If you are starting your own business, make sure the contact information is prominently placed. Add your picture. Humor is good. People on this website complain constantly about QC's bathrooms. How about a Best/Worst guide to high tech company bathrooms where people can submit pictures from their smartphones weekly.
Why web development?