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Hey Fellow Developer Peoples,

I was on another forum (might have seen some of you there), but I wanted to see what this one is all about.

In your best estimation, what types of people are on this forum?

Students?
Posers?
1st year developers?
Seasoned Pros?
Guys Who Worked on ENIAC?


I'm a guy who got out of development just after 9/11, when it tanked a small software company I had. Before that, I did a lot of C++ work - actively coding for 5+ yrs.

I was trying to find out from the other forum how a guy like me can best get back into the field and find other GenXer-developer types to talk to. Anybody have any tips on where to find the best freelance jobs? How about what languages I should brush up on?

Thanks....

The Newbie of The Board. :cool:

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Dani AI

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As observed, this board really does attract a mix — students, hobbyists, seasoned pros and everyone between. For (5+ years of C++ experience, took a break), here is a compact, practical playbook to get back in and find peers.

Start with a focused technical refresh:

  • Modern C++: study post-2006 standard changes (smart pointers, move semantics, lambdas, auto, thread library, std::optional/ranges). A good hub for current C++ practice is isocpp.org.
  • Tooling: get comfortable with git, CMake (or your preferred build system), sanitizers (ASAN, TSAN), and a static analyzer (clang-tidy).
  • Testing and CI: add GoogleTest or Catch2 and a basic CI pipeline (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).
  • Broaden selectively: Python (scripting, tooling) or TypeScript (web + tooling) increase marketability without abandoning systems work.

Where to find freelance work and peers:

  • Pick 1--2 platforms and build a clean profile (Upwork, Toptal, LinkedIn are common starting points). Treat them as lead sources, not the only channel.
  • Build a one-page portfolio and 2--3 GitHub projects that showcase real problems: performance tuning, cross-platform build, or a small library with tests and CI.
  • Network in specialty communities (C++ meetups, related Slack/Discord channels, alumni/old-colleague outreach) — GenX peers often surface through direct referrals.

A short timeline:

  • 30 days: refresh language basics, set up GitHub, publish a small CMake-based project with tests.
  • 90 days: contribute to a small open-source repo or complete a client-style contract; start applying and pitching.

Basic business note: be ready with simple contracts, clear estimates, and invoicing. As pointed out, this site also has job resources to scan for leads.

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Member Avatar for happygeek

That's a lot of questions, but I'll pick up on the one that I know the answer to: what type of people are on this forum?

And the answer, my friend, is 'all of the above.'

No, seriously, it is!

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