Rust's presence in Hacker News job postings continues its upward trajectory, further solidifying its position as a sought-after language, particularly for backend and systems programming roles. While Python remains the most frequently mentioned language overall, its growth appears to have plateaued. C++ holds steady, maintaining a significant, though smaller, share of the job market compared to Python. The data suggests a continuing shift towards Rust for performance-critical applications, while Python retains its dominance in areas like data science and machine learning, with C++ remaining relevant for established performance-sensitive domains.
The Hacker News "Who is hiring?" trends reveal a consistent demand for software engineers, particularly back-end and full-stack developers. Remote work remains prevalent, with many companies embracing fully distributed teams. While specific technologies fluctuate, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, and React continue to be highly sought-after skills. Industries like AI/ML, DevOps, and security show increasing prominence, reflecting the evolving tech landscape. Overall, the job market depicted through these trends appears robust for skilled tech professionals, with an emphasis on adaptable and experienced individuals.
Hacker News commenters discuss the stagnation and decline of certain tech roles, particularly those related to web development and mobile. Several point out the oversaturation of these areas, contrasting it with the continued demand for specialized roles like embedded systems and hardware. Some commenters note the potential impact of AI, both in automating existing jobs and creating new, specialized AI-related roles. The increasing requirement for senior-level experience in many listings is also highlighted, with speculation about whether this reflects genuine need or simply a desire for experienced hires capable of immediate productivity. Finally, a few commenters lament the scarcity of remote opportunities outside the US, despite the purported rise of remote work.
Summary of Comments ( 84 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43111615
HN commenters discuss potential biases in the data, noting that Hacker News job postings may not represent the broader programming job market. Some point out that the prevalence of Rust, C++, and Python could be skewed by the types of companies that post on HN, likely those in specific tech niches. Others suggest the methodology of scraping only titles might misrepresent actual requirements, as job descriptions often list multiple languages. The limited timeframe of the analysis is also mentioned as a potential factor impacting the trends observed. A few commenters express skepticism about Rust's long-term trajectory, while others emphasize the importance of considering domain-specific needs when choosing a language.
The Hacker News post discussing Rust, C++, and Python job trends in February 2025 based on Hacker News job postings has a moderate number of comments, offering some interesting perspectives.
Several commenters discuss the limitations of using Hacker News job postings as a representative sample of the overall job market. They point out that Hacker News has a specific demographic and culture, skewing towards startups, specific industries (like software and web development), and a younger audience. This means the trends observed on Hacker News might not reflect the broader job market or more established companies. One commenter specifically mentions that it's not surprising to see web-adjacent languages like Python and Typescript prominently featured, given the Hacker News audience.
There's a discussion around the continued dominance of Python, with commenters acknowledging its versatility and large existing codebase. Some speculate that Python's maturity contributes to its enduring popularity, suggesting that companies with large Python codebases are more likely to seek Python developers for maintenance and expansion.
The rise of Rust is also a topic of conversation, with some commenters noting its increasing adoption in specific niches like systems programming, embedded systems, and performance-critical applications. While its overall presence is still smaller than Python or C++, the trend suggests growing interest and potential for future growth.
A few comments touch on the challenges of accurately categorizing jobs based on programming language requirements, as many positions often involve multiple languages. This adds another layer of complexity to the analysis and makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the relative demand for each language.
Finally, some users express skepticism about the methodology used in the analysis, pointing out potential biases and the limited scope of the data source. They advocate for more comprehensive studies that consider a wider range of job boards and data sources to provide a more accurate picture of the job market.