The Intellectual Grunt

If you have not seen this or heard about it yet check it out here. It is only two years away. I know of many companies that are still VS2003. Although I have been using VS2008 exclusively for all my development for some time now, I have clients and colleagues alike that are fearful of some of the new language enhancements and refuse the use them. I.e. type inference, etc. I have embraced them and learned to use them properly. If type inference scares you, getting ready for dynamic object types. I also am seeing a big push from Microsoft the use of generating code from modeling. I can see much resistance to this as well. 

I'm sure that x86 assembler developers resisted when C first came about. Or C++ developers resisted when VB6 came out. Ultimately, there will always be a market for good developers, irrespective of what language tools you use. You can't learn good coding practices just because a new language tool comes out that makes constructing code easier.

My dad always told me, "It is not the tools in your toolbox that make you a good mechanic; it is how and when to use them that does."