I like to play around with LinkedIn’s Trends tool. Since I’ve been all gung ho about JavaScript lately, I wanted to get a general sense how those jobs have been trending.

Here’s the terms I used.

• C#
• Java
• JavaScript
• Objective C
• ASP.NET
• ColdFusion
• Ruby
• Python

Those are some of the biggest technologies out there. Here’s what I got and I was very surprised. JavaScript is actually the 2nd highest trending job at just over 2% of all postings. The only more prevalent term was Java at approximately 3.75%, and C# right behind JavaScript at about 1.6%. Now this is absolute numbers…

javascript,coldfusion,java,c#,asp.net,objective c,ruby,python Job Trends

Javascript jobs – Coldfusion jobs – Java jobs – C# jobs – ASP.net jobs – Objective C jobs – Ruby jobs – Python jobs

Now take a look at the relative numbers. As you can see, Ruby postings have been growing at a staggering rate compared to all others at over 2500% growth. Python and Objective C have also seen large growth in postings at over 500% growth.

JavaScript comes in at a respectable amount of growth at approximately 160%. For such a pervasive technology, especially for its age, it really goes to show how important JavaScript is as a skill for the next generation of software that will be mobile and cloud based. If you aren’t learning JavaScript as part of your tool set, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

The biggest loser, unfortunately, is ColdFusion at about 1% growth while many times in the past 4 years dropping into the negative growth realm.

javascript,coldfusion,java,c#,asp.net,objective c,ruby,python Job Trends

Javascript jobs – Coldfusion jobs – Java jobs – C# jobs – ASP.net jobs – Objective C jobs – Ruby jobs – Python jobs

Lastly, just for fun, I decided to throw Node.js into mix and see how it’s relative growth in job postings is going. All I can say is holy crap! It dwarfs everything else on the list at 4000% growth – and it took over the lead for most growth back in January and is still skyrocketing!!

javascript,objective c,node.js,ruby,python Job Trends

Javascript jobs – Objective C jobs – Node.js jobs – Ruby jobs – Python jobs

Well, I’ve scheduled my first meeting for the Pittsburgh JavaScript Developers Meetup group. Hopefully I can spread the word good enough to get some people to turn out!

Topic: Introduction to Node.js

Node.js is the hot topic du jour because it is a completely event-driven non-blocking I/O model. No thread synchronization needed, or massive memory needed because it only uses a single thread per CPU.

I’ll be giving a presentation on how to set up Node.js on your development box, and install some basic tools. Next, I’ll give a quick interactive demonstration on what event-driven non-blocking I/O means. Then I’ll show some of the cool things that you can do with Node.js such as:

• Build your own basic web server.
• Serve database-driven, dynamic content by writing JavaScript!
• Write and execute test cases for your JavaScript UI.
• And any other tasy bits I have time to write a demo for….

In my effort to start building a community of JavaScript developers in Pittsburgh, I just created a new Pittsburgh JavaScript Developers Meetup group.

I’m so excited about how JavaScript is going to be powering the tools, services and software for the next decade’s migration to mobile devices and the cloud. It’s the main reason that I accepted my newest job at Smith Micro as their Senior Web Engineer. I’ll be architecting and eventually building the Javascript-based, cross-browser, cross-device technology presentation platform for many of their products. For me, it’s the most exciting field of technology to be in at the moment.

Whomever reads this and is interested in discussing, learning, or presenting JavaScript based tools – or even know someone who is – and is in or near the Greater Pittsburgh area, I’d love to have you join and talk about what you would want out of a group like this.

The iPhone/iPad and Mobile App Developers Pittsburgh Meetup group is providing a technical overview and demonstration of the Titanium Appcelerator platform at the Smith Micro offices in McCandless.

The event is on Thursday, June 9, 2011 and will run from 7pm – 9pm in the first floor event meeting hall.

Here is what you can expect to learn at the Meetup:

An Appcelerator Senior Systems Engineer will be there and…

• Provide a high-level overview of the Titanium Architecture
• Run through the major APIs for both mobile apps, and mobile web application development
• Provide lots of demos on creating mobile apps with Titanium
• Answer your questions

Yesterday I officially completed my first full day in the office in Pittsburgh. The building that Smith Micro bought is in McCandless on Corporate Drive and has a nice view of the entire area from the 5th floor.

On the south side of the building, I can see all the way down to Mad Mex and on the north side I can see LaRoche College, Passavant Hospital and a few miles past. It really shows off how forested and beautiful this area still is even with the blight of McKnight Road passing through it.

While my house is on the market, I’m going to be staying with my folks – who live in Glenshaw – and so I have a 7 mile, 13 minute drive to work. It’s pretty damn sweet. The only downside is that their house has no central air, and with the current muggy heat wave that is passing through this area, it’s like being inside a sauna. The only reprieve is to go down into their basement for an hour to cool down.

Michelle and the girls are staying in Tennessee while the house is listed. We’ve had a couple bites, and one not-so-serious offer on it so far. Considering that it’s only been listed for about 9 days, having an offer already is encouraging progress.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to getting back in tough with all the folks I used to hang out with at Geek Night, and get to know all the new playas in town.

To that end, I’m going to be establishing a new development group in Pittsburgh. I’m calling it the Pittsburgh JavaScript Developers, and I’ve already started a LinkedIn group. Since JavaScript is a major tool that will be driving the next decade’s transition from the desktop to the cloud and mobile solutions, I think getting people together to talk about the exciting shit that’s happening with the language will be exhilarating, interesting, and just plain fun.

If you, or a friend, is a lover (or even hater, I’d love to convert you) of JavaScript, let me know.