Suggestion regarding choosing the right platform.

I can't comment on what the relative job opportunities are in the respective marketplaces as I haven't used Java in 10 years. Check out loads of recruiters websites and see what hits you!

On the other question about whether you should move back... 7 months isn't a lot of time to get up to speed with a previously unknown language, a new development culture AND a new codebase. So it might not just be the lack of comfort with C++, the whole experience might be dragging you down.

First off it takes to become a good C++ programmer [1]. You're going through the "Things are so much easier in language X..." or "This works in language X, why not in this godforesaken language????" stage. It isn't helped by Java and C++ being such close cousins in terms of syntax and that you're having to learn on the job. I have the same problem every time I learn a new language as well.

So if you're not comfy with it at the mo it might get easier - as you learn more C++, you realise what it can do that Java can't (and vice versa). Or you might get so pissed off that you'd rather cut your hands off rather than type another #include directive, I don't know in your case :-)

However if you decide to leave though make sure you know why you're leaving. You might end up in a job that sounds better but is, in fact complete rubbish. That's happened to me a few times now - you get there and find that while they're using some tech you like there's some really weird restrictions on it's use because of what was current in the dark ages (which is about 1990 in development)[2].

Anyway, the message I'm trying to get across is be careful before moving, it might bite and C++ will (probably/hopefully) get (a lot) easier in the end.

Cheers,

Ash - the rambling C++ programmer

[1] It took me 10 years before I was thinking, "Hey, I'm alright at this!" and even now, 11 years after that, I'm still amazed at what I don't know. I am a slow learner though.

[2] For example loads of managers I've worked for learnt C++ in the 1990s and they got very scared by it. They try and face that fear by coming out with coding standards that try to stop you using the language. I imagine the Java equivalent is out there as well - "No Generics! We didn't have those in 1995 so why should you have them? And all interfaces must use AWT."