Everyone told me to learn React and Node. Here is why I chose C# and the Microsoft ecosystem instead.
When I started learning to code, I heard the same advice everywhere: "Learn the MERN Stack."
Everyone said learn MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js. It was the cool thing to do. It seemed like every bootcamp and every YouTube tutorial was about MERN.
So, I learned it. I built projects with JavaScript. I learned about hooks and components.
But when it was time to find a real job—a career that pays the bills—I made a different choice. I pivoted to .NET.
Here is why I bet my career on "boring" Microsoft tech in 2026, and why I think it was the best decision I ever made.
1. The "Crowd" Problem
Right now, the entry-level market for MERN developers is incredibly crowded.
If you post a React job on LinkedIn, you get 500 applicants in one hour. Why? Because MERN is often the first thing people learn in bootcamps. It is accessible, which is good, but it means you are competing with everyone.
With .NET, the crowd is smaller. It takes a bit more discipline to learn C# and SQL Server. Because fewer people are learning it, there is less competition for junior roles. I didn’t want to be one of 1,000 applicants; I wanted to be one of 50.
2. Stability vs. Trends
MERN is popular with startups. Startups are exciting, but they can also be unstable.
.NET is the king of the "Enterprise." Big banks, insurance companies, healthcare systems, and huge logistics companies run on .NET.
These companies aren't going anywhere. They have money, they have long-term projects, and they need developers who can maintain robust systems. In 2026, with the economy being unpredictable, I wanted safety. I wanted to work for a company that has been around for 20 years, not a startup that might run out of cash next month.
3. C# is Beautifully Structured
JavaScript is flexible. Sometimes, it is too flexible. You can do anything, which means you can also break things easily.
C# is strictly typed. It forces you to write cleaner code. The compiler tells you when you are making a mistake before you run the app.
As a junior developer, this is a lifesaver. It helps me understand exactly what data is moving through my application. It makes debugging easier. I spend less time wondering "why is this variable undefined?" and more time building features.
4. The Tooling (Visual Studio vs. VS Code)
I love VS Code. It’s lightweight and fast.
But Visual Studio (the big purple one) is a powerhouse. The debugger, the testing tools, and the integration with SQL Server are on another level.
When you work in .NET, everything just works together. You don't have to hunt for fifty different plugins to get your environment running. Microsoft gives you everything you need in one box.
The Verdict
I still like JavaScript. It’s fun. But I don’t treat my career like a hobby.
I chose .NET because I wanted a career with:
- Less competition for junior roles.
- More stability in big companies.
- Better structure to help me grow as a developer.
The "cool" choice isn't always the smart choice. Sometimes, the best bet you can make is on the technology that runs the real world.
Thanks for reading!
I am Sandip Yadav, a .NET Developer Intern sharing my real-world journey in the tech industry.
What do you think? Did you choose MERN or .NET? Do you think I made the right choice for 2026? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your perspective!
Follow me for more easy-to-understand articles on SQL, C#, and surviving your first year as a developer.
Top comments (0)