Linux/programming career options

[tedstriker3]

Hi,

I'm interested in working with Linux and other Operating systems, and was wondering if any of you are programmers professionally? what would you focus on as a starting point for a complete newb like me? Thanks in advance for your constructive feedback!

[fletcher]

I started a company with the goal of helping other people switch to Linux. I did a very poor job on my website, so I have not had any clients yet. But I am going to get everything worked out.

My company is also going to sell custom computers, do web development (of course, the class I am in for that right now uses Adobe and I do not have the option to learn MySQL at college, will have to do that independently), and sell shirts and bumper stickers with Linux and sci-fi inspired themes and phrases.

It is not programming, but it will be working with Linux. For programming, the main option of which I know is being a sysadmin or running a server, since those are the common places to find Linux. Those jobs, I think, are not really for people just starting out.

[pompom]

Welcome to Linux Mint!

There are many fine opportunities for making money with Linux. Programming is just one "facet" on a brilliant gem. You have to hold it up to the light to see it sparkle, if it is lying all covered in mud, thousands of people will walk past it without really knowing they are already knee deep in Linux doing casual surfing, banking, search engine quarrying, etc. When I run a query on Monster.com under "Linux Programming" I find 5 hits, some quite obscure requirements glare at me. On the other hand, when I submit Linux+ Certified as the keyword in the next big town near me, I have 117 hits, some quite lucrative. These Linux+ jobs also require programming, namely system programming with things like BASH, MySQL, Postgres, and so on down the food chain, Javascript, XML, Java, Ruby, Perl, Websphere, fill in your favorite platform and language, it's all in there. Even folks at Mozilla have job openings. How many calories would you like? There are only two questions that you need to answer: 1) What do you like to do? 2) In what can you make good money, if you were to do what you like? If you are hands-on person, putting hardware together, programming less than 15% of the time, if you like pulling things apart and putting them together, a systems administration is the job for you. If you are good in math and you like abstract reasoning, statistics, and the like, hardcore programming will make you rich. You need to focus more on project management making 20% of your career, and versatility in more than one language. There are so many opportunities. Don't let anyone persuade you Linux is just for some obscure weekend enthusiasts.

With kind regards,

pompom

[DrHu]

Linux has taken over from UNIX, so UNIX systems work is available, except the requirements can be either professional certifications or degrees in Computer Science
--the manufacturers have positions, eg HP, IBM (they have their ZOS /Linux sty stem, Novell and Red Hat), all possibilities

The route would be..

• Qualify yourself in some aspect of the OSS movement
  --either as a develop(programmer) author, blogger or creatior of a Linux distribution on a professional level, that is not as a me too, I made this linux distro (changed screens, used different installation options, let me know how you like it , there is a survey you can answer Try and avoid such amature tactics
• Specialize
  --scripting, web development in PHP for example (which may well use Linux as a server system)
  --An ISP, if they have a Linux base or are asking for expertise in that OS
  --DB (database), such as postgsql or mysql or consulting in sql or a commercial DB, such as Oracle
  --Mobile apps, eg Googl;e's android or even Apple's Iphone, if you wAnted to develope on Linux you could; or Apple Air system (competition for flash)

Be aware that trends are where you can make the most $dollars, as in being ahead of the curve, so for now that might be netbooks or mobile apps on smartphones..

It is mainly a matter of specializing in some trendy area of computing or gadgets or mobile devices and becoming an expert in such an area
--if you don't want to be chasing trends, get a degree (although companies today also look for skill sets, not just theory or knowledge); hence the need for becoming a specialist

[tedstriker3]

Cool, thanks for the replies guys.

I've recently decided to quit my current job and go back to school. I've always tinkered with computers, and will pursue a computer science degree. I'm a creative person, so network admin/database work would drive me crazy. consumer products or software/gaming, animation is my interest. We'll see where it goes. I appreciate your feedback, and enjoy reading about others who are also interested in this area. Thanks again.

[jesica]

and what if you want to do network security

what will be the best things to study under what distro

I have my LPI101 and are busy with my LPI102

[darethehair]

I'm a creative person, so network admin/database work would drive me crazy.

I smiled to myself when I read this statement

I was a DBA (database analyst/administrator) for 23 years, and I tend to agree with you that -- on its own -- there wasn't very much room for 'creativity' in that career. However, since a large slice of my CompSci degree had been 'programming', I took *every* opportunity that I could to add 'programming' to my daily job. In the end, I wrote hundreds of apps in support of my job and those of my DBA peers. Not only did it help to dramatically improve our productivity and consistency, but it kept my creative juices flowing (I could give many examples, but they would be meaningless to non-DBAs). This started on the 'mainframe', and when we introduced 'unix' to our environment, I was 'off to the races' since I was already using Linux at home. Looking back, 99.9% of my 'programming' was using 'scripted' languages, rather than 'compiled' ones -- but I have no regrets at all doing so. Now, at home, not only do I continue to use 'bash' and 'awk', but 'Python' does the 'heavy lifting' of my app writing

[louie1961]

check this article from CIO magazine:

http://www.cio.com/article/657679/Linux ... omyId=3123

[macy77]

Hi,

I'm interested in working with Linux and other Operating systems, and was wondering if any of you are programmers professionally? what would you focus on as a starting point for a complete newb like me? Thanks in advance for your constructive feedback!

Programming is a really great field to be in! It requires a lot of special and unique skill that only a few can maintain. What type of experience do you have in programming/computers? Have you had any formal education or work experience? Even though you're new, you might be already very knowledge and you just don't know yet!

Here's a couple of resources that I found that may help you get started:
1. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos303.htm - if you're definitley looking into this as a career, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks down the entire job for you on what it looks like to be in the industry
2. http://www.freeos.com/guides/lsst/ - this is a beginner's guide to Linux
3. http://www.onlinecomputersciencedegree.com/ - a CS degree can help you land some positions that require a bachelor's in web development
4. http://courses.cs.vt.edu/csonline/OS/Lessons/index.html - and a basic step by step guide for OS's

Being a professional programmer takes a lot of work and time, but it really is a rewarding profession if you are truly passionate about computers and technology!

[sgosnell]

Android is the up and coming spinoff of Linux, IMO. Smartphones are where the money is now, and will be in the near future. Learn to program for Android, and you should be able to make money.

[Habitual]

--An ISP, if they have a Linux base or are asking for expertise in that OS

A couple of years being a Ticket Jockey (yes, SysAdmins have to do Tickets too) is the fast track to a "Can do, will do, KungFu!"