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- This is aimed more at CIS/info sys workers, and particularly at software developers.
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- I am boning up on concepts this summer since after the fall, I will have taken most of the courses relevant to computer programming at the local college, and I’ll actually have to go out and try to get a job in the field. The people I know ITRW have said “Know yer databases, and know yer Windows” and that’s about it. Their point is that I should have a general idea of how this stuff works before I arrive. Almost all say they do stuff for WinNT or 9X, with an odd command line program for various systems. When asked if I should bother learning anything about Linux, they usually say that they rarely (if ever) have had to deal with programming for it. I’m asking primarily about regions other than the midwest because that’s where I currently am; is learning about Linux a waste of my time or what?
Well kind sir, I have worked as a computer programmer in Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, Boston, New York City, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas and Colorado Springs. I all those places I used Unix, which is the language Linux is derived from. I used Linux in New York City. I used Windows NT in Austin and New York City.
Windows NT is definately used on IBM style computers, but in my opinion, a lot of the more interesting work is on Linux/Unix.
Unix/Linux is getting to be more popular. MS OS are getting to be somewhat Unix-flavored.
My own personal view? I started out using the old CP/CMS on IBM Mainframes, then went through DOS, OS/2, and now W95/NT. I have several flavors of Linux at home, that I’m learning in my spare time. Essentially, all OS have the same job to do, having to control the execution of tasks and manage the flow of data into and out of the hardware. Some do it in different ways, some do it better than others, and some have a different enough view of their function to make a difference in whether a system works well or works poorly. Having a varied background in multiple OS allows me to make better use of the OS resources available in the particular environment. Sometimes it just takes a different view of a problem for the solution to become clear; being familiar with mutliple OS and programming languages helps me to have a little different view sometimes.
Sometimes, when it’s dark, and late at night, and I’m all alone, I still write pseudocode in PL/1.
It depends. If you’re planning to go the networking carreer path, you definately need to know a bit about LINUX. Many ISP / Web Services type firms favor it. IBM even has a flavor that can run on the S390 mainframes - giving you a couple of thousand “servers” on the same box.
If you’re leaning more towards Web design or tech support, it’ll not be too important. Web designers speak in HTML and really could care less about the guts of the machine. Tech support is most for the low end users. LINUX is such a pain to set up, few newbie’s will have it.
From one deep in the networking industry: Learn some Unix. Linux/Solaris/whatever: there’s a lot of commonality, and once you’re really good with one, moving’s not that tough.
Even though Linux isn’t as big a hit as Windows, it’d still be a good idea to learn about it, just so that you have a more diverse range of knowledge to draw from.
If you want to work in databases, you’re pretty much going to have to know some Unix, and Linux is a good way to learn about it (with, perhaps, some O’Reilly books at your side.)
Microsoft does own the business desktop – no argument there. But beyond the desktop, and despite everything Microsoft has come up with to date, business still relies on Unix and mainframes for the heavy-duty database and vertical apps they depend on for day-to-day operations.
linux seems to have more versatility than windows, and is definitely helful if your going to be using something like Oracle. Unix servers are pretty common, and i find i prefer to use linux as my OS as well at home just because i can make it look that way i want, and do the things i want. Besides, nothing is a waste of time to learn.
My company, ReCare (www.recare.com), is entirely Linux based. Everyone from the HR department to the CEO. And of course, all the developers.
There are two machines that have VMware to run Windows, but we’re trying to phase those out too.