Linux has a great future ahead. It is already used as a base for many emerging technologies. Thus, the career options for Linux enthusiasts are going to increase a lot. with time.
In this article, we will be discussing about various career options that are open for Linux Enthusiasts and will be listing out resources to get started with it.
Various career options for Linux enthusiasts
1. Linux System Administrator
An administrator is responsible for the integrity and security of the servers and computer systems in accordance with established security policies and practices.
The Linux System administrator plays a prominent role in capturing, integrating, protecting, and troubleshooting Linux servers in a unique environment. The specialist performs system updates and server configuration. They are responsible for making changes in many areas from development to production.
An expert can also develop scripts in various languages, such as Bash, Python, and PHP.
Various resources for getting started with Linux System Administration are –
- Linux System Administration Basics by Linode
- Introduction to Linux (LFS101x) by The Linux Foundation
- NDG Linux Essentials by Cisco Networking Academy
- Fundamentals of Red Hat Enterprise Linux by Red Hat
2. Linux Application Developer
If you love to code, you’re opened up to many career options for Linux enthusiasts. Linux application developers design, develop, modify, and implement product software programs that focus on customer expectations, high quality, and timely delivery. A developer is also responsible for ensuring the overall effective quality of the product delivered to all required platforms. The developer must have the ability to understand complex products, solutions, and problems.
A Linux Application Developer creates, writes, and uses software builds that can involve complex workflows.
Required skills for Linux Application Developer include solid Linux kernel knowledge, Linux device drivers, good scripting knowledge (Bash), Linux Server, Web & Application Server (Tomcat, Nginx, i -Apache), as well as an understanding of applications, networks, and services.
Various resources for getting started with Linux App Development are –
- Make a Linux App Website
- Build and release a Linux app to the Snap Store by Flutter-Dev
3. Linux System Developer
Linux System developers develop and implement programs and programs on Linux through back-end processing systems used by businesses and organizations. Backend processing systems are the back-screen components of software that do not have a user interface, other than administrative purposes.
The obligations of Linux System developers include discussing client needs and the proposed solution with the chief engineer. They use development tools to write and test code to improve these solutions. They are also responsible for finding bugs, diagnosing and fixing Linux environment bugs.
Various resources for getting started with Linux System Development are –
- Bash Guide for Beginners by The Linux Development Project
- Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide by The Linux Development Project
- Intro to Linux Shell Scripting by Jason Cannon
- Linux Shell Scripting Tutorial by Vivek G. Gite
- Complete shell scripting guide by LinuxForDevices
4. Linux Kernel Developers
Linux Kernel developers are developing bootloaders and Linux kernel drivers for custom hardware design or peripherals. They modify/merge or rewrite device tree files, bootloaders, kernel drivers, or open-source packages. They analyze, debug, and fix user-mode issues reported by end customers. Linux Kernel development is not easy and requires a lot of patience and hard work.
A kernel is a critical part of an application, so it requires in-depth knowledge of a specific domain like Device Drivers and in-depth Kernel Development.
Various resources for getting started with Linux Kernel Development are –
- A Beginner’s Guide to Linux Kernel Development (LFD103) by The Linux Foundation
- The Linux Kernel documentation by The Linux Kernel Archives
- The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide by The Linux Development Project
5. Linux Systems Engineer
Linux System Engineer installs and tests Linux open-source operating systems and takes into account client needs in this area. The person also resolves user issues, deals with change management requests, and identifies potential issues through security measures. In addition, these engineers implement work processes in collaboration with others in the IT department. They need to be able to understand business infrastructure. They set up network configurations, databases, and services for the high availability of Linux programs, in addition to designing and improving OS system configuration for software packages.
The Linux system developer focuses on building one part of the system at a time. On the other hand, Linux System engineers are concerned about the structure and stability of the entire Linux system.
Various resources for getting started with System Engineering are –
- Fundamentals of Systems Engineering by MIT OpenCourseWare
- System Design playlist by Gaurav Sen
- Introduction to Systems Engineering by The University of New South Wales, Sydney
6. Linux Network Engineer
Linux Network Engineers provide assistance, construction, and problem-solving network infrastructure solutions to both internal and customer networks. They install, configure and maintain IP connection equipment from various vendors on Linux. They work directly with engineers in the field of problem-solving and networking issues in the Linux Operating System. They also established secure VPN access to client / remote networks. They should analyse and report network traffic and then take the necessary steps to improve operational reliability.
The experience of designing, operating and deploying IP networks, a strong understanding of IP communication, filtering, subnetting, and routing is highly desirable for Linux enthusiasts if they want to become a Linux Network Engineer.
Various resources for getting started with Network Engineering are –
- Computer Networking by Georgia Tech
- Networking Essentials by Cisco Networking Academy
- The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking by Google
- So You Want to be a Network Engineer? by Paul Browning
7. DevOps Engineer
Within the agile environment, engineers, program managers, and program editors can be sent messages, working on the same product but not sharing the information needed to verify value to the user.
DevOps engineers reduce that complexity, closing the gap between actions needed to quickly change an application, and tasks that maintain its integrity.
DevOps is all about integration and automation of processes, and DevOps engineers contribute to code compilation, app maintenance, and application management. All of these activities depend on understanding not only the developmental life cycles, but the DevOps culture, and its philosophy, practices, and tools.
Various resources for getting started with DevOps are –
- Getting Started with DevOps by freeCodeCamp
- Intro to DevOps by Udacity
- Roadmap for DevOps by The Roadmap
- Introduction to DevOps by The Linux Foundation
- Introduction to Kubernetes by The Linux Foundation
8. Technical Writer
Linux enthusiasts can also pursue being a writer as a career option. They can start their blogsite where they can teach Linux to others. They can share their experiences, cool tricks and tips. They can fetch revenue by managing ads on their blogsite or by using subscription policy for visitors.
Linux enthusiasts can also write for existing websites and Linux based organizations. Another option as a technical writer for Linux Enthusiasts is documentation. They can serve as a lead documentation expert in various open source Linux based organizations, where they will review documentation made by other developers or create a new documentation using their expertise of Linux and skills of technical writing.
Various resources for getting started with Technical Writing are –
- Technical Writing Course by Google
- Writing Style Guide by Microsoft
- Technical Writing Courses by Wikiversity
- Introduction to Technical Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing by MIT OpenCourseWare
The world offers an endless sea of career options for Linux enthusiasts. We also listed various free resources for you, to help you in getting started with the various careers we talked about.