To go Linux, will it be around in the future?

[Oakenfold]

Hi all,
I broke down and got myself a copy of linux finally, I haven't had time to install and play yet but here's my question.
I'm debating on self schooling myself linux and going back to school for my MCSE after finishing my BA in business administration.
Is learning linux truly worth it, my teacher at school states many large companies use it to run things such as web servers, should I invest the time or do you think MS will truly take over? I'm looking for opinions from everyone here, what do you think?

 

[Nothinman]

Linux will always be around because it's not maintained by some company that can be bought out.

Whether it's in widespread use in the future is the question, and by the way things are going so far it's looking pretty good for Linux. And even so if you learn Linux you can easily move to Solaris, HP-UX, Tru64, any of the BSDs, etc so you're not just learning one OS.

Windows' future would be teh one I'd question, especially with all the moves to Internet services and if .Net works like MS advertises you'll be able to run Windows programs on Linux because it'll have a .Net CLR.

 

[DaHitman]

Well... Contrary to popular believe WINDOWS is NOT the most popular server operating system... in fact its only used on only 30% of web servers on the net..

According to IDC/Dataquest/Gartner UNIX/LINUX server still has more marketshare than Windows servers...

Windows is used more than any other desktop yes... but servers its not.



<<
if .Net works like MS advertises >>



Well.. we are starting to find out once people look into it, that all is not quite what you are led to believe... for instance .NET IS NOT language independant like microsoft has been saying.. like all things microsoft.. its is a lot of shniola put on what is really the truth.
One Runtime to Bind Them All

 

[Chatterjee]

It's worth your time.

The .Net framework is being mimicked in the Mono projected headed by de Icaza of Ximian, Evolution, Gnumeric, Gimp fame. He's got his head screwed on straight and has some good focused ideas on what makes a good solution.

With Microsoft pushing .Net applications and the Mono project maturing at the same time, this can only mean good news for Linux users (and migrators) since apps have a better chance of working in Linux now.

That said, Linux is going to push into the server market in more ways than just the web server arena. Database servers, file servers, and samba domain controllers are all being used (or being considered) in the corporate arena to lower costs. Companies like Veritas and BMC that make server-monitoring solutions are porting their applications to Linux (or building fresh for Linux apps).

With Kylix, RAD comes to the scene and thereby makes the chances of Linux apps sprout.

I'm pumped about all this activity. You should be too.

 

[fregac]

In my opinion basic UNIX and Linux skills are one of the most fundamental things anybody who works with computers seriously should have. A huge portion of the machines I deal with every day run some form of *nix, and there are a huge amount of applications where I can't imagine wanting to use anything else. It WILL stick around, if for no other reason than the price (free). I'm assuming you bought a RedHat retail package, FYI if you want you can download CD-ROM images of just about any distro of Linux free (and legally) due to its licensing stucture.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I didnt read the entire thread, I know thats bad of me, but Im a little impaired right now. I read Nothinman and DaHitman's replies because I respect both of them (sorry to the others, I didnt pay attention to who else posted, I will read it when I wake up Im sure). Since learning UNIX-like OSes (the little I know) I have gotten 2 jobs. Both are beyond my qualifications really, but I have been able to BS my way through them enough to keep them and learn. Best career move I ever made was to switch to UNIX-like OSes. I also dont get frustrated with my computer as much anymore

 

[AkumaBao]

NVidia use's a Linux server to help with the production of thier prcessors. Linux will always be around. It's definatly worth using. You'll learn more about PC just installing the darn thing. It's never bad to learn a UNIX-based OS. Most the places around here, you need to know at least Linux to work for them, otherwise you have to know UNIX inside and out.

 

[CaptainBill]

I want to learn linux and I've heard to start out, I should start out with a harder Distro of Linux like debian or slackware...should I?

 

[FUBAR]

You can go either way, there's 2 clear schools of thought on the subject.

1. Trial by fire: Pick the hardest one out there and you'll have to learn most everything on the way in. Reinstall several times to get it correctly working. Good for someone who needs to get in quick

2. Get your feet wet and progress at your own speed. Pick an easier distro and get it up running. Take your own path and learn what you feel comfortable. Good for someone living in a dual boot world or someone who wants a working system above all else.

I prefer 2 just because that's what I did.

 

[capybara]

m$ all the markethsare trends and downward
*nix all the marketshares are trending upwards fast!
who would you predict wont be around 20 years from now?
captBill: mandrake 8.1 is perfect for newbies like myself, all the buttons are in the same place as in windoze. try it and youll never go back to m$ products.
linux: smarter, faster, better, and free!

 

[BlitzRommel]

<< You can go either way, there's 2 clear schools of thought on the subject.

1. Trial by fire: Pick the hardest one out there and you'll have to learn most everything on the way in. Reinstall several times to get it correctly working. Good for someone who needs to get in quick

2. Get your feet wet and progress at your own speed. Pick an easier distro and get it up running. Take your own path and learn what you feel comfortable. Good for someone living in a dual boot world or someone who wants a working system above all else.

I prefer 2 just because that's what I did. >>



I also chose door #2 with the help of SuSE 7.3 Pro -- if you buy a Distro, this is the way to go. You get very comprehensive manuals. While installing very "nicely", it allowed me to do a lot of things manually, and learning along the way. I'm still learning.

 

[Electrode]

Well, the way I see it, no OS lasts forever, but Linux will be around long after Windows is forgotten. The reason being that Windows is, by design, inseperably bound to the existance of Microsoft, a company whose unethical and illegal business practices will cause it to go the way of Enron in not too long.

 

[NorthenLove]

As long as there are people who enjoy programming in a open and free operating system *NIX in general will be around. When that stops happening well that will
be the end of all free *NIX's.

 

[NorthenLove]

<< It's worth your time.

The .Net framework is being mimicked in the Mono projected headed by de Icaza of Ximian, Evolution, Gnumeric, Gimp fame. He's got his head screwed on straight and has some good focused ideas on what makes a good solution.

With Microsoft pushing .Net applications and the Mono project maturing at the same time, this can only mean good news for Linux users (and migrators) since apps have a better chance of working in Linux now.

That said, Linux is going to push into the server market in more ways than just the web server arena. Database servers, file servers, and samba domain controllers are all being used (or being considered) in the corporate arena to lower costs. Companies like Veritas and BMC that make server-monitoring solutions are porting their applications to Linux (or building fresh for Linux apps).

With Kylix, RAD comes to the scene and thereby makes the chances of Linux apps sprout.

I'm pumped about all this activity. You should be too. >>



LoL - This is of course if M$ doesn't mind MONO competing with them. As I see they want to get as many people on .Net as possiable in the beginning so later on they
will have no choice but to continue on the M$ only path or be extended or embraced right out of the market. Also Miguel de Icaza is facing open rebellion as well from Gnome
coders who feel that he does not represent/speak for all of them in anyway shape or form when it comes to collaborating with .NET.

 

[Nothinman]

This is of course if M$ doesn't mind MONO competing with them.

But it's not really competetion, sure it competes with their OS sales a bit but if mono works well on Linux they'll have more platforms to sell their big money makers on, like Office and Exchange.

 

[Chatterjee]

The fact that Microsoft would want to "compete" with Mono would prove that Microsoft is concerned that Linux is a major threat to Windows.

de Icaza has some pretty good ideas as to how to fight Microsoft. I believe that it comes from a pseudo-"if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy. But that's a temporary strategy. I read an article/interview with de Icaza and his strategy is:

- develop Mono until it parallels (or comes close to .Net)
- introduce .Net developers to Mono without a steep learning code
- code that compiles on Windows can compile on Linux (more software on Linux)

The most interesting thing the de Icaza has is "logical hate" of Microsoft. He says that Microsoft has some very good ideas (due to spending billions of dollars on research) and that Linux advocates should make a couple of good inferences and go with that when developing Linux-based technologies.


"Good artists borrow. Great artists steal."

 

[NorthenLove]

<< This is of course if M$ doesn't mind MONO competing with them.

But it's not really competetion, sure it competes with their OS sales a bit but if mono works well on Linux they'll have more platforms to sell their big money makers on, like Office and Exchange. >>




Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers,..................................................................................................

 

[Sunner]

LOL!
NorthernLove, assuming you're referring to what I think you are, DAMN that video is funny.

Seriously, what do you think he took before he did that?

I know I'd have to smoke some strong stuff to do that

 

[NorthenLove]

<< LOL!
NorthernLove, assuming you're referring to what I think you are, DAMN that video is funny.

Seriously, what do you think he took before he did that?

I know I'd have to smoke some strong stuff to do that >>



LoL - I was expecting him to do some sort of cartwheel or back flip at one point in that video.

 

[Sunner]

Got a download link, I've lost the video?