Linux - the Operating System That Won't Go Away

The Linux operating system is something a little different from most software that is available commercially, but it may have set a pattern that will change the way that software is developed.

From Hobby to Major League

Today, Linux is seen as one of the "major league" operating systems, but it started as a non-professional project. Linus Torvalds worked at the University of Helsinki, where he used the UNIX operating system. He wanted to have something with this kind of functionality for his PC at home, so he first wrote something called Minix, but started again with Linux.

He wrote only the "kernel" of the operating system (that is: the bits that make the computer and its peripherals function together, allowing multiple applications to run at the same time).

He used other free software to add functionality to Linux operating system, mostly that written by the Free Software Foundation's GNU project. This transformed the operating system into a powerful force, allowing it to go through several development cycles and acquire all the features necessary for a fully functional UNIX type environment.

Linux Certification Adds to the Professional Aura

Today, Linux is a serious contender to industry standards in a most operating system environments. Linux now competes with other PC networking and larger commercial networking installations. You can study Linux certification programs, many of them offered online, making sure that Linux not only is accepted as an operating system, but that it also offers an accepted career path for IT professionals.

Linux certification is only a part of the acceptance picture for this modern operating system. Because the kernel is "free," many organizations have developed their own modules that can be used with Linux, giving it the kind of flexibility and growth potential, ensuring it will be in use as an operating environment through the many development cycles of computing and networking.

About the Author
Mary Hobson is a consultant for technology start-ups in Russia. She has also worked as an executive officer in a defense facility and as a university lecturer in computer science and management information. Mary earned her first degree in textile marketing and subsequently studied education and computer science at a Master's degree level.