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SD Times
February 2022
www.sdtimes.com
An expert on the operating system tells why she thinks the kernel is so important
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ast month, the Linux kernel turned 30. If you’re someone who’s been immersed in the Linux world since Y2K like me, it may feel a bit surreal that so much time has passed since the kernel’s inception. As a training architect at A Cloud Guru (ACG), I teach courses about all things Linux and specialize in handson, lab-based learning. Before joining ACG, I worked as a Unix systems engineer at GE and IBM as well as Technical Account Manager and customer advocate for Red Hat. I’m hugely passionate about Linux because of its importance to my career, just like to the careers of so many other engineers and Linux enthusiasts. In its 30 years of existence, the Linux kernel has had a massive impact on the modern computing landscape — revolutionizing what’s possible for operating systems and allowing countless tinkerers to get their hands dirty in the process. Linux has also become the foundation of paradigm shifting innovations over the years due to its everevolving nature. To commemorate 30 years of Linux, I’m sharing some of the key reasons why the kernel is so valuable and why it will continue to be a major player in the computing landscape for years to come.
BY CARA NOLTE
My Linux journey My first exposure to Linux was in college in 1999. I took an introductory Unix Shell Scripting class and Fedora was installed on the lab servers because it was free and easily scalable. I view Linux as my entry-point into customizable operating systems. After learning basic Unix commands on Linux, I ultimately went on to pursue a career supporting multiple commercial Unix vendors. As Linux made its way into larger Enterprise level companies, I quickly returned to working with Linux distributions. Something I’ve always loved about Linux is the capacity to fine tune your system to support the applications and distros that work best for your projects. Linux improves the functionality of whatever applications you’re running. The Linux kernel has literally changed how the world processes information, which is why I’m so invested in the software. Now, it’s my job to share my knowledge and passion about Linux to other technologists. At ACG, I develop courses to help aspiring Linux experts learn how to optimize their systems. Additionally, I contribute to “Linux this
Cara Nolte is a Training Architect at A Cloud Guru, A Pluralsight Company. She is a distinguished engineer with nearly 15 years experience with leading tech companies including Red Hat, GE Digital, IBM and more.
Month,” an ACG-hosted web series that provides monthly updates from the global Linux community. The fact that I am able to build a career around teaching Linux and staying up to date with Linux news shows the vast uses and applications of the kernel. What makes Linux so unique and evergreen is its open-source nature - Linux innovations are only limited by the creativity of the technologists who use and adapt it.
The open-source effect When Linux first arrived, it was mostly a hobby for enthusiastic engineers and Computer Science students who could contribute by developing code. The steep learning curve associated with fitting Linux to your machine was a barrier for more novice programmers. Over time, this has changed considerably. Online forums, workshops, and classes have made Linux more accessible to the average internet user. The free sharing of ideas has come to epitomize the open-source community, and for software engineers, Linux is at the heart of this community. This democratization of Linux has had incredibly positive impacts on the computing world. Now, Linux is everywhere. Enterprise level companies use Linux distributions to process the biggest production workloads in the world. It has replaced proprietary commercial Unix operating systems in very large compa-
