Why Learn Linux?
Let me give you the short answer: Linux runs the world, and if you want to work in tech, you can't avoid it.
That's not hype. That's just reality.
The Numbers Don't Lie
- 96.3% of the top 1 million web servers run Linux
- 100% of the world's top 500 supercomputers run Linux
- Android (Linux kernel) has 72% of the mobile market
- Every major cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Azure) defaults to Linux
- Docker, Kubernetes, most CI/CD pipelines - all Linux
When you deploy code to production, there's a 96% chance it's landing on a Linux server.
Fun Fact
Even Microsoft Azure runs more Linux VMs than Windows VMs. Let that sink in.
The Real Reason to Learn
Here's what I've observed in my career: the terminal is a multiplier.
Developers who know Linux:
- Debug production issues in minutes, not hours
- Automate repetitive tasks while others do them manually
- Actually understand what their deployment scripts do
- Don't panic when they need to SSH into a server
Developers who don't:
- Google every command
- Copy-paste without understanding
- Avoid anything involving servers
- Feel like imposters in technical discussions
Which one do you want to be?
"But I Use Mac/Windows"
Cool. Doesn't matter.
- macOS is Unix-based - same commands work
- Windows has WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) - it's literally Linux
- Cloud servers are almost always Linux regardless of your local OS
The skills you learn here work everywhere.
The Career Impact
Let me be real about the job market:
| Role | Average Salary (US) | Linux Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| DevOps Engineer | $130k - $180k | Essential |
| Site Reliability Engineer | $140k - $200k | Essential |
| Cloud Engineer | $120k - $170k | Essential |
| Backend Developer | $100k - $160k | Expected |
| Security Engineer | $130k - $190k | Essential |
| System Administrator | $80k - $120k | Essential |
Every job posting that mentions these roles assumes you know Linux. It's not even listed as a requirement - it's expected.
Certification Path
If you want formal credentials, this course maps to CompTIA Linux+ and LPIC-1 certifications. You won't be ready to pass after this course alone, but you'll have the foundation.
That's what you're working toward. The ability to jump into any server and figure out what's going on.
What You're NOT Learning
Let me be clear about what this course isn't:
- Not a Linux admin certification prep - this is practical, not theoretical
- Not comprehensive - I'm teaching you the 20% that gives you 80% of the results
- Not about memorizing - it's about understanding
What percentage of the top 1 million web servers run Linux?
Key Takeaways
- Linux powers most of the internet infrastructure
- Terminal skills are expected in most tech roles
- Your local OS doesn't matter - you need Linux skills regardless
- This course focuses on practical skills, not certification prep
Next up: let's clear up the confusion between "terminal" and "shell" - two words everyone uses interchangeably but mean different things.