Are you a linux expert?

[snarkout]

Ok - there's a guy at my work who just started, but has already managed to get on my tits several times. I'm not going to go into detail, since it's boring and catty, but during a recent conversation he remarked that he considers himself to be a linux expert (even though, instead of dealing with a linux related issue himself, he passed it to me to deal with).

Though highly dubious of his claim, it did get me thinking -- what does it take to call yourself an expert? I spend a great deal of my time reading about and working with linux, I listen to technology shows instead of music in my car for the most part, and I'm a linux admin by day. I would not, however, ever consider my level of knowledge to be expert. I'm wondering a) what is your definition of an expert, and b) whether you would consider yourself one.

Personally, I feel that unless you're able to hack the kernel, you aren't a linux expert. Full stop. But that's just me. To admin a box doesn't take expertise (though it would be a bonus), it simply takes adequate knowledge.

[Tsuroerusu]

To me, a Linux expert is a guy who understands how the system works and can set it up from the command line (Gentoo/Arch style).

You might even wanna include some BSD knowledge in the can too.

[Mortuis]

The problem I've noticed with computers is that the more you learn, the more you become aware of what you don't know. I feel like I don't know hardly a damn thing about computers, but to everyone I know personally, save a couple, I am a computing deity.

[Patrick]

To me, a Linux expert is a guy who understands how the system works and can set it up from the command line (Gentoo/Arch style).

If you can install Gentoo or Arch it means you can follow the How-To and it's well written. While I'm not crazy about Gentoo their documentation is excellent.

[treehead]

...While I'm not crazy about Gentoo their documentation is excellent.

;yes... i think other distros could take a cue from gentoo in this respect. call gentoo rocket science if you want, but as a total newb i was able to bootstrap a system from phase 1 using their documentation.

;treehead

[treehead]

;as for the topic of "experts," there is no such thing. anyone that i have ever considered an "expert" at computers (or anything else, for that matter) has had no concept whatsoever of the idea applying to themself. we use the term "expert" to apply to those individuals who are seemingly in command of knowledge vastly greater than our own. the instant you attempt to apply the term to yourself, you have already defined yourself a fool.

;true experts are too busy doing to even care what they are... tell your "expert" friend that he needs to take a class in humility and maybe visit catb.org to find out what a real linux expert is and may how to become one.

;incidently, if we're naming experts, tsutomu shimomura is one of the best computer experts i know of.

;treehead

[Judland]

From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Expert;
:having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience.

:one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.

I think we, at this forum, can all call ourselves Linux experts of some degree.

As Mortuis mentioned, it's all relative to who you're comparing yourself too. In the world of computers and technology, there's always someone who knows more.

[Gomer_X]

My opinion (which is worth as much as you're paying for it):

You're a Linux expert if you:

• 1) are not scared by fdisk
  2) can use either vi or emacs at a proficient level
  3) haved hacked applications on your system to fix bugs or add features in at least 2 languages (C/C++ and something else)
  4) have built a working Linux system from source. Gentoo stage 1 counts, and working = you can log in
  5) have hacked a makfile to get something to compile
  6) head to man pages first when you need information
  7) have installed and confugred both apache (httpd) and sendmail
  8) have a machine that you log into exclusively using SSH

That's all I can think of at the moment

[treehead]

think we, at this forum, can all call ourselves Linux experts of some degree.

Code: Select all

# [ treehead = expert] && echo $?
1

there's always someone who knows more.

;exactly.

... You're a Linux expert if you:
1) are not scared by fdisk

;what if i'm not scared of fdisk, but i'm scared of cfdisk? seriously.

2) can use either vi or emacs at a proficient level

;define "proficient."

6) head to man pages first when you need information

;does running to the man pages and NOT FINDING ANY INFORMATION count??

8) have a machine that you log into exclusively using SSH

;wait-- does this make you an expert... or just lazy? :P

Code: Select all

# links http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

;treehead

[Tsuroerusu]

To me, a Linux expert is a guy who understands how the system works and can set it up from the command line (Gentoo/Arch style).

If you can install Gentoo or Arch it means you can follow the How-To and it's well written. While I'm not crazy about Gentoo their documentation is excellent.

Well, I was kind of reffering to not using the howtos but just having it "in memory" or something like that

Anyway, when I use the word "expert" I actually use it more as a token of respect rather than a way to define a certain level of skills, for example I think all of us would call Linus Torvalds or Jordan Hubbard operating system experts, but again, I don't personally know exactly what level of knowledge they have and I think there are some things they don't know.

[Wally Balljacker]

The problem I've noticed with computers is that the more you learn, the more you become aware of what you don't know. I feel like I don't know hardly a damn thing about computers, but to everyone I know personally, save a couple, I am a computing deity.

lol, exactly.

[Gomer_X]

2) can use either vi or emacs at a proficient level

;define "proficient."

I didn't consider myself proficient in Vim until I learned to use registers and macros efficiently. Writing your own syntax highlighting would be a plus, but I haven't gotten to that yet.

Emacs... haven't got a clue. Use Vim!!

6) head to man pages first when you need information

;does running to the man pages and NOT FINDING ANY INFORMATION count??

Anything that isn't in man you should be able to figure out without docs!

8 ) have a machine that you log into exclusively using SSH

;wait-- does this make you an expert... or just lazy?

It's harder to remotely administer a box than to walk into the other room and log in (except if the box is headless or in another city).

[snarkout]

Code: Select all

# [ treehead = expert] && echo $?
1

See, it's stuff like this. I routinely write bash scripts at work to do backups and other things, and can generally read most bash code. I think this makes me a person who can string together stuff in bash, not a bash expert. I've taken a (terrible) class in C, but other than that, I haven't done a damn bit of coding (unless you count html, which I suck at, too).

Also, I've stopped using the man pages, generally, as a first stop since so often google is a much better resource. Sure, the man pages will tell you about that switch you need, but they won't tell you about commonly known caveats, or resolve known issues with the init script you're banging on.

I'm glad that most people have chosen the best option in this poll though .

[CptnObvious999]

Im not old enough to drink beer

[snarkout]

Im not old enough to drink beer

That shouldn't stop you from liking it!