Can you live on Linux? My point of view and personal experience
A little over a month ago, we published a great motivational post, called Can you live on Linux as LinuxTuber in the year 2023 and beyond? And since it was very well appreciated by readers and the Linux community in general, I have decided, as many have asked me, to give my personal opinion and tell my own experience about this particular, that is, about whether you can make a living from Linux as an IT professional today.
Of course, my opinion and personal experience is in no way focused on the experience that anyone could have as Linux YouTuber (LinuxTuber), since, personally, I do not usually create Linux and technological content in this format, that is, in videos. My experience and opinion is more based on more normal or traditional things, such as continuous self-training, formal university study, specialized study in Linux and formal work experience in the IT field within companies and organizations during the last 20 years of my professional life.
The LinuxBlogger TAG: Linux Post Install by DesdeLinux
So, here I go with my opinion and experience. But since, the logical thing would be to start with a little context about me Without having to clutter this publication with unnecessary data, I will only add that with almost 50 years and a profession Systems Engineer, plus some national and international certifications, such as, for example, Certified Linux Operator and Certified Linux Administrator, I understand and handle the basics and a little more, about technology in general, and the field of Free Software, Open Source and GNU/Linux.
While for more additional context, I invite you to read the previous related publication after finishing this one:
Living on Linux: Is it possible or not? Myth or Reality
Now entering fully into what really matters in this article, that is, my experience and my opinionWell, in a direct, clear and brief way my answer is yes. But, since much more context or details are always needed to fully understand a situation or response, here are the details:
My personal experience with Linux
First 10 years
Before getting to know GNU/Linux for the first time, around 2006Obviously, my professional life in the technological field was focused on the field of Windows and proprietary, closed and commercial software. And regardless of the jobs you hold during those times, everything was with Windows. And I was a Printing and Imaging Equipment Technician (Microfilms, Plotters and Printers), Support Analyst for Telephone Charging Systems, Technical Specialist for Telephone Exchanges, Siemens and Panasonic.
However, in one of the organizations where I provide my professional services, such as Telephone area administrator (Network and Telephone Central), they used GNU/Linux and that made me very curious, since, for me, everything revolved around Windows. So, I started my self-training, starting with Knoppix, which at that time came in live format (CD Live) and then OpenSuse.
Until today
After a while, seeing my interest in learn and master GNU/Linux, the organization allowed me to be part of the Technology Support team without abandoning my responsibilities inherent to the telephone area. And in less than 2 years, I was already one of the support analysts with the greatest command of GNU/Linux, and over time I was paid for the corresponding national and international certifications, and I went on to train many of the new personnel who entered the Department of technological support from the Information Technology Directorate.
Over the years, within the same organization, I briefly became a SysAdmin, with the respective improvements in income and benefits. Then move to another organization under the title of Technical Support Department (Office) Supervisor, and where almost the entire user computer platform was with GNU/Linux. Of course, with improvements in income and benefits. Finally, and as the years went by, in another very small organization I became Director of the Technology Office, where almost the entire platform was also GNU/Linux.
In parallel, by 2006, I had become contributor (content writer) here at Desde Linux. Which, for me, has been a great pride and pleasure during these almost 7 years. In addition, it is something beneficial, since, like everything in this life, it generates an honest, humble and well-deserved income. And it comes from me knowledge acquired about Free Software, Open Source and GNU/Linux.
And finally, and given that, occasionally, I usually participate and help third parties with Linux problems and activities., both online and in person; or I usually have fun creating Respins and Scripts for educational purposes for the Community, since this is sometimes also rewarded with small and valuable contributions from them.
Summary: My personal opinion regarding living off Linux as an IT professional
In short, certainly, I have not become rich or a millionaire because know, learn, master and teach about Free Software, Open Source and GNU/Linux, but my life as an IT professional advanced a lot after doing it. And today, it remains the pillar of my professional IT activities, whatever you are doing or should do.
So, my short, clear and concise answer is, Of course, you can "Live on Linux as an IT professional" in the middle of the year 2023. It is another thing, when the beautiful and respected job of content creator on YouTube, Part or full-time. For which, it also requires a lot of effort, knowledge and dedication. What makes them equally deserving of their fair monetary remuneration from their Community that follows them and consumes their content.
Consequently, if you still don't know anything about Free Software, Open Source and GNU/Linux, my healthy and useful advice is that, regardless of your current studies, job, profession and life plans, know and learn to use them. While, yes your future will be based on being an IT professional, this advice is even more vital, since every day more Companies and organizations require highly qualified IT personnel in this area of technology.
Lastly, remember visit our «homepage» en español. Or, in any other language (just by adding 2 letters to the end of our current URL, for example: ar, de, en, fr, ja, pt and ru, among many others) to learn more current content. And also, you can join our official channel Telegram to explore more news, guides and tutorials. And also, has this group to talk and learn more about any IT topic covered here.
My work is more in scientific research, in my case the question would be: Could I live without Linux?
The answer is no.
It's what we use all day. On laptops, desktops, servers and clusters.
Greetings, Jaime. Well yes, I imagine. At the level of scientific research and high-level computing, the use of Linux is even more widespread. So, in that case, the “not being able to live without Linux” applies very well. Thank you for your comment, and I'm glad you liked the article.