I'm an Application Developer, Can I Move on to Linux System Programming?

Why not, in my experience half of the students whoSystem programming is tough, should I stick to
join our training courses have this background. Most ofapplication development which is easier?
these students do have this question in common andNever term anything tough unless you have personally
this forced me to write this article.experienced great difficulty using it or working with it.
These are the questions they often ask before joiningMost students who come to me and say this are
us:basically speaking what they hear (mostly from people
All my years as an application developer will not countwho are not system developers). System
if I chose system development?programming is definitely easier if taught in the right
Absolutely wrong, if you look back on your ownmanner and surely it is by far the most exciting things
career what you call experience is just the way youto learn.
have matured in the area of software development.Will there be opportunities for me once I complete your
And this experience fully counts irrespective of thetraining program?
domain you chose, be it system or applicationYes, talent always gets recognized. What you need to
development. The difference comes with the way youdo after the training is simple: start working on system
use new software or programming languages. So ifprogramming projects, there are plenty of open
you have decided to take up system programmingprojects going on which are begging for freelance
then consider your programming experience to beprogrammers, you can join these projects and
counted and what remains, is to learn specific systemsimultaneously carry out this with your current jobs.
development skills in the least possible timeThis directly bestows two benefits to you:
I'm on windows or other platforms can I adjust to•Will get you the most needed experience, working
Linux?on system development projects
Understanding an OS is the key to system•Will add more credibility and employment
programming, suppose you were working on OS likeopportunities, as freelance code contributors are
windows you current knowledge on it will definitely actmostly preferred in the software industry now
as a starting point for you to take a deep plunge intoFinal word
the depths of an open OS like Linux. Your currentIt's up to you to make the final call but remember
understanding will help you see the comparativenothing is difficult or impossible.
difference of working on multiple OSs