Why Learn Linux?
"Do I really need Linux commands?"
"Isn't GUI sufficient?"
These are common questions from beginners. However, from the perspective of someone with practical experience, whether you understand Linux significantly affects your career options and evaluation. This article organizes the reasons and specific benefits.
Linux is the Foundation of IT Infrastructure
- Many of the world's supercomputers use Linux.
- Web servers, cloud infrastructure, and major technologies like Docker and Kubernetes are all based on Linux.
- Job postings often mention "Linux experience welcome" or "required."
While application development alone limits career breadth, mastering Linux significantly expands the job types you can apply for and the tasks you can handle.
Impact on Career and Salary
The following is just an example and doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. However, the general trend can be organized as follows.
| Level | Salary Range (Example) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| No Experience | ¥3-4M (~$22-30K) | Mainly web and testing work |
| Entry~Basic | ¥3.5-4.5M (~$26-33K) | Server operations and support possible |
| Practical Application | ¥4-5.5M (~$30-40K) | Can handle operations, monitoring, automation |
| Professional Level | ¥5M+ (~$37K+) | Core personnel handling design and troubleshooting |
Learning Linux simply "increases what you can do," making it easier to improve your chances for job changes and raises.
Specific Benefits in Daily Work
- Improved Work Efficiency
For example, sorting large numbers of files with GUI can take hours, but with Linux commands it completes in seconds. - Automation Implementation
Scripting daily backups and log cleanup can save tens of hours annually. - Enhanced Troubleshooting Skills
Being able to use basic commands like top and df during server failures can significantly reduce problem resolution time.
Learning Timeline Guide
| Level | Learning Period | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 1-2 months | Basic commands, permissions, SSH login |
| Intermediate | 3-6 months | Shell scripts, redirection, log analysis |
| Advanced | 6-12 months | Network configuration, CI/CD implementation, optimization |
| Professional | 1+ years | Infrastructure design, large-scale operations, cloud integration |
While these are just guidelines, understanding the milestones for each stage makes it easier to plan your learning.
Return on Investment
Extreme expressions like "ROI of thousands of percent" are unrealistic. However, if you invest around ¥20,000 (~$150) in learning materials and environment, cases where you can recover it through efficiency gains and career advancement within months to years are common.
What's important is to be aware not only of short-term financial returns but also the medium to long-term effect of "expanding future career options."
Answers to Common Questions
- "Isn't GUI sufficient?"
→ Server environments often don't have GUI, so CLI knowledge is essential. - "Don't I not need it if I use cloud?"
→ Even cloud operations often require Linux commands in the end. - "Won't AI do it for me?"
→ Whether you can understand and correctly judge the commands AI outputs depends on your own knowledge.
Small Steps to Start Learning
- First, try basic commands like ls, cd, pwd
- Use commute time etc. to learn one command per day
- Set small goals each week to "add one thing you can do"
Continuing without strain is most important.
Summary
Learning Linux directly relates to career development, work efficiency, and expanding future options. While there's no need to exaggerate numbers, the benefits gained through learning certainly exist.
Rather than feeling later "I wish I had learned earlier," taking a step forward now will create greater value in the long term.
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📚 Recommended Linux Learning Books
We've carefully selected books that are actually useful for advancing your Linux learning efficiently. You can learn progressively from basics to certification and practical application.
📚 The New Linux Textbook (Japanese)
Target Level: Beginner~Intermediate
A standard book for systematically learning from Linux basics to commands usable in practice. Perfect for beginners to understand the whole picture of Linux. Deepens essential understanding of not just how to use commands but why they're needed.
📚 Learn LPIC Basics in One Week, 3rd Edition (Japanese)
Target Level: Beginner (Certification Introduction)
An introductory book for mastering LPIC Level1 basics in a short intensive period. Perfect as the first book for those considering certification. With a clear learning period of one week, you can proceed efficiently while maintaining motivation.
📚 Linux Textbook LPIC Level1 Version5.0 (Japanese)
Target Level: Beginner~Intermediate (Full Certification Support)
The definitive LPIC Level1 exam preparation textbook. Comprehensively covers the exam scope with abundant practice problems to reliably build your skills. Perfect for those seriously aiming for certification and wanting to acquire solid knowledge for career advancement.
📚 Zero to Hero: Linux Server Setup & Operations Guide, 2nd Ed (Japanese)
Target Level: Intermediate~Advanced
A practical book for acquiring server setup and operations skills that are immediately useful in practice. Learn systematically the knowledge needed in the field, from basic server setup to security measures and troubleshooting. Strongly recommended for those planning to use Linux in practical work.
🎉 Start Learning Linux Now
Once you've acquired knowledge from books, practice hands-on with Penguin Gym Linux's practical exercises to solidify your learning. With both theory and practice, you can reliably improve your skills.