Linux users make great developers. Suffice to say, a Linux user would probably be a good addition to your development team.
Linux. If you haven't heard of it yet, you could soon be in the minority. Why? Not only are more and more manufacturers starting to realize that this open source operating system is a viable (and more reliable) alternative to Windows on the desktop, but it also powers almost every service you use. Facebook, Twitter, Google, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon? They all use Linux.
With good reason.
It is stable, reliable, secure and flexible.
Although end users are only now beginning to understand the beauty that is Linux, developers have known this for some time. They had to do it. Why? Because, like I said, Linux powers pretty much everything — from popular websites, cloud containers, IoT appliances, cars, phones and many other types of electronics.
Any software engineer working with enterprise-level companies has developed with and for Linux. But why, as a company looking to hire developers, would you want to employ those who specifically use Linux? Let's find out.
A little about Linux
First, what is Linux?
Just like Windows, macOS and Chrome OS, Linux is an operating system. There are many differences (as well as similarities), but the main difference between them is that Linux is open source. This means that anyone can download the operating system's source code (be it the kernel, one of the many desktop environments, or everything in between), modify it, and distribute the new version.
This is part of what makes Linux so great. With the code available for anyone to download, this means it will be peer-reviewed and evaluated by thousands and thousands of developers. This translates into a level of reliability and security that proprietary software simply cannot compete with.
So how does using a specific operating system make you a better hire than using a different operating system?
Let's dig.
Linux users have always had to be creative
Linux is incredibly flexible and powerful, which means users can do more with it. Much more, users tend to be very creative with not only how their desktops look but also how they work. In fact, during the early years of Linux, users always had to be quite creative to make things work. And while that's not currently the case (because Linux just works ), there is still a certain level of creativity in using Linux – especially when the default behavior doesn't work the way the user wants.
Fortunately, Linux accommodates these types of adjustments. In fact, Linux has always been a perfect platform for creators. Due to its open source nature, users can dig as deep as they want to make changes. This means that users are much more familiar with how systems and software work.
This kind of creativity is exactly what you should look for in a developer. Creative minds come up with creative solutions.
Linux users are curious
In general, Linux users are curious by nature. They don't just want a platform that works, they tend to want to know how it works. To that end, they may very well dig in to learn at a much deeper level than the average user.
Rather than just assuming that an operating system is a monolith of code, Linux users understand that it is more of a collection of parts that work together (hopefully in a seamless fashion). These users also better understand the marriage between software and hardware.
For years, Linux users have had to jump through hoops to get certain types of hardware to work with their operating system of choice. While this has changed drastically over the last decade, the mindset is still there. Linux users tend to approach the desktop with the understanding that it can be a bit of a pain to get hardware and software to talk to each other.
This type of curiosity makes a great developer because they will always want to know more.
Linux users know the command line
While this is not universal, most Linux users have (at some point) had some experience using the command line. You could, of course, go your entire life without ever touching the command line interface (CLI). However, with Linux the command line not only offers more power than the GUI, it also offers more flexibility.
Given that many development frameworks require the use of the command line, already having this skill set gives the Linux user an edge over much of the competition.
Of course, both Windows and macOS also offer a CLI. But Linux users are simply more apt to use the tool.
Linux users have a better understanding of package management
With the Linux operating system, you install applications through a package manager. At the same time, one of the most popular programming languages on the planet ( JavaScript ) uses a package manager (npm). Having familiarity with package management means these types of tools will be second nature to Linux users.
This not only applies to installing applications, but also to how applications are packaged and distributed. This is a skill every developer should know.
In addition to package managers, Linux users are also familiar with installing applications from source code. This not only means they know how to use tools like make and make install, but they are also used to viewing source code and how packages are laid out.
Linux users understand dependencies
Every developer needs to know about software dependencies. Linux users have been dealing with this for years. Try installing any application from source and you may find yourself in what is called “dependency hell”. In other words, you may have to contend with a seemingly endless recursion of dependencies before you can install this software.
Fortunately, this problem has been supplanted by the use of package managers (such as apt, dnf, and zypper), but there are times (even with these systems) when you will end up having to deal with dependency issues.
Linux users are great problem solvers
Operating systems and applications will have problems no matter how careful you are. When this happens to Linux users, they put on their troubleshooting hats and get to work. Part of the reason for this is because Linux offers all the tools you need to troubleshoot problems. From command-line tools to log files, you can always find out what's wrong.
And most Linux users really enjoy troubleshooting. It's a puzzle to solve. And what company wouldn't want to hire a software developer who is not only skilled at troubleshooting (read: debugging), but actually enjoys doing it?
Conclusion
This just goes to show why Linux users make great developers. You can also add loyalty, a good sense of humor, and patience to this list. Suffice to say, a Linux user would probably be a good addition to your development team.
