Unix/Linux, do I need to learn these for web development?

[FromGermany]

Just some life changing decision I need advice and suggestion about. You see, I only have two courses left until I can get this sweet paper of proof (certificate) for Web Development, now, it's just the basic one from my local community college (there is this and then an advanced 4+ courses cert.).

I don't want to take the long haul because I'm also working towards a business degree/cert. But what I want to know is that-- Do I even need this knowledge/this class in general? I don't know if I see any students of web; having to know Unix/Linux for web dev. entry.

Now, my community college might be a bit outdated and out of their mind but I asked my professor about this, his reason is that most websites run in Unix/Linux at the back end. To be frank, I think it would be a waste of time, considering that the advanced cert. does not even require this bs course and that I know I wouldn't even be touching the skeletal development of sites (I'm more of a front-end person, planning, idea and look; hence the business degree) and I think learning CMS and more modern trends would really suffice.

This decision is really important at this point of my life, I did not expect this course to be just solely on Unix/Linux. I'm hoping I can transfer what I've learned (PS for the web, Dreamweaver, CSS HTML & XHTML) to some other college that concludes a more modern take for a certificate. But I don't think I need another labor camp for the fall semester especially when I have other priorities in mind. It would be sweet if I have another additional certificate (this web dev.) on hand; especially being on tuition aid and only two courses for that cert. but I realized the importance of time, I really feel like this would be a complete waste of time; I can try to prove myself but I will only hurt my time and development at the end, I have a full schedule and if I'm having to learn this without needing it, then it would be a waste of time as much as it is tolling on my time and mind.

What do you think? Am I over my head?

[SmallTownGuy]

In principle, no. Web standards, web pages, etc, have tried to avoid being specific to Unix. You can draw all the jpegs you like, write all the Javascript you like, without touching a command line.

But in practice, yes. A web developer who is not absolutely comfortable - even happy - with the Unix command line is going to be at a serious disadvantage. Most web servers run Linux+Apache. You're going to need to build and configure that environment. You usually won't have minions to do the hard work for you.

[CuAnnan]

SmallTownGuy

In principle, no. Web standards, web pages, etc, have tried to avoid being specific to Unix. You can draw all the jpegs you like, write all the Javascript you like, without touching a command line.

Javascript is part of web development, in that the ajax stuff and the dom manipulation is part of the web dev's functions.
Jegs are web design.
Nothing to do with web dev at all.
A web dev needs to be capable of rendering and manipulating standards compliant HTML and to be familiar enough with CSS so as to be able to appropriately id and class nodes in the DOM so that a designer can take over.

SmallTownGuy

But in practice, yes. A web developer who is not absolutely comfortable - even happy - with the Unix command line is going to be at a serious disadvantage. Most web servers run Linux+Apache.

Linux is not Unix.
Please do not conflate them.

SmallTownGuy

You're going to need to build and configure that environment. You usually won't have minions to do the hard work for you.

XAMPP has you covered there.
While a fundamental understanding of the OS you're working in is advisable in case you absolutely have no choice but to shell out (which is incredibly bad practice, save when you absolutely have no choice), it is rare that it occurs.
That's what libraries are for.
So...
what's your provenance?
What major institutions or organisations have you worked for ever?

[CuAnnan]

FromGermany

Just some life changing decision I need advice and suggestion about. You see, I only have two courses left until I can get this sweet paper of proof (certificate) for Web Development, now, it's just the basic one from my local community college (there is this and then an advanced 4+ courses cert.).

I don't want to take the long haul because I'm also working towards a business degree/cert. But what I want to know is that-- Do I even need this knowledge/this class in general? I don't know if I see any students of web; having to know Unix/Linux for web dev. entry.

A fundamental understanding of a *nix environment is preferable but not mandatory.
It will stand well to you in interviews, particularly if you can show competance.

FromGermany

Now, my community college might be a bit outdated and out of their mind but I asked my professor about this, his reason is that most websites run in Unix/Linux at the back end. To be frank, I think it would be a waste of time, considering that the advanced cert. does not even require this bs course and that I know I wouldn't even be touching the skeletal development of sites (I'm more of a front-end person, planning, idea and look; hence the business degree) and I think learning CMS and more modern trends would really suffice.

CMS all require command line changes to folders, they all require things like permissions changes, because they write to folders that whatever user Apache is running as should not have write permissions to, unless you set it up to leave the template files web accessible.

FromGermany

This decision is really important at this point of my life, I did not expect this course to be just solely on Unix/Linux. I'm hoping I can transfer what I've learned (PS for the web, Dreamweaver, CSS HTML & XHTML) to some other college that concludes a more modern take for a certificate.

Almost none of that is relevant to Web development.
The HTML and XHTML are outputs. Not the final product. The final product is the web application that you develop to generate the XHTML or HTML5.

FromGermany

What do you think? Am I over my head?

Probably.
But that's the only way to learn.
Sink or swim.

[SmallTownGuy]

CuAnnan

Linux is not Unix.
Please do not conflate them.

I know that. But the difference doesn't matter in this context.

Quote:

What major institutions or organisations have you worked for ever?

That was my point. Thank you. In a big shop you might get away with the luxury of over-specialization. But most web development is not done by major institutions with lots of specialized staff. There are a lot more small shops than big ones. Most is done by one or two guys in a small contract shop who have to do it all themselves.

(I have built web sites for a major and a few minors, but I prefer non-web-related work.)

[CuAnnan]

SmallTownGuy

I know that. But the difference doesn't matter in this context.

Yes it does.
You're acting as an authority on the matter and "educating" someone who has admitted to not knowing the first thing.

SmallTownGuy

That was my point. Thank you. In a big shop you might get away with the luxury of over-specialization.

Bollox.
The difference between development and design is not a matter of specialisation.
One is a a technical skill, the other is an art.
They have about as much in common as architecture and interior design.
Sure, you can get someone who is functional in both, but when it comes to getting my house built, I want experts.
The same mentality is true of software engineering and, therefore by extension, web development.

SmallTownGuy

But most web development is not done by major institutions with lots of specialized staff. There are a lot more small shops than big ones. Most is done by one or two guys in a small contract shop who have to do it all themselves.

I worked in a three man team. We outsourced our CSS.

SmallTownGuy

I have built web sites for a major and a few minors, but I prefer non-web-related work.

I, on the other hand, have built software in conjunction with NASA, for educational institutes and academics, for universities and for multi nationals as well as working in two and three man teams.
At present, I am donating all of my engineering time to a charity project pro bono.
At *no* point have I ever designed.
In the latter case, I had to reengineer the outputted HTML to conform to a dom structure the designer wanted. That's about it.

While one can be an expert in both, it is rare.

[SmallTownGuy]

CuAnnan

I, on the other hand, have built software in conjunction with NASA, for educational institutes and academics, for universities and for multi nationals as well as working in two and three man teams.

And *you're* recommending this guy specialize in flavor-of-the-week junk and not bother getting a solid background? You must like your own job security. Five years from now you'll have the background to pick up whatever new stuff comes along, but he's going to have to go back to school.

[CuAnnan]

SmallTownGuy

And *you're* recommending this guy specialize in flavor-of-the-week junk and not bother getting a solid background?

No I'm not.
I recommended that he learn some form of HTML and gain a fundamental understanding of a *nix.
He mentioned CMS but that's a meaningless acronym. You don't learn CMS. You learn the language it's written in and then you read the API.

SmallTownGuy

You must like your own job security. Five years from now you'll have the background to pick up whatever new stuff comes along, but he's going to have to go back to school.

Only if he doesn't root himself in the fundamentals.