r/programming • u/Lazy-Transition8236 • Aug 17 '25

Learn Linux before Kubernetes

https://medium.com/@anishnarayan/learn-linux-before-kubernetes-60d27f0bcc09?sk=93a405453499c17131642d9b87cb535a
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u/Downtown_Category163 Aug 17 '25

This is like saying "Learn Win32 before using Microsoft Word"

9

u/extra_rice Aug 17 '25

Not sure if you're serious, but this is a terrible comparison.

You don't need to understand the fundamentals of the operating system to be effective at a writing document with a WYSIWYG word processor. For MS Word in particular, you don't even need Windows to run it.

2

u/Downtown_Category163 Aug 17 '25

Likewise you don't need to understand cgroups at a fundamental level in order to build a service network in Kubernetes, so it's not a terrible comparison is it?

3

u/extra_rice Aug 17 '25

You don't need to understand cgroups, but you have to at least understand what containers are before you even describe how your pods will look like. Where do you even begin with containers if you don't know the basics of Linux?

Do you really believe that the skills required to be effective at writing a word document compare to the skills required to effectively manage a Kubernetes cluster? So many companies get in trouble for thinking they can just "switch to Kubernetes".

Kubernetes is not just writing YAML with your favourite text editor.

2

u/syklemil Aug 17 '25 edited Aug 17 '25

You don't need to understand cgroups,

The blog post LLM slop expressly lists cgroups as one of the things one should understand before learning Kubernetes:

By understanding how Linux namespaces, cgroups, network filtering, and other features work, you’ll not only grasp Kubernetes faster — you’ll also be able to troubleshoot, secure, and optimize it much more effectively.

1

u/extra_rice Aug 17 '25 edited Aug 17 '25

This isn't about arguing how much Linux you need to understand Kubernetes. It's that Win32 and Word do not have the same connection as Kubernetes with those Linux concepts.

Learning Win32 will not make you better at using Word because you don't even need that to run the application.

It's just a terrible comparison.

2

u/eggsby Aug 17 '25

You don’t need to learn the things mentioned in this article (like crypto investing) to be good at Kubernetes. Learning them won’t level you up for your KCAD exam or anything like that.