What do you do if you want to kickstart a career in Operating Systems?

1 Learn the basics

Before you dive into the details of operating systems, you need to have a solid foundation in computer science and programming. You should be familiar with data structures, algorithms, computer architecture, and networking. You should also be proficient in at least one low-level programming language, such as C or Assembly, and one high-level language, such as Python or Java. These skills will help you understand the concepts and challenges of operating systems and how to implement them in code.

2 Explore different types of operating systems

Operating systems are not all the same. They have different features, architectures, and goals depending on the type of device they run on and the needs of the users. For example, desktop operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, or Linux, are designed to provide a user-friendly interface and support multiple applications and devices. Embedded operating systems, such as Android, iOS, or RTOS, are designed to run on specific hardware and optimize performance, power, or reliability. Distributed operating systems, such as Hadoop, Spark, or Kubernetes, are designed to coordinate multiple machines and process large-scale data. You should learn about the different types of operating systems and their advantages and disadvantages. You can also try to install, use, or modify some of them to gain hands-on experience.

3 Study the core components of operating systems

Operating systems consist of several core components that perform different functions and interact with each other. Some of the most important components are the kernel, the shell, the file system, the process manager, the memory manager, the device manager, the scheduler, the interprocess communication, and the security. You should study how each component works and what problems it solves. You can also compare how different operating systems implement these components and what trade-offs they make. You can find many resources online, such as textbooks, courses, tutorials, or blogs, to learn more about these components.

4 Build your own operating system

One of the best ways to learn about operating systems is to build your own. This will give you a deeper understanding of how operating systems work and what challenges they face. You will also develop your programming, debugging, and problem-solving skills. You can start with a simple operating system that runs on a virtual machine or an emulator, such as QEMU or Bochs. You can follow some guides or tutorials online, such as OSDev or Writing an OS in Rust, to help you get started. You can also use some existing operating systems, such as Linux or MINIX, as references or inspirations. You can then add more features or functionalities to your operating system as you learn more.

5 Join a community or a project

Operating systems are not something you can learn or build alone. You need to interact with other people who share your passion and curiosity. You can join a community or a project that is related to operating systems and learn from their experiences and feedback. You can also contribute to their development and improvement. You can find many communities or projects online, such as Stack Overflow, Reddit, GitHub, or Linux Foundation, where you can ask questions, answer questions, discuss topics, or collaborate on code. You can also attend events, such as conferences, workshops, or hackathons, where you can meet other people and showcase your work.

6 Keep learning and updating

Operating systems are constantly evolving and changing. New technologies, trends, and demands emerge and affect the design and development of operating systems. You need to keep learning and updating your knowledge and skills to stay relevant and competitive in the field. You can follow the latest news, research, or innovations in operating systems and related fields, such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, or cybersecurity. You can also take courses, read books, or watch videos to learn new concepts, techniques, or tools. You can also experiment with new ideas or projects to challenge yourself and expand your horizons.