Posted 9:15 AM

Dead Cert

Sean Michael Kerner, writing for ZDNet Australia, asks "Do Web developers need a Linux cert?" This amply illustrates that generally held belief that acquiring a certification is equivalent to acquiring knowledge. Nothing could be further from the truth.
A certification should reflect knowledge. Too often, though, it simply reflects a certificant's ability to regurgitate pat answers to multiple-choice questions without having any real knowledge of the underlying theory or principles. My Network World colleague, Linda Musthaler, talks about certs as still relevant, but a close reading shows that its the knowledge that's important - not the paper certificate.
Save your money (certification classes can costs multi thousands of dollars) and, instead, buy a few good reference books. You'll have a better understanding of the technology, you'll save money and you'll be better at your job as a consequence.