In 2002 I earned my RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer).

Looking back, it feels like a different world.

Linux wasn't mainstream. Many people saw it as something only enthusiasts or "crazy Unix people" used. Windows dominated almost everywhere.

The RHCE exam was entirely hands-on. No multiple choice. You had to configure and fix real systems under time pressure.

I was fortunate that the company I worked for believed in me and paid for the exam. I only had to do one thing: pass.

More than 20 years later, I'm still working with Linux every day. The technologies have changed from physical servers to Kubernetes and cloud, but the foundation remains the same.

Looking at this certificate reminds me how far the Linux ecosystem has come.

#ThursdayThoughts #Linux #Unix #RedHat