Hi Steve,

I'm by no means a Linux expert, but I'll take a stab at answering your questions.

>Anyway, w/regard to Linux itself, what programming language is used for the Kernel and other pieces of the Linux OS? I've been assuming C, but would hope that C++ or Java or some other object-oriented language would be in use.
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As John said, the Kernel is written in C and probably some assembler. Most low-level stuff, like drivers, etc. are the same. Move away from the Kernel a couple of notches, and you'll start to see C++. KDE (desktop environment) is written in C++, but Gnome uses C. Applications like OpenOffice.org could be written in C, C++, or some other language.

>Second, what programming language is most commonly used for application programming for Linux applications? I understand that Python is a Java-like OO language, but that's the only one that I've heard about.
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That question is harder to answer, as I haven't found one predominant tool in this area. I imagine a seasoned Linux developer would laugh at us for asking this question, since it indicates the lack of choice we expect in the Windows world. Still, there are a few languages that stick out. I expect Java will continue to be the standard for enterprise web applications. Beyond that, it is hard to say. There is a lot of PERL code out there, in the form of CGI scripts for web applications. PHP is the (superior) equivalent of classic ASP, and seems to be very popular. Python seems to be widely used as well because of its OO strengths, and its ability to "glue" together pieces written in other languages. Then there are commercial tools like Kylix.

>Lastly, where would a person with a *lot* of programming experience, but who knows zip-ola about Linux go to get started - this forum?
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When I first started learning about Linux (around 1998), I had to start from scratch. I knew nothing about Unix, and the environment was completely new to me. IMO, this is the hardest part about getting into Linux, and learning new languages/tools is secondary. That said, things are a lot better than they used to be. In fact, it is hard to believe how fast this system has matured, considering a large portion is done by volunteers. But, to answer your question, as you probably already know, Whil Hentzen is working on some books to translate Linux into terms Windows developers/admins can understand. Check out his sites at www.hentzenwerke.com and www.linuxtransfer.com. There may already be other similar resources available. I'm emailing you some notes I wrote for our company on the subject that might be helpful.

I figure at some point, VFP is going to run out of steam for us. I have not yet determined if I will be going the MS or Linux route when that happens. There is something exciting about the Linux trail, as it seems to represent the "new frontier" in computing, and that is appealing. One thing is for sure, it can not be ignored. "Cross-platform" is going to become a buzz word again.