Bootstrap IT: the three pillars
No IT project will get too far without some combination of these three elements. Bear this in mind as you plan your project, and as you go about acquiring the pieces you'll need for it.
Operating System.
This project is focused on Linux. Why? We could perhaps argue over whether Linux is or isn't the best environment for playing games or producing multimedia content. But there's no doubt that Linux is the operating system of the Internet and that it completely dominates every server market segment. Since Bootstrap IT is about building digital infrastructure, it makes no sense to spend our time anywhere else. And the fact that Linux is available for free makes it that much sweeter.
Most of the documentation on this site will focus on Ubuntu Linux which, besides its excellent desktop edition, has in recent years become the world's most popular Linux server distribution - both physical and virtual.
Skills.
Planning an web-based store? Android app? A secure file sharing site? You'll need to pick up the coding and system skills to get the job done. The resource list right here at Bootstrap IT is great place to start.
Platform.
This could be a cloud computing environment like Amazon's AWS (Amazon Web Services) where you can create the virtual infrastructure through which your users/customers will access your service. Or it could be a laptop and a local wireless router that you will use to stream content to a local network.