I’ve been using Windows since the days of 3.1, practically my entire life. So I’m really comfortable with how windows operates and how to do the things that I want to do.
I’ve dabbled around with Linux over the years, but am now considering trying to make a full switch to it.
What are some resources to “learn” Linux properly? Such as understanding the filesystem, basic security practices, essential tools or commands, etc?
If you ask me:-
I use a combination of my instincts, including distro-hopping, since I began using Linux in 2017, reading articles online about Linux tutorials, and even watching YouTube videos. I gave up on Linux and returned to Windows many times, but it ultimately made me return to Linux because it is meant to be my forever operating system. There are so many Linux tutorials available online, including on YouTube. Indian channels taught me how to install Ubuntu, and that was my most memorable beginning with Linux. I also recommend chatting with current viral technologies such as generative AIs; they’ll provide you with answers. So, keep exploring Linux. 😎👍
Start using it. Look up anything that bothers you.
Don’t make it your work or main computer yet. That might create too much frustration.
“Out of the box” security is decent at this point.
This. Install a VM or throw it on some old box you have lying around. Don’t sweat “learning it”. Just do it. If you know your way around a computer, you’ll figure it out. Having said that, there are lots of resources out there. Just watch some “how do I install X” videos, where X is your distro of choice. That choice should be Mint, BTW.
I know there’s a meme and I have been downvoted to shit for arch…
I think any popular Debian/redhat derived distro (mint counts) is a great introduction to Linux.
However, I didn’t really learn Linux until I installed arch. It wasn’t as… stable… as it was now. And learning how to deal with the instability helped a LOT.
Without that dive, things that could really get you down the path is trying to make Linux work for you: change the gui to your liking, and learn to use terminal.
That gets you into X/sway/DM/WM/etc. there’s plenty to learn there
It depends on what you want from your OS. I just want it to work. I don’t have to know every detail of what’s under the hood. And I never do a lot of customising. So for me, Mint is perfect. If you want to have control over everything and know how everything works, Arch is great.
Maybe don’t look up ANYTHING that bothers you. Thats a rabbit hole.
In my experience: By bashing your head against it and looking up things online you cant figure out on your own. If that means having to google how to navigate the folder structure, so be it.
It really depends on your approach to learning things. If you’re looking for a systematic approach, I really like No Starch Press books for that sort of thing: How Linux Works or Your Linux Toolbox (for a more playful approach).
But in the end there’s really no substitute for installing Debian on bare metal and tinkering with it. I would really recommend Debian, because it’s the archetype of how Linux systems have been working for the last 30 years or so. Arguably, this is currently changing, but come to grips with Debian before you dabble in more modern approaches to system management.
Linux Mint or vanilla Ubuntu. They’re nice, we’ll developed and stable with lots of software available. Never need to use a command line unless you want to
The file system takes some getting used to, but it’s similar to Mac. The only folders you need to worry about most of the time are /Home and /Media. Home is where all your stuff is. Media is where you find all your drives and partitions
And they are both easily findable in the file manager in any modern Linux operating system
Find an easy distro (my recc is mint if you’re coming from windows, elementary if you’re coming from Mac) and just do it. Follow the install guides and just start trying to use your computer. Look up things when things aren’t working. If you get frustrated or justconsistently don’t like your distro, find a different one. Most people don’t know the exact distro they like with their first attempt. It’s very common to bounce around to different ones for a while or even have multiple.
Some will allow you to do a live environment off a USB stick, but I don’t know. I never found that really told me whether not it was going to be a good daily driver. But it does give you an easy way to check out the “vibes” of one without having to actually commit to it
there isn’t actually that much to read, at the user level. Nowadays, on a “user friendly distribution” you should be able to launch firefox to browse lemmy, and open a pdf without much difficulties. Even printer aren’t anymore a nightmare to install.
Main stuff to know IMO.
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Linux distribution came with app store long before it was cool, for 99% of the case should just use-them, no need to worry (at first) about how to install an app which doesn’t come from an official repository
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While you can choose among many Desktop environment, just take the one coming with the distro you choose and get used to it.
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Terminal is a pretty neat tool once you know-it, but so is a Torque-wrench for your car. You do not have to know how to use-it to use a PC.
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I dabbled for a few years before I made the switch.
You learn after you switch. Not before. Because then it’s easier to search for a Linux solution than it is to reinstall windows and get it done in the way you’re familiar.
If you can dual boot and do your daily needs you are good enough to make the switch.
My personal journey:
Install random Linux distro as virtual machine or dual boot, use it until you run into something you can’t fix. Look for an alternative.
Do this a couple of times, my path was: Ubuntu, Manjaro, PopOS, Zorin, Debian, Mint. I ended up replacing windows completely with Mint. It’s nice, easy, customizable, and I can play my games on it when I need to 👍
Learning the terminal is easily done on linuxjourney.com!
Install arch the old fashioned way using the installation guide and then maintain it for a year or so. It’s not hard but it’ll take you some hours to get going if you are just used to buttons which tell you what they do.
I don’t know if it still exists, but following along with the Gentoo Linux install guide where you build everything from the ground up. I definitely wouldn’t daily drive something like that now (I had a lotore free time (and no money) back then), but learning what the commands did was great for learning not just about commands but a number of Linux concepts.
I had a tiny bit of very basic previous experience, mostly with common command line tools like CD, ls, etc.
Install using the debian net installer. Only add a GUI/Desktop Environment through command line and apt. Don’t use tasksel.
https://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/
Do this on a laptop that’s not mission critical. Barring that, use Tails on a USB drive
Just start using it. Set up a dual boot if you really need access to Windows still, but try not to use it as much as possible. You learn by running into problems or holes in your knowledge, and solving those issues will fill in other gaps.
There are plenty of video series if you want to listen to advice before diving in, but there’s no teacher like experience.
This, I learned out of necessity when I was a teen, parents were divorcing and my dad only had an extremely old laptop, it was literally unusable on XP, was lookin around online on how to possibly speed it up and found Linux.
It’s worth emphasizing that keeping it dual boot until you’re comfortable will let you take a break if you get frustrated rather than wiping Linux and going back to Win full time.
Get a book on Linux, if you’re the type who likes learning from books (I do). There’s so many to choose from. Check reviews before you order or go to a book store and flip through some until you find one you like.
For learning about the filesystem layout, you can type
man hierinto a Linux terminal.Or read the same online: https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/hier.7.html
This is a key point.
I didn’t realize this until years later, but man is not just for programs, it’s also for concepts like hier, and probably other stuff too.
