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?
Step 1: install linux
Step 2: google everything you don’t know how to do
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.
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.
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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!
https://linuxcommand.org/lc3_learning_the_shell.php
One of the more interesting things for me was learning how in depth some of the commands are. For example I wanted to use wget to back up a website that was having issues at the time. I built an advanced command after going through every option and learning what it did.
I can’t believe how far I had to scroll to find this. This is what I used to get started. All the important stuff in an easy to digest tutorial. Highly recommend.
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
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.
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.
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. 😎👍
you really want to learn linux?
That is not a good idea for a beginner.
bullshit, it’s perfect for a beginner
From the “Prerequisites” section of LFS:
Building an LFS system is not a simple task. It requires a certain level of existing knowledge of Unix system administration in order to resolve problems and correctly execute the commands listed. In particular, as an absolute minimum, you should already know how to use the command line (shell) to copy or move files and directories, list directory and file contents, and change the current directory. It is also expected that you know how to use and install Linux software.
Did you even read what the OP requested?
Did you? You’re suggesting that someone who wants to learn how to maintain a car build one from scratch. It’s drastically overshooting the assignment.
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.
I moved from Windows to Linux Mint Cinnamon. Im not an expert on commands but get by just by googling questions.
It super intuitive that I rarely have to dig too much.
