Learning Linux

[Difice]

Hey I was really interested in learning Linux Im currently taking networking classes right now and I think learning Linux would benefit me for the future I was wondering if there was anywhere in specific that I could start thanks!

[MrDrWho13]

26 minutes ago, Difice said:

Hey I was really interested in learning Linux Im currently taking networking classes right now and I think learning Linux would benefit me for the future I was wondering if there was anywhere in specific that I could start thanks!

I would install a distro on your computer to play around with, either dual booted or in a virtual machine. I'd probably point you to Linux or Mint to begin with but I'm certainly no expert so would be interested to hear what other recommend.

[Difice]

1 minute ago, MrDrWho13 said:

I would install a distro on your computer to play around with, either dual booted or in a virtual machine. I'd probably point you to Linux or Mint to begin with but I'm certainly no expert so would be interested to hear what other recommend.

Thank you for your reply I will defiantly check it out! I would like to hear what others say as well if there are videos or something i would love to learn Linux more  

[ChalkChalkson]

1. Software first

I would suggest you try to go as cross-platform as you can as quickly as you can. Familiarising yourself with LibreOffice/Google Drive suite (if you use MSOffice), Firefox/Chromium/Chrome (if you for some reason use edge), Eclipse (if you use VS) etc. at the same time as learning all the OS level stuff will probably make your life more difficult. So I would suggest you switch over to using crossplatform software before you ever touch Linux.

Most software you will work with day to day has open source variants for Linux, however some of them s*ck. CAD specifically made me move back to Windows for my main PCs (at least until AutoDesk for Linux comes out of WINE starts to work). 

Also, if you are a gamer, check your favorite games.. Quite a lot of games finally have Linux support (thanks SteamMachine!) but some do not. In some instances the Linux version is actually the best out there, KSP for example had the 64 bit version on Linux a long time before it came to Windows.

 

2. Start with a VM

It is kinda dangerous to swap over completely right from the getgo, but only installing it on a secondary device will make you continue to think 

in terms of windows/OSX (depending on where you come from). This will make it take a lot longer to wrap your head around it completely. It is kinda like a language that way.

 

3. Choose your distri

Since you started with a VM, you can swap your OS out pretty quickly, so you can experiment a lot. My suggestions for starting would be starting with Ubuntu, but try all of the following at least for a day: Fedora, openSUSE, MINT and maybe something RedHat, the last one being mostly optional. Only by trying a bunch, you will find out which one you like most, but the "appstore" on ubuntu might help you in the beginning

 

4. Learning the terminal

An integral part of using any Linux distri (even Ubuntu) is learning to use the terminal as effectively as possible. To help you with that, I would suggest you keep a physical paper on or near your desk with the syntax for the most common commands (like apt-get, ls, mv...). I would also suggest you  keep a non-PC device near by, that runs on an OS you are familiar with (EG an android tablet). This will allow you to quickly google something and having it open, without "breaking the immersion" or however you want to call it. If you have 2 monitors this is not as useful as when you don't.

 

5. For every problem there is a Kernel

If you are kind of a programmer yourself (or aspire to be), then Linux (actually not all distris, but most) is great for one thing in particular: it is open source.

So you can modify the OS to your liking. Have a problem you can't find any premade solution for? Not even third party software running in the background? No layer either? 

Time to compile your first Kernel... actually you have to write it first. When you  ever get to the point, where you have (successfully) compiled your first own Kernel, you really learned Linux! I would be hesitant with that though.. Wait at least until you have a firm grasp on every other aspect of the Operating system you chose.

[JakeNTech]

With computers I learnt by just trying things. You can use a VM(Virtual box) this will make it easy to google the solutions XD, or a live CD. I would use the VM as speeds shouldn't be impacted and then you can't really do any damage to your main os. Just try different distributions and you will find one you like.