Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Advice for a middle-age, moderately pc knowledgeable person to finally switch to or become proficient with Linux? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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This is my third attempt. Partly to rage quit Windows, and partly to gain utility and control with some professional AV software.

I have converted an old Asus netbook to Ubuntu netbook remix and used it for a while. I was impressed with how much better that tiny thing ran with Linux than Windows. But in the end it still had less power than a TI-84. So I stopped using it, and never really learned Linux proper.

I dual boot my Chromebook, so I can use gimp for photos on vacation, but everything I do with the Linux partition is cut and paste from articles by people who know what they're doing. (I was motivated to post here by a meme about that.)

I'm thinking of dual booting my main desktop, because I need Windows for some fairly processor intense A/V software I use for work. So what would be a good distro to look into for a novice and where should I look for a tutorial? I would ultimately like to see if I can use Linux to run my AV software in emulation and add drivers for some professional audio interfaces. I'm fed up with windows and trying to see how far I can get without it. Your help is appreciated in advance, and if this is inappropriate for this topic, let me know and I'll delete it.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I tried that after already having about 2 years experience with Ubuntu desktop and an Ubuntu server (but still mostly a Windows user). I'm also a software developer.

And I failed to install Arch on a laptop the last time I tried it out. Ubuntu ran flawlessly, trying to go step by step through the Arch installation I hit a random error (at a step that was very straight forward and easy in the documentation) and got stuck. Messed around with it and at some point gave up.

I mean that's years ago, it probably works a lot better nowadays and especially on more modern hardware, but even so for someone new to Linux I'd never tell them to go with a do-it-yourself install. Slap Ubuntu on that bad boy, let them install a few packages, do a handful of terminal commands and they'll get much farther. Instead of giving up three hours in because a random command (that they still don't understand) is broken.

[–] MargotRobbie 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you look at the original post, his goal is to learn and understand Linux and he is on his third attempt after already trying Ubuntu remix, which is why I made this suggestion.

Again, if he just wanted to use Linux on his computer, then there is nothing wrong with using a more user friendly distro at all. But for his particular needs he described, then Arch is a better distro for learning how Linux actually works.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But as OP said, they already failed several times. That's like telling someone who nearly drowned in the shallow end of a pool to go jump into the ocean.

See here:

So what would be a good distro to look into for a novice and where should I look for a tutorial?

For me it feels like they do want to learn, but aren't comfortable yet as a day to day user. They want to use Linux, but struggle with commands and how to use it. Having a stable and easy to use system you can use each day without trouble would probably be a better start than telling them to fiddle with Arch. Give them an easy distro and when they want to learn more they can use the crappy old laptop and try to install Arch on there (while leaving their daily driver alone).

I think I learned the most when using Ubuntu for school, 90% of it was easy and straight forward. 10% of it was hell, like back in the day getting HDMI or audio to work. But because the 90% were there I just dug in and spent a dozen hours to troubleshoot the rest.

[–] MargotRobbie 6 points 1 year ago

Well, I think "drowning" could be a bit much. Don't want to make Linux sound that scary now.

I think there is a reason why "Learning Python the Hard Way" is so popular, because although it's harder, it leads to learning better fundamentals which makes things easier in the long run.

So, I think OP should still give Arch a try, maybe he (they?) will be more receptive to this method, and there's no harm in trying.