this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
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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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No, its not unrealistic. However, what I think is unfair to yourself is to attempt this before knowing what you are doing. Think of it like learning to draw. You have good taste, and you see art you like, and want to do it too. Yet your personal skill level, you finger dexterity, isn't yet there to be able to make the art you can visualize in your mind.
If a task is too hard, or to complex, then there must exist a smaller, easier task to accomplish first. Coreboot specifically is an extremely low hardware/firmware level system, but you don't feel confidant in installing a working desktop OS. You have aspirations for cyber security, as well. Find the smaller, and easier task first. Get Debian/Ubuntu working in a VM. Then look at what software is installed, and read about it. If you want to eventually pursue security projects, setup a LAMP stack. If that too hard, just get the A in LAMP. If that's too hard, find out why. What do you know, what do you not know? It's machines all the way down, and its an extremely small chance you are the first person with a problem. Don't worry about "correctness" and focus on the learning experience.
It is 100% achievable, but it is a lot of time. I started with it because I wanted to run a game server for myself. It's a couple of decades later, and I still have a massive amount to learn.
I really like the comparison to drawing and the gap between what I'm seeing in my head and my actual ability to carry out the task! Something hypnotized me when I first got introduced to the world of free software. Initially I started out learning LaTeX to make math worksheets for my tutees because Microsoft Word made me want to violently smash my keyboard. Further rabbit-holing and forum-crawling convinced me that I needed to download Arch or else it simply "wasn't worth it", which is completely wrong in itself.
Never have heard of a LAMP stack, but I'll check it out. I'll try to persevere through frustration and just look at errors as a way of learning from my mistakes. Eventually I hope to have a grander control and understanding of my devices, but this will just come with time. Thanks for the encouragement!
Unfortunately Arch appeals to, and is loved by, a specific kind of user. They aren't really interested in being more newbie friendly, which is totally fine. Debian, and by extension Mint, actively trying to help new people use the software, and is very newbie friendly. Most people asking for help use these types, and thus a lot of the helpful guides use these as a base. OpenSuse also does a very good job too, but it is pretty different than Debian in how it is structured, so not all guides written for Debian will work the same way. When you know about how different Linux ecosystems work, the less which specific distro you are using matters. So don't worry too much about picking the "right" one.
This is the best way, find something you want to do, and learn how to do it. Follow the rabbit holes! You never really know where they go.
I completely agree with this one! Been awhile since this comment was posted, but I've had a great deal of fun with Pop!_OS after I nearly went mad. I used my arch system for about 2 months exclusively. Right now I'm dual booting it and Windows. I'm exploring Windows with new eyes again just so see what exactly was abstracted away from me and I'm just using it to get work done more efficiently.
Thanks for the initial advice :) I'm working towards using only a Linux system and I learned I liked Debian as well. Ubuntu, Mint, and OpenSUSE didn't really feel the way I wanted them to, and I still was piecing together concepts that were fuzzy from my 20 years of Windows usage getting in the way.
Currently trying to get Gentoo onto a Chromebook and got curious about hypervisors so a new rabbit hole has reared its head...
Just a sidenote: LAMP is a traditional webserver stack. L = Linux, A = Apache (web server), M = MySQL (database), P = PHP (or Perl or Python, depending on who you ask—some server-side programming language, anyway). So it might not be germane to your use case.
Hey! Sorry its taken a while to get back. I'm almost at the point where I can order everything for my NAS which will then necessitate learning Apache, MySQL, and how to implement programs in the best suited language for the job. I did a lot of Python in undergrad so I should be trainable in that regard.
Are there any resources or Wiki you'd suggest to get started regarding interacting with a server?