linux4noobs

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linux4noobs

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Whether you're a seasoned pro or the noobiest of noobs, you've found the right place for Linux support and information. With a dedication to supporting free and open source software, this community aims to ensure Linux fits your needs and works for you. From troubleshooting to tutorials, practical tips, news and more, all aspects of Linux are warmly welcomed. Join a community of like-minded enthusiasts and professionals driving Linux's ongoing evolution.

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Is there a good, modern, widely accepted, learning Linux resource? (programming.dev)

submitted 2 months ago by Cyno@programming.dev to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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I've always approached learning Linux by just diving into it and bashing my head against problems as they come until I either solve them or give up, the latter being the more common outcome.

I wouldn't take this approach with other pieces of software though - I'd read guides, best practices, have someone recommend me good utility tools or extensions to install, which shortcuts to use or what kind of file hierarchy to use, etc.
For example, for python I'd always recommend the "Automate the boring stuff with Python", I remember learning most Java with that "Head first Java" book back in the days, c# has really good official guides for all concepts, libraries, patterns, etc.

So... lemme try that with Linux then! Are there any good resources, youtube videos, bloggers or any content creators, books that go explain everything important about linux to get it running in an optimal and efficient way that are fun and interesting to read? From things like how the file hierarchy works, what is /etc, how to install new programs with proper permissions, when to use sudo, what is a flatpak and why use it over something else, how to backup your system so you can easily reconstruct your setup in case you need to do an OS refresh, etc? All those things that people take for granted but are actually a huge obstacle course + minefield for beginners?

And more importantly, that it's up to date with actually good advice?

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[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don't think such a resource exists for Windows or Mac, people just figure it out because enough people around them are using it. Up until the mid 2000s Macs were just as hard for windows users to switch to. It wasn't until they put massive effort into their UX, and dominated the mp3 and smartphone markets that they established themselves as viable. Now you have people who have only used Macs/iphone/ipad who feel lost when using Windows or Android.

The downside (and upside) of linux (the kernel itself) is that it's not profit driven. So the best new user experiences tend to come from companies who are financially motivated to attract more users. Ubuntu, PopOS, and Zorin tend to write easy to follow guides about how to do specific things in their specific distro.

But there's not much of an incentive for anyone to create a broader guide about the complex moving parts of the wider linux/foss community. Nonetheless, I do think ArchWiki is the best version of that. It's not trying to convince you to use linux, it's a community knowledge share for people already using it. Unsurprisingly, it does tend to assume you're on arch, but out of the box arch is pretty barebones, so if something on there doesn't work for you, the hard part actually becomes figuring out what your distro has decided to configure differently. That is not something there is a singular resource for, to my knowledge. At that point it's just a matter of doing some detctive work and cross referencing different sources. And that can include asking questions here.

[–] Cyno@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I dunno if I agree with this. Using windows and the office suite is taught in schools, at least in europe, and has been even when I was in school around 2 decades ago. Regardless of that, it is very user-friendly with intuitive simple UI and various wizards that guide you through every process step by step and generally speaking you dont have to do much, if any, manual configuration or tinkering if you dont want to.

I'm not saying linux should be the same and its obvious the priorities are different as you say, but I disagree that all OSes are about "detective work and figuring it out". I dont think bashing your head against the wall is a good way of learning anymore. I dont think even asking questions every time on various forums is a good solution since there is no guarantee you will get a correct answer, especially with linux - chances are much higher in my experience you will get an opinionated and possibly wrong or outdated answer.

[–] teawrecks@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 months ago

I didn't make the claims you seem to think I made.

Your first paragraph is exactly in line with what I said: there is no "modern, widley accepted resource" for learning windows, because everyone around you already uses it, and msft has a financial incentive to make it user friendly.

And I didn't say "all OSes are about detective work and figuring it out", I said that trying to apply the ArchWiki to non-arch distros becomes detective work in figuring out how your distro differs, because afaik there isn't any other distro-agnostic resource that covers as much as ArchWiki.

What I did say was that Mac used to be just as foreign and incompatible to Windows users until Apple dumped a bunch of money into making it user friendly, and now there are people who know the apple ecosystem and nothing else.

To your last point, my anecdotal experience is that when I have a Linux issue, when I go searching around for a solution, about 80% of the time I end up finding the solution on the mint, ubuntu, manjaro, or some other Linux forum posted within the last couple of years, because chances are the issue was introduced recently.