this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2023
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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My general advice to Linux newbies is just to use your computer as a computer. It's important that you get everything you need working, and over time you'll get more comfortable with how things work in a standard workflow. In ~half a year you might want to explore beyond your workflow and try to make optimizations etc, in which case you'll have a much better idea of what is not working and what you want to improve. On a related note I'd also strongly recommend picking a distro and sticking with it for a while, even if someone says your distro sucks. Don't distrohop endlessly when you don't even know what you want. Linux Mint is an excellent distro that will not hold you back even if you are an expert, so don't mind anyone saying Arch is the king or Debian is where it's at.
I can only speak from experience but from my understanding most people's knowledge of Linux is derived solely from wanting to do something and then figuring out how to do it, instead of studying a list of "things you must know to use Linux".
I second this. While I've been exposed to Linux quite a while back (Linux Mint, circa mid-2000's if memory serves me right) and was given a "Linux basics" rundown, I only started daily-driving Linux around late 2019, and by then, my knowledge of Linux pretty much have faded. It still hasn't prevented me from getting re-familiarized with Linux (Manjaro, then Arch). Of course, some bit of knowledge would help, but a lot of the Linux basics you'd need are already out there if you need it. Just look things up if the need arises.
Also, I find having to learn something I don't immediately would need to use not very productive, even counterproductive at times since it leads me to having a mindset of "I should already know this, why am I being so stupid?"
So yeah! I second this sentiment of "just use your computer, look things up if you have to, it's not going to hurt."
And oh, don't be afraid to mess with your computer from time to time. If you're concerned about breaking things, you can install the distro of your choice into an old laptop or something, and use that as a place to "mess things up."
Edit: I forgot that OP already is using Linux in a virtual box. OP can use that as a laboratory to "mess things up."
Debian is where it's at.
I jest. This is pretty much perfect advice.
But yes, Debian nowadays is damn near perfect.