Is linux really that hard 2 learn?

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
1

Hello you!

I recently saw the doco called revolution OS, and I got struck with why am I on windows ?

I heard stuff from Linux is super easy 2 Linux is super hard and complicated to learn,

and I didn't like coding and stuff like that when i was in school, but I do like freedom.

 So I am really thinking about loading over everything I have on my computer to and external HardDrive, and get cracking with learning Linux.

so any advice on books and stuff that might help and my question was is it really that hard 2 learn?

or is it really hard to learn if you don't know fuck all about coding? any input is appreciated.

Cheers.

 

2

My advice is to start out with a virtual machine that will let you play about with different linux distributions whilst not losing windows.
As with the difficulty, there is a lot of support online available and with a desktop environment (like a GUI), you won't be left just with terminal which can help the transition.

But like I said, play around with it first in a virtual machine (have a look at virtual box) and see how you like it.

3

Using linux doesn't mean you have to code, i'm a simple electrician and never code. It all comes down to how you use your pc. There's a couple of dozen different distributions tailored for different people with different needs and tastes, choosing the right one to fit your needs might be the trickiest part. I use Fedora as my daily os with the xfce desktop enviroment (I prefer a minimalist & lightweight desktop yet having a bleeding edge distro).

My mom (60) uses Zorin OS and shes not having any problems with it.

Here's a million distro reviews

4

sweet!

I just want something super simple as win 7 or something like that I just want 2 get away for windows..

and i will go on OS hunt and stuff ,thanks,  anything else I should know???

5

Linux aint Windows, tip your toes in the water before diving in.

https://teksyndicate.com/forum/linux/best-linux-distro-beginners/159785

https://teksyndicate.com/forum/linux/linux-beginners-guide/170704

6

I've installed different Linux distros for a few of my friends and family. None of them know anything about coding, they just want to use their computer. I've never heard any complaints about Linux, most of the time they will talk about how much faster it is compared to Windows.

I say just jump in and go for it. 

7

To dip your toe in the water without a VM you can run some distributions from a "Live CD" (or Live DVD, or USB drive).  I recommend Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) for ease of use and for the Debian package manager.  And I know the installer lets you run Mint "live" (loaded from the install medium into memory) and try for as long as you want before you take the plunge and install it on a hard drive.  I think the "live" distro feature is pretty common now on Linux installers, but I don't know specifically which other distros include that feature and which don't, because I always use LMDE or Debian stable.  They always get the jobs done for me and until I have a job they can't do, I won't be trying other distros.

One last note about coding.  Linux has the reputation that you "have to" use the command line (which is not exactly coding but may be a gateway to scripting).  I think it's more that if you want to, you can use the command line to fine tune the way things work.  And the command line gives so much control that everybody ends up wanting to learn how to use it, even if originally they only intended to replace Windows.  Rather than dangerous registry hacks or whatever it is in Windows these days, to make similar tweaks in Linux you simply edit a plain text configuration file in your /home directory, or in /etc to change global settings.

8

wow! so the question come down 2 know is why the hell am I still on windows?

so! I will try it on a usb drive and learn a bit about it or a VM and I have to learn how that works first but it all seems like a good ideas! and thanks for sharing guys. I just want to feel safe on the computer nowadays that the main motivation.

 

9

I've been thinking about this too. I have an old laptop gathering dust and I was thinking about installing a form of linux or perhaps Steam OS. Good question OP.

10

I second the call wtth Live CD's you get the experience of Linux without having to install, playaround with multiple distro's and base your decision on that.

 

I'll nominate Debian as a replacement.

11
  • If you want to learn as much about Linux in a short period of time, contrary to what everyone says, I recommend Arch or better yet Gentoo.
  • These Linux distributions will teach you how to install from the command line and in turn give you experience working in the CLI environment and working with Linux commands.
  • Moreover, since you have to do many tasks manually to setup the operating system, you will gain an appreciation of concepts like partitioning, filesystems, base systems, networking, desktop environments, etc and if you use Gentoo: compilation and the Linux kernel.
  • Many other Linux distributions don't directly teach you about these fundamental building blocks of a Linux operating system. While you might be able to get a working Linux environment quickly with say Debian or Fedora, you won't learn as much compared to going down one of these avenues.
  • This recommendation only applies if you are willing to spend a lot of time and effort learning how to install Linux from almost nothing. If you are impatient or don't know enough about computers, this course is not advisable.
  • Here is a guide to install Gentoo:

https://teksyndicate.com/forum/linux/how-install-gentoo-linux/172377

12

Linux is super easy to learn, because its so dynamic, its a lot more bleeding edge but stable than Windows ever could be, it has the latest tech ready in a matter of weeks normally in testing branches, but there are a few things you need to take into account when starting.

There is no one fits all distro - Ubuntu is the go to for a lot of new people, and it can give a bad taste to new users, it did with me and a lot of people on here, so use something like Manjaro, its a lovely distro that is constantly improving and only a few weeks behind Arch Linux (A very bleeding edge distro) you get more power than Ubuntu could give you with AUR and Pacman, and stuff like kernel swapping is a doddle with Arch in general, Performance/Battery Life/Stability is also higher to say you get new technology quick.

The days of all the programming stuff are over, a lot of distros come with GUI installers, some dont but they are very well documented on how to use terminal to install them, this is a better way to install Linux because you know whats going into the system and you can control this to a finite detail, of course you can still program with Linux but its not mandatory, Scripting is more common but again its very well documented.

No book will truely teach you Linux, chances are in your time with Linux you will run into something that a book cant teach you to fix, the community step in here, state your issues and they will try their best to help, but LPIC teaches it rather well, For programming in Linux use The Linux Programming Interface.

Go lone also, I have learned more going lone and I dont post as much as I used to do, dont be afraid to ask if you do need help and we all do at times, but try to research first you will find your answer quicker than asking, although ask here for a bit of a personal touch ;), youll always be safe on here asking questions, we have had a few people who have a go at new people, but they got told rather quick ;)

If you want freedom avoid Ubuntu or anything like that, they restrict you hell a PPA is going down soon for a DE, Arch based, Gentoo based or Debian will give you the best, I recommend Arch over anything these days, Manjaro as your distro you will be fine, the community there is also very friendly and helpful :)

But most of all just have fun and take your time, rushing does not get you anywhere, I am kind of leaving computers (Turning it into a hobby more than anything for now) and I will still use Linux as my driver, because it just works and works well :)

Have fun! 

 

13

90 percent of all computer users are generally desktop and power users with very basic computing requirements.Windows, Linux, OSX - it matters not.

Leave the hard stuff to the 10 percent of people whose job it is to deal with tedium.

14

Linux is easy if you can accept that you absolutely have to read the manual. Also Linux is most efficiently commanded via text based command-line, which is the result of the design philosophy of flexibility & freedom of choice for the user. You do not need to be a programmer to use Linux.

If you try to use Linux like you would use Windows it is going to be insanely hard and frustrating. However there is some development that aims to please the computer illiterate user-cattle, that want Windows but not Windows.

That said if you only want to use a computer for web-browsing, text-processing, and email, it's not going to matter what Operating system you use, they all work the same.

15

Occasionally you'll want to edit a text file to change a program's configuration, but there is no real coding required in Linux. The correct syntax of those config files and of terminal commands is often set in "code tags" in forums, for clarity, but generally they are just changing the value of a variable or two, not writing any code. If you can describe in clear English what you want to do and what is happening instead, you'll be fine. This should get you started.
http://debian-handbook.info/
No one source can document everything possible with the 30,000+ packages available in Debian's repositories, but it will probably be a long time before you encounter any malfunction that somebody else hasn't discovered first. Good places to look for your questions, already answered, include
forums.debian.net
linuxquestions.org
linuxforums.org

PS editing to add, fluffymace is right: if you rtfm and follow directions, it is easy.

16

Telling someone to install gentoo, not linking too the official gentoo wiki... I have no words.
If you want to jump in straight off, learn a whole lot about linux in two weeks (whole nighters included), you are serious about it and ready to be at the verge of shooting a bullet in your head when you don't understand stuff and spend hour's googling around because you don't have the prerequisites. Install gentoo, if not, don't and go for a gradual approach, like many people suggested on the thread.

Link to the official documentation, just in case:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:Main_Page

17

thanks for reviewing the thread but I have been on ubuntu for a couple of month or more now ..
so Mod could lock it now,

thanks for all the responses and help !

Goines

18

this is borderline necro as well so they will probably lock it ..
still thanks