First off I wan't to start by saying hello! As this is my first post I really hope it will not be my last but on the topic of this discussion. What to do with Linux. I have installed Arch Linux and I am very happy with my setup but it feels like I'm stuck and really don't now what to do next, I really wan't to learn from Linux. So I was wondering if anyone could give me a push in the right direction.
Thanks in advance :D
I had a similar experience with Linux in September. I strongly recommend that you begin to "force" yourself to do everything you do on a day to day basis on Linux. Which will lead to finding alternative software, command line tools, programming tools which many are built into Linux.
I started by moving files over from Windows, and learning the differences in File systems [NTFS vs. EXT4 vs BTRFS vs LVM ] Also, "forced" myself to move my files from a Terminal which lead to me renaming many files and deleting spaces from them which led me to learn regex, perl to simplify the process.
so without going to in depth, Use Linux as your everyday driver, and things will come up for you to learn and transition to.
Customize and compile your own kernel
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Sounds like a great idea. Thanks!
Make it your daily driver, just do what you normally do and when you run across a problem attempt to solve it (ask the forums, search, even do some research, etc) and things will start going smoother and smoother and be satisfying at the same time.
Instead of thinking of what now, like you've hit a goal, try to get into that daily driver mindset where you just try to do what you normally do basically.
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Thats pretty much what I do, I've always had that daily driver mindset. I feel like I've learnt a lot from Linux but I always wan't to be leaning more, trying new things having new projects to work on and i'm finding it quite hard and don't know where to start from.
Thanks for replying!
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again, as I read your post I am taken back in time to 4 months ago. I broke my install twice, fiddling around. I encryted my /home folder and had to decrypt and move everything to an external drive and back to a new formatted drive. It was fun really. The guys at the Linux Mint irc pranked me once and I had to reinstall everything again as well. Considering your using Arch Linux, you are bound to break something or have to compile something from source. Find out how things work there is a ton to learn, or ask someone here for things to do like your doing now :)
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Yep definitely broke things, had to reinstall twice.
I was in the same situation. I just installed Linux (Elementary OS, looks so slick!) and started working full-time with it. You will learn a lot if you can't fall back to Windows.
Maybe try to install / configure an apache web-server?
Already done that but I would never go back to Windows. I haven't touched Windows as of November last year, Everything I do is with Linux.
Think of something you want to do and learn how to get there? I dunno.
Make a GPU fan utility or something. That could teach you not only how the kernel module system works but also how the GPU works with the system and batch scripting.
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That's excellent you've got that mindset, seems like you're on the right track especially with wanting to learn more. To suggest things to work on and learn, I'd say it'd depend what you're wanting to achieve such as if you're wanting to be a Linux Sysadmin there's a number of things you can do and read
Play with kvm-qemu, or xen, vmware, etc
Install some services across a couple virtual machines, DHCP, DNS, Apache, host a wiki (such as dokuwiki)
Practice your documentation on said wiki so you know how to thoroughly document your work, and helps serve as a wonderful reference in a month or so after the details start slipping of how to install and configure say Apache
Learn BASH, and after your BASH skills are high learn another language to supplement it such as Perl or Python
Books:
UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook (4th Edition)
Practical Linux Infrastructure by Syed Ali
The Practice of System and Network Administration, (2nd Edition)
TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1: The Protocols (2nd Edition)
LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell
Links:
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Thanks a lot I will get on it right away. :)
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Learn BASH
Best statement on this thread. Bash is great, the again so is Perl & Python