When I first started with Linux, I was overwhelmed by the choices. Which distro? Which desktop environment? Command line or GUI? This post shares what I wish someone had told me when I was starting out.

Choosing Your First Distro

There are hundreds of Linux distributions, but for beginners, I recommend starting with one of these three:

  • Ubuntu — The most popular, tons of tutorials online, great hardware support
  • Linux Mint — Based on Ubuntu but feels more like Windows, very beginner-friendly
  • Fedora — Slightly more cutting-edge, great if you want newer software

My suggestion? Start with Ubuntu or Linux Mint. You can always switch later once you know what you want.

Installation Options

You don't have to wipe your Windows installation to try Linux. Here are your options, from least to most commitment:

1. Live USB (No Installation)

Download the ISO, flash it to a USB drive using Rufus or balenaEtcher, and boot from it. You can try Linux without changing anything on your computer.

2. Virtual Machine

Install VirtualBox and run Linux inside a window. Great for learning without any risk.

3. Dual Boot

Install Linux alongside Windows. You choose which to boot when you turn on your computer. This is what most people eventually do.

4. Full Installation

Replace Windows entirely. Only do this once you're comfortable with Linux.

Essential Commands to Learn First

The terminal might seem scary, but these 10 commands will get you through most situations: 

# Navigate directories
cd /path/to/folder    # Change directory
ls                    # List files
ls -la                # List all files with details
pwd                   # Print current directory

# File operations
cp file.txt backup.txt    # Copy a file
mv file.txt newname.txt   # Move or rename
rm file.txt               # Delete a file (careful!)
mkdir newfolder           # Create a directory

# System commands
sudo apt update           # Update package list (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt upgrade          # Upgrade installed packages
sudo apt install nginx    # Install a package

Setting Up for Development

If you're using Linux for development, here's a quick setup I recommend: 

# Install essential tools
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git curl wget vim build-essential

# Set up Git
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

# Install Node.js (using nvm)
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install --lts

Things That Tripped Me Up

A few gotchas that confused me early on:

  • Case sensitivity — File.txt and file.txt are different files
  • No drive letters — Everything is under /, including other drives
  • Hidden files — Files starting with . are hidden (use ls -a to see them)
  • Permissions matter — You'll see "permission denied" a lot until you understand chmod and sudo
  • Package managers vary — Ubuntu uses apt, Fedora uses dnf, Arch uses pacman

Resources for Learning More

Some resources that helped me:

Wrapping Up

Linux has a learning curve, but it's worth it. You'll understand computers better, have more control over your system, and join a community that values openness and sharing knowledge.

Start small. Try it in a VM. Break things. Fix them. That's how you learn.

Got questions? Feel free to reach out. I'm happy to help where I can.