linuxgeek: Re: [LINUX_Newbies] How to learn Linux

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Re: [LINUX_Newbies] How to learn Linux

On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 12:54 PM, Michael Sullivan
msulli1355@gmail.com [LINUX_Newbies] <LINUX_Newbies@yahoogroups.com>
wrote:
> This seems like a VERY general question, and I've probably lost about
> half of you, but this is something I very much would like to know. I've
> found hundreds of websites offering tutorials for how to learn Linux,
> but every one of them give a tiny bit of information and no clear step
> how to continue. Basically, I'm at point A. I want to get to point C,
> but have no clear idea where point B is. I have been using Gentoo since
> 2005, but not because it's the "expert" distribution. I use it because
> it's fairly easy to find software that works with my hardware. I
> started using Gentoo shortly after I got the PC I'm typing this message
> on. I seem to have problems all the time, and I'd very much like to
> learn how to solve them myself. I'm the type that would rather do
> without than beg for help from strangers normally, but I feel like I'm
> ALWAYS having problems with Gentoo. I need help, and not a handout. I
> need a hand-up. Can anyone recommend a (free) website or book series to
> help me reach my goal: not to be a noob anymore?
> -Michael Sullivan-

You're not the Michael Sullivan who worked on a PhD at Carnegie Mellon are you?

IN any case, if you want to learn it, you have to use it. And try
different distributions. I'd suggest Fedora, OpenSuSE and Ubuntu to
start. Run them in VMs, it's the easiest way to learn them.

As for me, I'm completely self-taught. No books or classes or
anything, so my perspective is a bit different. I turned a hobby into
a career and learned the most by screwing things up accidentally then
having to research and ask how to fix them.

So I can't recommend a website or books or anything like that.
Personally, there is just no substitute for experience if you want to
really understand an OS. So just ask questions, that's what this
group is for (and it's usually responsive). For more in depth
discussions or questions, there is the other group:
linux@yahoogroups.com. A bunch of us are members of both groups, but
may or may not have time to respond immediately.

Also, Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuSE have their own communities, forums
and mailing lists that are also great places to ask questions and
learn.

Finally, if you really want a book, Running Linux from O'Reilly was a
good general one (there may be others, I dont know).
http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596007607.do

Anyway, hope that helps,

Jeff