June 25, 2011
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Life as a Linux n00b
If you want to start learning how linux works from the ground up, one of the best things to do is not download a full featured linux distribution (distro) like Ubuntu or Fedora, but instead, download and install a Server edition like Ubuntu server. You'll have nothing but a command line interface when you first boot up, but you'll have a lot more appreciation for what folks have done to make a robust operating system like Linux into something much more user friendly.
Some of the challenges you'll face as a newb are the following:
- command line interface? omg, what am i supposed to do with this, i'm not a h4x0rz! (user@server:~$)
- Why do I have to be God to do anything??? (sudo)
- Bringing the OS up to date (apt-get update)
- Installing a GUI (x) interface
- Setting up Remote Desktop
- Installing a Web Browser (What, firefox isn't just download and execute?! I have to install libraries??? what's GTK+?!?!?!?!?!)
- Installing applications
The whole reason Linux Server OSs are the best to train on is the fact that they're stripped down to the bare essentials to run. As a server, you'll most likely install ssh server, a few libraries, maybe a web server, a database app, and a few other server specific applications (perhaps even compile a custom kernel!). There's no need to clutter it up with software like a graphical user interface, web browser, or even vnc server. Because of the apparent lack of applications, these server OSs are much more performant (yes, performant is a word... in french... oops).
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