Hey everyone! I'm a total newbie who just discovered how amazing Linux has become and I really want to dive into learning about it. I'm looking for tips and resources to help me research Linux alternatives quickly since my free time is pretty limited this month. I've spent a few evenings Googling and reading threads, but I'm still at the very beginning of deciding if Linux is right for me. I'm tech-savvy but haven't done any coding yet. I'm also hoping to use my new gaming PC, which I've mainly used for FL Studio and general tasks, along with my important FL project files. I want to fully embrace FOSS and customize my setup in the future. Currently, I'm leaning towards Linux Mint for my distro choice. Any advice or resources to get started? Thanks in advance!
5 Answers
YouTube is a solid resource for dipping your toes into Linux!
It really depends on your learning style. I like to learn by doing, so the fastest way for me was just diving in and using Linux directly. If you're into videos, there are some great YouTube channels! For example, there's a solid one on desktop environments [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdy45ji4Vs). Personally, I'm using Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition, which I find pretty user-friendly.
My advice is to start with something like Linux Mint and install it alongside Windows if that makes you more comfortable. Dive in and begin customizing your setup while learning as you go! The community is fantastic, and you'll find plenty of help via Google. I learned by jumping into Linux as my primary OS, and it pushed me to learn fast, which led me to run a home lab now!
If you're using FL Studio, I recommend looking into Reaper as a learning tool before fully switching to Linux. There are tutorials available for running FL Studio through Wine, but getting a Linux-native solution would be beneficial too. For your distro, consider Fedora KDE Plasma 42. It’s efficient and has the latest kernel, surprisingly using less CPU than GNOME!
Thanks for the suggestion! I'm definitely going to check that out. Sounds promising!
I believe in going all-in, so I suggest booting a "liveCD" version from a USB to test things out before you commit to an install. This way, you can also check if your hardware works well with the OS. Virtual machines can also be a helpful way to dive into Linux without installing it right away.
That's been my experience too! Most of my learning has come from tackling challenges as they arise, and YouTube helps a lot. I also found [OverTheWire's Bandit](https://overthewire.org/wargames/bandit/) to be a fantastic resource to get into the CLI.