Hey everyone! I'm new to Linux and recently installed EndeavourOS as my first distribution. I've been using it daily and learning along the way. I know some terminal commands, can move files around, and have installed packages, although I've also broken some things and Googled my way out of trouble! I'm interested in hearing about the mistakes you made when you were starting out. What did you misunderstand early on, or what did you think was important but actually wasn't? I want to deepen my understanding of how Linux works under the hood, including shell systems and permissions. What should I focus on next? Any bad habits to avoid or key things you wish you knew earlier? I'd appreciate any tips you have!
4 Answers
Welcome to the Arch side! A huge mistake I made was treating the AUR as a magical app store. When you install something using "yay," you're running scripts from random people, which can take forever if it's a large package. Always check the PKGBUILD file to understand what you're installing; it'll help you grasp package management better. And definitely set up Timeshift right away for easy snapshots!
One big mistake I made early on was oversimplifying command line installs. You really don’t have to be super precise; often, just using the program name (with hyphens instead of spaces) can work. If the command fails, it might not be in the repos, so you'll need to look up how to install it. Also, switching distros isn’t as daunting as it seems! Just remember that the main branches (Debian, Red Hat, Arch) are more about update frequency and the syntax for installations than anything else.
Don't forget to make backups before diving into modifications! Always back up configuration files before you mess with them. That way, if your changes break something, you can easily restore the original file. I learned that the hard way. Also, when you start customizing your system, consider using a test account so you can play around without risking your main setup.
That’s solid advice! I wish I had done that too—it would have saved me a lot of headaches.
If you're going to copy-paste random BASH oneliners, make sure to add a '#' in front as a safety net. And remember, backups are only useful if you check they can actually be recovered. It’s all about minimizing the risk while learning to navigate and customize your Linux environment!
Great tip about the AUR! I’ll definitely read the PKGBUILD before installing from there.