I bought a new computer and am considering switching from Windows to Linux because gaming is my main use case and I also want to learn programming. CachyOS caught my attention, but I'm thinking about dual-booting first so I can transition gradually.
My computer has 1 TB of storage, and I would probably start by giving Linux around 100 GB. If I end up using Linux more, can I safely resize the partitions later to give it additional space? Is it better to keep the Linux root and home directories separate?
I also have games installed on the Windows partition. Can Linux Steam use those existing installations, or would I generally need to download the games again? Do VS Code and PyCharm work well on Linux? Finally, what exactly is Hyprland? Is it just a visual theme, or does it control something more fundamental about the desktop?
5 Answers
VS Code and PyCharm both run well on Linux, and programming tools are generally well supported. You may need to install compilers, Python versions, SDKs, or other dependencies yourself, but that’s normal development setup rather than a major compatibility problem. VS Code is available through several installation methods, so use a trusted package source and be cautious with third-party extensions.
One hundred gigabytes is plenty for the Linux system itself, but it can become restrictive once you install several large games. A typical arrangement might use around 50–100 GB for the root partition and give the rest to /home or a separate games partition. If you have another drive, Linux can mount it at a chosen folder, so the operating system and game storage don’t have to be on the same physical partition.
Partition resizing is possible, but it’s best to plan carefully. You normally shrink the Windows partition from Windows itself, then use the unallocated space to expand Linux. Avoid shrinking the Windows filesystem from Linux. Also make backups first, since partition changes always carry some risk.
For a comfortable Linux setup, consider keeping the root filesystem separate from /home. Root contains the operating system, while /home holds your personal files, settings, downloads, and usually Steam data. A separate /home makes it easier to expand or reinstall the system without touching your personal files. Another option is mounting an additional partition inside a directory such as /home or /mnt.
I wouldn’t plan on sharing the Windows game partition as a permanent solution. Steam can sometimes detect or reuse an existing library, but Windows and Linux versions may use different files, Proton prefixes, launch options, or filesystem behavior. NTFS game libraries can also be unreliable when Windows hibernation or Fast Startup is enabled. In practice, using a Linux-native filesystem for the Linux Steam library and redownloading games is usually the least troublesome approach.
Check compatibility reports for the games you care about before committing. Many work very well through Proton, but multiplayer titles with unsupported anti-cheat are a common exception.
Hyprland is a Wayland tiling window manager, not simply a theme. It controls how application windows are placed, resized, focused, and moved around the screen. It usually requires extra components for things like panels, notifications, wallpapers, login screens, and desktop settings, so it can involve more manual configuration than a full desktop environment.
For a first Linux installation, KDE Plasma is usually an easier starting point because it provides a complete, familiar desktop and is highly customizable. You can try Hyprland later without making it your only desktop.
Is there a good guide that explains the difference between the root filesystem and /home, especially how expanding or remounting /home works?