I recently replaced Windows 11 with CachyOS and am discovering that my previous experience with live systems and dual-booting did not prepare me for using Linux full-time. I'm comfortable with computers, but I'm not yet confident with terminals, scripts, configuration files, package management, or concepts such as the Linux filesystem, directories, mounts, and where personal files belong.
I know that documentation and the Arch Wiki are valuable, but I find them difficult to use without already understanding the terminology. I learn better through videos or approachable, structured explanations. Are there any YouTube channels, courses, websites, books, or other resources that teach Linux to former Windows users from the ground up? I'm especially interested in learning basic commands and tools, understanding how Linux works, and gradually becoming comfortable editing configuration files and automating tasks. Advice on learning at a manageable pace would also be appreciated.
4 Answers
You don’t need to read the Arch Wiki from beginning to end. Treat it as a reference: search for the exact task you’re doing, read the relevant section, and follow links when a term is unfamiliar. For a CachyOS-based system, learn the basics of pacman first—updating with `sudo pacman -Syu` and installing packages with `sudo pacman -S package-name`. If you use the AUR, understand what an AUR helper such as `yay` is doing instead of treating it as a magic command.
The most useful early topics are the filesystem layout, users and permissions, package management, systemd services, logs, and shell navigation. Learn each command’s purpose and common options before combining commands into scripts.
For the filesystem, think of Linux as one directory tree beginning at `/`, rather than separate drive letters. Your personal files normally live under `/home/your-user-name`; removable disks and other filesystems are attached to that tree through mount points. You can start with the graphical file manager and learn commands such as `pwd`, `ls`, `cd`, `cp`, `mv`, and `mkdir alongside it. Seeing the graphical and command-line versions of the same operation makes the concepts much easier to connect.
Try approaching this as a series of small projects rather than trying to learn the entire operating system at once. Set up the everyday software you need first, then choose one topic at a time—file management, packages, permissions, services, shell basics, and configuration files. You didn’t learn Windows overnight, so there’s no need to expect Linux to happen that way either.
Linux Journey is a useful beginner-oriented site, and the ExplainingComputers YouTube channel has approachable introductory material. Linux and Unix books from publishers such as O’Reilly can also be worthwhile, especially if you prefer structured learning. AI assistants can help explain unfamiliar commands, but verify their suggestions and never run commands you don’t understand. Keep backups and experiment in a virtual machine when possible.
CachyOS is powerful, but an Arch-based distribution can be a demanding first full-time Linux system because you’re closer to the underlying pieces. That’s fine if you want a project, but a more guided distribution such as Kubuntu or another beginner-focused option may reduce the amount of setup while you learn. Either way, Linux does not require using the terminal for every daily task; graphical tools are perfectly valid. Add command-line work when it solves a problem or helps you understand the system, rather than making it a requirement for everything.
I’ve already researched replacement software for my CAD and simulation tools, and I’m comfortable setting technical goals. My main issue is wanting a deeper foundation: basic commands, available tools, configuration files, and how the system fits together. I may start with small projects such as customizing a terminal emulator so I can learn by doing without trying to rebuild my entire Windows setup immediately.