I've been diving deeper into Linux recently, mainly using Fedora and Mint, and I've come across several things that aren't obvious until you make a mistake. For example, I've forgotten to check the filesystem format before using an external drive, or even wiped the wrong partition because I trusted the output from lsblk too much. I'm curious—what's something you wish you knew earlier in your Linux journey that could help new users avoid pain or confusion? This could be anything related to updates, partitioning, permissions, bootloaders, etc.
4 Answers
Definitely check the dates on any solutions you find online. I learned this the hard way after following years-old advice and borking a system. Always read the responses too, as they might highlight potential issues.
One of my biggest blunders was not double-checking the commands I was about to run by using 'ls' to list everything first. It’s so easy to miss the small details!
When I first installed Linux, I didn't create a non-privileged account. I was logged in as root all the time until someone pointed out how dangerous that was. Back then, it was a lot less documented, so I can’t blame my past self too much.
Why is running as root a bad idea? I’m still getting used to the differences!
I really wish I had kept notes on what I installed and how I configured things. Oh, and don’t skip backups! Trust me, going through multiple reinstalls because of mistakes is a pain.
At one time, my best friend was Timeshift, especially when I broke something!
Yes! Taking notes is a lifesaver. I started documenting everything after my second attempt at setting up MythTV and Kodi.
Also, when you're dealing with scripts, try using 'echo' to print your command with variables before running it. It really helps to avoid unintended consequences!