What Should I Learn Before Installing Linux?

Getting comfortable with research and reading is super helpful. I recommend focusing on written resources—books and articles—about 95% of the time, and maybe 5% on videos. This will really set you up to understand Linux better on your journey.

The best way to learn is to just install it and get your hands dirty! You might break things at first, but fixing those breakages is one of the best ways to learn about Linux. Just remember to back up your data beforehand. If you're dual-booting with Windows, pay extra attention to EFI and bootloader details as that's where many users get stuck.

Reading up on basic computer concepts like file systems, bootloaders, and partitions will definitely come in handy. But don't worry about needing programming knowledge at all!

Honestly, you don't need to know much before you dive in! You can create a bootable USB with Linux Mint, try it out without installation, and see how it feels. If you don’t like it, you can boot back into your existing operating system with no issues. You can always switch back later or try out different distros down the road.

Just know that Linux is an operating system like Windows or macOS, not directly tied to coding. The vital skills you need include setting up a computer, dealing with partitions, effectively searching for solutions when you run into issues, and not being afraid to use terminal commands when needed. For beginners, distros like Mint, Pop!_OS, or Ubuntu are great starting points!