I'm a computer science student wanting to dive into Linux and get comfortable with using the command line. I'm not sure which distribution I should start with. Any recommendations for beginners looking to really learn the ropes?
2 Answers
If you're just starting out, popular choices among beginners are Mint, Ubuntu, Zorin, Pop!_OS, or Fedora. My advice? Just give one of those a try and see how it fits you. Mint is particularly friendly for those coming from Windows, which might make your transition easier.
I recommend trying a manual install of Arch if you're feeling adventurous! It's not as scary as it sounds—be sure to read through the wiki and Google anything that confuses you. I used to ask ChatGPT for clarification on commands when I was getting started. Just be careful with command generation, since it can mess things up. If your first attempt fails, don't get discouraged; learning from those mistakes is part of the journey! And check out OverTheWire's Bandit game for some command line fun afterwards!
Totally agree! Using a flash drive can make testing different distros much easier without commitment.