How to Get Started With Linux
Linux is a secure, versatile operating system known for its reliability and flexibility. Its core kernel manages hardware resources, supports multitasking and encourages collaborative development under a General Public License (GPL). The system is efficient and cost-effective. It is used in many things you use every day, from personal computers to smartphones and even supercomputers. And because it’s open source, you can see how it works.
In 1991, Linus Torvalds started coding what would become the Linux kernel. He was inspired by the Unix operating system he had used at university and wanted to write an Intel-assembler version for his home computer. His first programs were basic, but he kept improving them. He added emulation of VT100 terminal escape sequences for the screen, wrote a driver for the keyboard and serial port, and eventually implemented multitasking by writing two streams of letters to the screen, one stream of “A”s and one of “Bs.” He was also able to dial via modem into his university’s Usenet server from his home computer.
As with anything, the best way to learn is by doing. You can try Linux out by booting it from a DVD or USB drive, which you can use to troubleshoot Windows problems, recover files, scan an infected machine for malware and provide a secure environment for online banking and other important tasks. However, if you want to get serious about Linux, it’s recommended that you install it onto your PC. Installed Linux will remember your settings and software, and it will keep files intact between reboots.
Most Linux distributions come with a number of software applications that you can run and use on the desktop. These include file and web browsers, word processors, photo editors and other applications that you’re likely familiar with from your experience with other operating systems like Windows or macOS. If you need more than the default software, there are a variety of free tools available to download and install, from software managers to code compilers.
The most common way to use a computer is by interacting with the graphical user interface that is displayed on the screen when you log in. Depending on the distribution, this may be controlled by the X Window System or another graphical system, and it will include a set of default applications for managing files and folders, text editing and running a command-line session.
Getting to know the linux directory structure is essential to understanding a Linux system. The main directories are /boot, /etc, /lib, /proc, /sbin and /var. /boot contains the kernel, loader and bootloader files; /etc contains startup scripts and configuration files for all users; /lib stores dynamic libraries and dependencies; /proc stores system-related information that gets loaded into memory upon boot; /sbin stores system binaries and commands; and /var is where logging data, cache data and other files are stored. The most useful tool for new Linux users is man, which provides descriptions of all the commands that can be executed on a system.
