This is my first post on this platform. Kinda nervous...
As you can tell from the topic sentence I am 110% brand new to the Linux world. My brother got me interested in it because we were talking about open source software and me wanting to learn more. A few years went by and well here I am. I want to learn Linux but I have a disability and learning things like this is hard for me at times. Would anyone know any simple ways to learn Linux from nothing to something? I want to do this because I am paying too much for other software on Windows and if I can do more open source it will cost less and, I think, can do more then I ever thought. Its a really cool experience learning more about the open source world. Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions or comments on how to start and grow in Linux and that the information is simple enough that it is some what easy to understand. I know easy is relative in the open source world. Look forward to hearing and thank you for the help!
I'll give some thoughts, hopefully something will be useful.
To me, Ubuntu-MATE is a Ubuntu system, with only the default Ubuntu Desktop GNOME replaced by the MATE Desktop, which to me is actually a good thing, as GNOME isn't my 'cup of tea'. An official page describes Ubuntu flavors as
Ubuntu flavors offer a unique way to experience Ubuntu, each with their own choice of default applications and settings
thus what applies to Ubuntu, applies to Ubuntu-MATE and mostly to all other GNU/Linux systems (eg. my secondary PC runs Debian, and the major difference I notice is it has only two screens where on this box I have five; ie. I don't notice the Ubuntu vs Debian, only form-factor differences of the box).
we all learn best in different ways; but many people learn by doing, so I'll suggest installing Ubuntu-MATE on a spare system, and experiment with it, try and do whatever you like doing on computers with it, try different things that you see online that look cool and experiment... You'll obviously break the system (at least I & most of us do!), but many of us learn more in the fixing of whatever we broke, and if it becomes a pain to fix it, just re-install. I re-installed this system earlier today (non-destructively too, ie. my data survived the re-install & thus <15 minutes later I was using it as if the re-install hadn't happened).
create challenges for yourself & then try and accomplish it, ie. I used to have rather strict bandwidth quotas when I started using Ubuntu at home, thus I'd never install Ubuntu MATE or any Ubuntu flavor (it wasn't a flavor at the time, but we'll ignore that) but would only ever download Ubuntu Desktop and install that; as that download was quota free... I'd then switch to my ISP's mirror of Ubuntu Servers (so I'd be quota free for package downloads) and then achieve the switch from Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME 2 at the time) to whatever flavor desktop I wanted to try (eg. Xfce of Xubuntu, KDE Plasma of Kubuntu etc).. Whilst I did it to avoid having my DSL drop to dial up speeds, would you know how to do it? as its only package changes as the link I provided earlier mentioned; that could be something you set for youself to accomplish and then do it; it doesn't take long (that change can also be accomplished by re-install to for some releases)
Have fun, and you'll never stop learning, as Open Source just keeps moving. Anyway, Welcome Jason.
[ alas my re-install today did require me to touch my backups; the re-install I'm using now had chromium & most apps continue as if re-install hadn't happened, but my firefox had lost everything & was acting as if first run on a new install ; so for that one app I did need to restore data from backups... we all need backups eventually ]
I do realize that some of the documents that I will point you to will be a bit out of date, compared to the most recent Distros, but more relevant to the Ubuntu MATE experience than generic books and, if nothing else, will prompt you to consider/research what I will have presented in those documents.
I invite you to have a look at some/all of the documents that I offered in my GitHub repository:
You could use those to create your own "Documentation" of your Desktop, if you like to have a written record ... what you did where ... for your specific box.
You can start with VMWare workstation (or VirtualBox) to test it out. This means you can have a fake Ubuntu MATE system running in a Window. This is actually how I started out many years ago.
Next best option is to install it on a spare system - but not so many of us have those lying around.
If you feel braver - try "dual boot" install on your day-to-day device. This means having the option to choose which system you use each time you boot. This is reasonably easy and reasonably reliable these days. But make a backup first just in case - and do not touch/mess with "recovery" partitions.
I am relatively new to linux myself (if you consider 2-3 years as new) and trust me when I tell you the learning curve is pretty steep. The good news is you can get in and start using your pc quickly and do most of the things you did on Windows or Apple with very little effort.
The biggest difference I noticed early on is with installing software, so I would start there. Learn the different ways to install apps to you system. Learn to install them with SNAP and/or Flatpak and also learn how to install them via the terminal.
Hi and welcome to the amazing world of Linux and the free and open source software community!
As a long-time Linux user (I took my first steps into the Linux world back in 2000 with SuSE Linux 6.4), the best advice I can give you to learn is this: Install a popular distribution aimed at new users and use it for the same tasks you would normally do with Windows or other proprietary systems.
Although distributions have greatly improved in recent years and require less and less intervention from new users, keep in mind that you’re learning to use a completely different operating system than Windows, so many things won’t work the way you’re used to.
When things don’t work, don’t get discouraged. Search online and post your questions in the forums dedicated to the distribution you’ve chosen. In general, if you pick a popular and beginner-friendly distribution, you’ll find plenty of people willing to help and guide you step by step.
Don’t lose heart, and remember—it’s just a matter of getting used to it. For this reason, if possible, I recommend installing the distribution on real hardware and using it for all your work. That’s the only way to step out of your comfort zone and truly feel motivated to learn Linux. It’s also the fastest way to become confident in using the system.
Most importantly: have fun and stay curious. Even after 25 years of using Linux, I’m still discovering new things about the distributions I use, learning to work with new programs, and I find it all very exciting.
Welcome again—I’m sure you’ll feel right at home among us!
UM Guide is the first resource to read. Since then I'd suggest to read
Generally, an average computer user does not need to study any Linux specifics for one's everyday activities. Internet searches and forum support are virtually the only ways to solve a possible problem.
We were all new at one time. You will screw up, but don't let that get you down, we all have done that. You can stay a casual user like me, GUI not the terminal or become and advanced user too or anything in between It's really up to you.
Keep an open mind.
The hardest thing is un-learning the Windows way.
Good luck on your Linux journey
First of all - let the new information simmer and sink in! Don't be discouraged by overwhelming number of things you may be pressured into thinking "you need to know" because you only need to know how to ask a right question and provide enough information when you do get stuck
We all get stuck one way or the other but the think with Linux and this community in general is - we all help each other to best of our abilities, it only takes just a little patience and good will and believe me - everything can be learnt and fixed
Also - do not be afraid to try things out - here are a lot of comments that can get you started, just take a cup of your favourite beverage and ease into the new information and you will see it is much simpler than it appears from the outside, it is just the volume of information combined with old Windows habits that make it seem much more difficult than it actually is so my advice would be to not give up at the first hurdle and don't be anxious to ask for help!
; so for that one app I did need to restore data from backups... we all need backups eventually ]