Linux 101

[Rickster]

Hello everyone,

Ive recently been offered a Raspberry Pi for free from a friend but I have no knowledge of Linux/Ubuntu/Mint ect...and I am considering rejecting the gift.

Do any of you have updated tutorials on linux? And please dont tell me to google or youtube it, i need proper documentation/guides ect.

Maybe Linux for dummies?

Basically...how did you learn to use linux.

 

[MyWorld]

By using Google. You run into a problem and then you Google it. To this day this is the very way I keep learning.
Also another valuable resource is the wiki pages of your chosen distro.

Pick the distro that works with the RaspberryPi:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads

Now through trial and error you will very quickly learn.

The best Linux tutorial out there IMHO is the Linux Cookbook. http://dsl.org/cookbook/cookbook_toc.html (Google for a PDF link).
I have no idea if they kept it current, but it was all the buzz a few years back, and it is written by a South African.

Some more useful links regarding the RaspberryPi:
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=26
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Raspberry_Pi
etc.

If you are going to pass up on it, why not offer it to someone else? I'm dying to get my hands on one! As soon as my budget straightens out a bit I'm going to try and order one.

 

[Rickster]

The thing that Im aware of is that you don't have .exe's like windows...so how do you 'run' a program.

Does everything have to happen in the terminal?

 

[MyWorld]

No, I would suggest you download a LiveCD of something simple like Linux Mint (http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=118) and just play with in on a normal PC. If you want something else to try: ftp://ftp.is.co.za/linux/distributions/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V7.0.5CD-2012-12-21-EN.iso
Burn the image to disk, boot up with the disk in the DVD/CD Rom and you should be golden. No need to install Linux just yet and once you reboot you'll have your old PC back, no harm. This will give you a feel for Linux.

You run a program in Linux either by clicking the icon in the "start menu" or by typing it's name in the run dialog (like Alt+F2 or directly from the search function in the "start menu") or in a terminal. No need for any file extensions.

Play with a liveCD first, this way you will know if you would like to invest some time with Linux.

 

[dj_jyno]

One of the most important things to remember - Linux is Case Sensitive, so Document.odf and document.odf are considered two different files.

 

[Tinuva]

Hello everyone,

Ive recently been offered a Raspberry Pi for free from a friend but I have no knowledge of Linux/Ubuntu/Mint ect...and I am considering rejecting the gift.

Do any of you have updated tutorials on linux? And please dont tell me to google or youtube it, i need proper documentation/guides ect.

Maybe Linux for dummies?

Basically...how did you learn to use linux.

I learned Linux by just throwing it on to a pc and start using it, much like I did windows. How did you learn to use windows? Use the same tactic on Linux, it works wonders. Just use it, no manual needed, no Google needed, but Google sure does make it easier.

Raspberry Pi is awesome, however if it is a gift, see if you can find a use for it, most of the time you can just download an image, put it on the SDcard and bang you done, no Linux knowledge needed.

For example, use it as a HTPC on the TV, just download Openelec image, put it on the SDcard and connect to the TV, no Linux knowledge needed, and this combination is WAY better than any WD live player ect out there.