Computer major seeking information on immersion in Linux - raised on Windows
If this is a redundant newbie question, I ask you to please point me to an equivalent thread. I read the advice, and I did a search, I just don't have enough time to weed through too much text, as I read way too slow. I am sorry for that. It is in my interest to just ask in terms of opportunity cost. If it is in your interest to ignore me, then I accept that.
Okay? :) First - I have been a Windows user from 9.x onward. I know a lot, but am not a Windows professional (I don't touch the core of the OS - registry, logs, drivers). Second - I am familiar with command lines, and have used Cygwin in school, if you could say that I actually used it. I am not skilled with the commands in Linux (but could figure it out from "help"/"-?"). Third - I am a computer major, and addict. Fourth - I may need to know how to use Linux as one of the requirements for a job. I know that there are different interface modes for Linux (although I don't know if this varies by distro). I am curious if a GUI version is any harder to use for an experienced user of Windows (in terms of clicking, typing, organizing files, running programs - the basics). From my general impression, it sounds like Linux (distributions) is/are more hands on, requiring you to "get your hands dirty" to make your box to run how you want it to. With Windows, I just use a *.msi, and everything installs easily. I don't know if it is the same kind of behavior. Maybe binaries are required instead? I have no clue. Anyway, the basic question that I have is that if I were dropped into a world where only Linux existed, would I be able to use it without too much of a "learning curve"? Does my computer background help at all? Right now I am barely past the stage of ignorance. I understand this, please be nice. Thank you. WWW (\/\/\/\/\/\/) Edit: it seems like the tags didn't work as I hoped - not experienced with that Tags: Newbie, First Post, Windows Vs Linux, Windows versus Linux, Transition, Transfer of Skill, Basics, GUI Basics |
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Hi, welcome to LQ!
IMO you will be fine. There are a few major changes you'd have to get used to, but once you do, you may not go back to M$windows. Check out Jerry Peek's doc on becoming a "Linux Wizard", that will give you some insight. Well written (.pdf's available) and right up your alley, Quote:
There are ide's for writing code, many to choose from. dive in, see how you like it. And it won't cost you an arm and a leg to find out. The shell terminals are a lot friendlier with GNU/Linux too. Like auto-completion, history, and search history too. Cheers, Glenn |
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Your computer background will both help and hinder. If you were in a program that focused entirely on Windows, that's sad and unfortunate. It sounds like a business related program. It will give you biases and preconceptions that you will have to overcome. But, dive in. The internet is loaded with information and resources. |
If you just want to do the regular stuff, it will be easy. If you choose your distro well, most things will function out of the box and are easy to configure. I had little command-line experience and still managed to compile a module for my wireless, just followed the instructions.
Most thing work the same in Linux and Windows - if you click a file, it will open, if you right click a file you'll more options. There are even binaries that you can install by double-clicking, just how you did with *.msi. Learning curve? Little. You will only have a (slight) learning curve if you want to use the functionalities that Windows doesn't offer. For program-developers, Linux has plenty of tools. If you want, try out a few distros. Take a look through screenshots and websites of Linux Distributions, download LiveCDs (you can try a Linux without making changes to your computer) from those more appealing, and make your choice. I learnt Linux in no time, and you'll adapt quicker than you'd expect. And you can always count on LinuxQuestions for help. |
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I know that you didn't say anything that indicated that, but I did say unconcious. Quote:
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don't even bother. Linux nowadays is more trouble than it's worth. IT used to be good but has apparently gone way downhill and you will spend countless hours banging your head against the wall just trying to get it to work on modern hardware. I doubt many people will be using it on their PC's in the future. the only place where it is truly useful is on web servers, but even that may change if hardware compatibility keeps slipping.
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Welcome to LQ,
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cheers Glenn |
Thank you all. :)
I am not sure how much knowledge of the Linux OS, related tools, and documentation I would be expected to know. There is nothing stated in the job description that indicates degree of experience. The job does also require use of MS Windows, and IE, but not to any degree. I understand now that I can anticipate having some interface issues that I wouldn't think of, because a there is a slightly different way to it. I have used Mac's a little, and found myself a bit clumsy, but still functional. My switch to Linux sounds like it would be somewhat similar. I might shoot myself in the foot because I am trying to intuit what to do based off of a MS Windows system. I am not that far along with programming I would say, so writing a few thousand lines, even to create a complex calculator, is still beyond me. Not to say that I couldn't do it, but rather taking much more time than a working professional needs. I was at DigiPen Institute of Technology for 3 years, but left because of mental health problems. I only really had 2 years of programming. I am returning to the programming realm at my current school, after having a break to learn world languages instead. I don't have a business background, just business minded professors teaching me about project management. In terms of environment at DigiPen, we were all in MS Windows. It wasn't our focus to look at the OS. The one class that even addressed operating systems was considered a joke of a class, and most people didn't take anything away from it. Outside of that, one professor did require us to learn the bash shell, and we used Cygwin to emulate his homework test environment. I also had a glimpse inside of VI and EMACS, but only because of another professor that didn't know what he was teaching (i.e. lied about his credentials - he was fired for being incompetent). Anyway, as I said, the school isn't about looking at OS's. They concentrate on graphics and simulations. There may be more taught now, as they are branching their degree offerings a little. GlennsPref, that "Linux Wizard" page is amazing. In terms of using programs that serve a similar or same purpose, I am reassured. I figure that I would be able to function at the same level as someone who barely knows MS Windows as their sole OS. There is a lot to learn, of course. I already have identified things that are missing in MS Windows that I usually just work around in terms of quick text editing. I look forward to trying those out. salasi, in my own defense :) 1. I don't look down on other OS's. I was raised primarily with DOS and MS Windows. I know that there are better alternatives, but I have been comfortable with MS Windows despite its problems. If it doesn't work like MS Windows, I assume it is a good thing. I hear variety is the spice of life. 2. Okay, 'man'. :) hehe I didn't know that. Thank you for pointing it out. 3. I was thinking that with there might only be a CLI in some distros. Also, I figured that a command line might be available in the GUI (but without opening anything). I didn't know what I was talking about fully, but I understand now in terms of GUI differences between distros. The learning curve would be too much if I was to be fired for not learning Linux fast enough. *.msi is the file extension for installation packages in MS Windows. As a note, I have put MS Windows in for each case of "Windows" as I know that it isn't the only windowed environment. I don't know if that is a touchy issue or not. Thank you all again! |
That's cool!
Just start, use a live cdrom, or flash-drive to have a look around without touching your current setup. When you figure out what apps you want/need, then choose a distro that appeals to you and your hardware. Yes, many of us describe M$win with the dollar sign somewhere, but no big issue. Like window$. You can have a shell terminal open on the desktop, any one of them or all of them, up to 16, I've seen, depending on your system specs. Konsole, from kde is the one I use most, and bash (Bourne Again Shell) is pretty standard on most distributions, but some prefer zsh (like me). If you were to start with LFS (Linux From Scratch) you'd be in cli mode for a while, but that is for hardcore types. Most distros come with a gui, standard. good luck to you, and keep in touch. ;-) regards Glenn |
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This is worth avoiding, and, if nothing else, I'd like you to not get to that point. (Hint 1: use the package manager; Hint 2: text config files make your life massively easier). Quote:
"CLI only" there are few CLI-only distros (things like specialist 'net appliance' distros); there are many CLI-only installations. So, installing a GUI is often something you choose to do, or not, but it is rarely the case that the distro forces you to omit the GUI. Often, for a server, GUI-less is a very valuable option. In general, GUIs do have a terminal-like application (personally, I prefer using konsole, the kde console tool, to using gui-less bash, but that's probably just me); even if there wasn't such a thing, you could still use the command line by opening up a separate terminal in parallel. Quote:
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Well, because I read slowly, my learning curve is shifted. I agree though that I didn't really say how well I learn, and how long I would have to prove myself to the business.
For now, I have enough knowledge to get off the ground. Thank you! :) |
Slow readers, like us, tend to be most accurate,
let's hope they appreciate not having to do things more than once. Cheers, and best wishes, Glenn |
My current take on linux vs. windows?
It's generally somewhat harder to do the easy stuff in linux. But it's generally SOOO much easier to do the hard stuff. (Disclaimer: This is a general statement. Exceptions exist. Both ways.) oh, one more thing: It's free. |
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Distributions also vary a lot in how much can be done by GUI (vs. command line). Quote:
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Once you try synaptic to install software, you will quickly realize that *.msi crap you are used to is lame. This is an area where Debian is just way better than Windows. |
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