So I’ve been thinking about Linux recently, and I’m told this is where the Linux experts hang out. I have a lot of questions that I can barely articulate, so I’m just hoping someone gets where I’m coming from.

I always knew there were more than two operating systems, but the closest I got to open-source software was dabbling with Firefox and OpenOffice in college. I’m an engineer, and trying to stay compatible with all the engineering programs means you’re probably going to use Windows whether you like it or not, so I never seriously considered another OS until now. I’m proud of being good at Windows, but also bitter about it… I can’t shake the nagging feeling that I’ve been missing out.

So I started looking up guides on Linux, and I have so many questions.

I’m astonished by how many distros there are. It’s not just Ubuntu, we have Mint and Zorin and MX and enough options to make my head spin. So how do you choose a distro? Do you just know, or do you have to try them all? Trying one is daunting enough. I’m afraid people might lose respect for me and the open-source software movement if I change my mind. Is there some place where you can try distros on for size without the trouble and risk of migrating multiple times?

How do I know if Linux is right for me? How do I know Windows is wrong? If I loathe my user experience with Windows, is that the fault of Windows or just me? If Linux starts feeling comfortable, how do I know it’s because I’ve made the right choice and it’s not just inertia setting in? Does that even matter?

I’m at least good with Windows, but I lack the intuition of the average Linux user. Could I really master Linux the way I have Windows, or would my awkward personality relegate me to being a permanent tourist?

Is my hardware too old to start tinkering with OSs?

I know your choice of OS should take priority over your programs, as long as those programs aren’t vital, but I have a full Steam library and don’t look forward to losing any old friends. Can I partition my drive? Is that worth the trouble, switching from OS to OS depending on circumstances? I hear some distros these days can run some windows programs, and that you don’t have to leave your old programs behind the way you used to, but can I count on that trend continuing?

Will losing touch with the Windows environment make it more difficult for me to succeed in a Windows-dominated career?

Sorry for the ramble. I’m probably overthinking this. I overthink everything. But I also grew up in a time and place where changing OSs meant you risked losing everything.

EDIT: The post title has been updated from “Need help with Linux” to “egg🐧irl” to meet local standards. This post happened because I was writing a post for a tech forum, but had other things on my mind, things which I’ve yet to find the courage to verbalize directly. I appreciate the advice and encouragement, both about migrating to Linux, and… yaknow… “migrating to Linux.”

  •  monsieur_jean   ( @monsieur_jean@kbin.social ) 
    10•8 months ago

    You are overthinking this.

    The distro you chose is important when you start to do serious things : running a web server, deploying applications for a company, etc.

    At your level this is irrelevant. You want to play with Linux, get a taste of it? Install VirtualBox on your PC, create a new VM and install Linux Mint Cinnamon. Is it the best to begin with? Maybe yes, maybe no, who cares, it’s one of the noob friendly distros and it is based on Ubuntu Linux (it’s virtually the same minus some proprietary crap) which has TONS of documentation online, and forums filled with answers to almost any question you can think of. You run into a problem? Paste the error message in Google and a post on the Ubuntu forums will be on the top of the search results.

    In one evening, you will have learned how to run and configure Virtualbox (very easy) and install an “easy” Linux distro. And you will have your playground ready.

    Now just look around, try the environment. Open a console and start trying some commands. Find yourself a little project that will force you to look under the hood : setting up a basic LAMP webserver for example. That will teach you how to use package repositories to install new software, where the different components of these software end up in the system folders, how to run command lines, etc. Give it a few evenings.

    Then pick up two-three other distributions with different Windows Managers and reinstall your VM (or make a new one) with them. To see the differences. Manjaro with KDE. Fedora XFCE. Endeavour i3 (an amazing Arch based distro but with a very steep learning curve. For later).

    Just fool around in a VM. Don’t take that seriously. Explore Linux. Give up. Come back to it. Nobody cares, just have fun and try. You won’t know if you like it unless you play with it.

    Then if you fall in love replace Windows with your favorite distro and run Windows in a QEMU virtual machine… :P