Distro for learning Linux

Craigus

Craigus

Craigus

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18 Sep 2012
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199
Location
Wellington, Somerset
I am going to do a linux install as a VM within W7. What distro would you recommend for me? I have never used linux before.

I am aware of the different mainstream distro's but the reason for me using it is slightly different. I have no need to use Linux, I don't need to be able to run things from Linux, I am only doing it to learn about it and to have fun and learn how to use the terminal.

Therefore I have no need to get a stable version running quickly (unless the best way to learn this kind of thing is to run ubuntu or something) and would be happy just to plod along with it in my own time. Not a problem if it goes wrong and I have to start again.

Is it far too difficult to install Debian or something similar and slowly build up a GUI if you have never used Linux before?

Any help or advice would be great :)
 
honestly I would start with a distro that has a gui, learn your way around that, and then move on to a terminal only interface when you are happy with how the file system works, where everything is kept etc. Having a GUI doesn't prohibit use of the terminal :). Debian or Ubuntu are good mainstream starting points, and most of what you learn from them will carry across to other distros.
 
If it's all about learning (and particularly working with the command line) I would recommend starting with a Debian netinstall and learning that way.

I wouldn't recommend starting with Arch or Gentoo because of the way they go about their particular installation methods, which can become frustrating, particularly if you're using a UEFI system and it's definitley not something for beginners. Debian is a lot more forgiving in that respect that it automates a lot of that process for you.
 
id second the recommendation to go with debian netinstall, id steer clear of arch i found it to have a lot of things that are different for the sake of being different,
 
Go with arch, follow the beginner wiki, you won't learn a lot by installing linux but it'll give you a feel for who does what and what goes where. The real learning comes breaking and fixing your distro, or I guess you could get a book although I couldn't recommend you one.
 
+1 vote for Debian. Once you have it installed you can learn how to compile via source etc and system tools.
 
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