Your First Day with Linux: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

You have heard about Linux, maybe at work, from a friend, or from a job posting that requires Linux experience. But where do you actually start? The world of Linux can feel overwhelming at first — hundreds of distributions, a command line that looks like it belongs in a hacker movie, and configuration files everywhere.

Take a deep breath. Everyone who uses Linux today was once exactly where you are now. This guide is your friendly companion for day one. No prior experience required.

What Is Linux, Really?

Linux is a free, open-source operating system — like Windows or macOS, but with some important differences:

• Free: You can download, use, and modify Linux without paying anything
• Open source: Anyone can see, study, and improve the code
• Secure: Linux is inherently more resistant to viruses and malware
• Customizable: You can change virtually everything about how it looks and works
• Powerful: It runs 96% of the world's top servers, most smartphones (Android), and the International Space Station

When people say "Linux," they usually mean a Linux distribution (or "distro") — a complete operating system built around the Linux kernel. Think of the kernel as the engine, and the distribution as the entire car.

Which Distribution Should You Choose?

This is the most common question beginners ask, and the honest answer is: it matters less than you think. The core skills transfer between all distributions. That said, here are the best choices for beginners:

Our recommendation: Start with Ubuntu Desktop if you want to use Linux as your daily driver, or Ubuntu Server in a virtual machine if you want to learn server administration.

Installing Linux

You have three options, from least to most commitment:

Option 1: Virtual Machine (Safest)

Run Linux inside your current operating system without changing anything. Perfect for learning.

# 1. Download VirtualBox (free) from virtualbox.org
# 2. Download Ubuntu ISO from ubuntu.com
# 3. Create a new VM:
#    - Type: Linux, Version: Ubuntu (64-bit)
#    - RAM: 4096 MB minimum
#    - Hard disk: 25 GB minimum
# 4. Mount the ISO and boot
# 5. Follow the installer

Option 2: USB Live Boot (Try Without Installing)

Boot Linux from a USB drive without installing anything on your hard drive. Great for testing.

# 1. Download Ubuntu ISO
# 2. Download Rufus (Windows) or Etcher (Mac/Linux)
# 3. Flash the ISO to a USB drive (8GB minimum)
# 4. Restart your computer and boot from USB
# 5. Choose "Try Ubuntu" to test without installing

Option 3: Dual Boot or Full Install

Install Linux alongside Windows (dual boot) or replace Windows entirely. Only do this once you are comfortable with Linux in a VM.

The Terminal: Your New Best Friend

The terminal (also called command line, shell, or console) is where the real power of Linux lives. It might look intimidating at first, but think of it as a text-based conversation with your computer — you type commands, it responds.

Open a terminal: Press Ctrl + Alt + T on Ubuntu, or find "Terminal" in your applications menu.

Your First 10 Commands

Understanding the File System

Linux organizes everything in a single tree structure starting from / (root). Here are the directories you should know:

/               → Root of everything
├── /home       → Your personal files (like C:\Users in Windows)
├── /etc        → System configuration files
├── /var        → Variable data (logs, databases, websites)
├── /tmp        → Temporary files (cleared on reboot)
├── /usr        → User programs and utilities
├── /bin        → Essential command binaries
├── /sbin       → System administration binaries
├── /opt        → Optional/third-party software
├── /dev        → Device files (hard drives, USB, etc.)
├── /proc       → Virtual filesystem with process information
└── /boot       → Boot loader files (kernel)

Key difference from Windows: Linux uses forward slashes (/), not backslashes (\). And everything is case-sensitive: File.txt and file.txt are two different files.

Installing Software

Forget downloading .exe files from websites. Linux has package managers — think of them as built-in app stores that handle installation, updates, and removal.

Ubuntu/Debian (apt)

# Update the package list
sudo apt update

# Install a program
sudo apt install vlc

# Search for packages
apt search image editor

# Remove a program
sudo apt remove vlc

# Update all installed programs
sudo apt upgrade

Fedora/RHEL/AlmaLinux (dnf)

# Install a program
sudo dnf install vim

# Search for packages
dnf search web browser

# Remove a program
sudo dnf remove vim

# Update everything
sudo dnf upgrade

File Permissions Explained Simply

Linux controls who can read, write, and execute files using a permission system. When you run ls -l, you see something like:

-rw-r--r-- 1 john users 1024 Feb 18 10:00 document.txt
drwxr-xr-x 2 john users 4096 Feb 18 10:00 my-folder/

The permission string -rw-r--r-- breaks down as:

# Make a file executable
chmod +x script.sh

# Give owner full control, group and others read-only
chmod 744 file.txt

# Change file owner
sudo chown john:users file.txt

Getting Help

You will get stuck. That is normal and expected. Here is how to find help:

1. man pages: man command-name — built-in documentation for every command
2. --help flag: ls --help — quick summary of options
3. Tab completion: Start typing and press Tab — Linux will complete the command or filename
4. Up arrow: Scroll through your command history
5. Ctrl+R: Search your command history
6. Web resources: ArchWiki, Ubuntu Documentation, Stack Overflow

Practical Exercises for Day One

The best way to learn Linux is by doing. Try these exercises in your terminal:

1. Navigate: Use cd, ls, and pwd to explore the file system. Visit /etc, /var/log, and /home
2. Create: Make a project folder with mkdir, create files with touch filename.txt
3. Edit: Open a file with nano filename.txt, type something, save with Ctrl+O, exit with Ctrl+X
4. Read: View a file with cat, or page through a long file with less
5. Search: Find a word in a file with grep "hello" filename.txt
6. Install: Install a program with sudo apt install htop, then run it
7. System info: Run uname -a, df -h, free -h to see system details

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Using rm carelessly: There is no recycle bin in the terminal. rm -rf / will destroy your system. Always double-check before deleting
• Running everything as root/sudo: Only use sudo when you need administrative privileges. Running normal tasks as root is a security risk
• Not backing up: Before making system changes, back up your configuration files
• Ignoring error messages: Linux error messages are usually helpful. Read them carefully before Googling
• Copying commands blindly: Understand what a command does before running it, especially if it uses sudo

Conclusion

Your first day with Linux is the hardest — there is a lot to take in. But here is the good news: it gets easier fast. The commands you learned today are the same ones used by experienced system administrators and DevOps engineers. Every expert started with ls and cd.

Be patient with yourself. Practice a little every day. Break things in a virtual machine and learn how to fix them. Before you know it, the terminal will feel like second nature.

Welcome to Linux. You are going to love it here.