Linux For Beginners

For people looking to join linux. This is not a spoonfeeding repository, these are my recommendations

Updated; 03.07.2022

Quick Links #

Reasons not to use Microsoft #

Reasons not to use Apple #

Reasons not to use Google #

Distros #

Custom Kernel #

Software #

Useful #

Pacman Commands #

Most Common Questions #

Distros #

  1. Manjaro
    • Arch based, I recommend KDE/XFCE from the official editions. (Use as a learning distro)
  2. EndeavourOS
    • AntergOS continuation, very big and friendly community, Arch based with alot of flavours. (Use as a learning distro, but you can actually keep using this one)
  3. Linux Mint
    • Most Windows-Like experience you can have, recommend it the most for new users that just want simplicity and to get rid of Windows (Use as a learning distro)
  4. Debian
    • Usually used for servers, it uses LTS (long term support) kernel, the base of ubuntu and many many others.
  5. Devuan
  6. Artix
  7. Arch
    • A simple, lightweight distribution
  8. KaOS
    • A lean KDE distribution, fully independent, built from scratch, focused on Qt and KDE, they are looking towards the Illumos kernel aswell.
  9. FedoraKDE
    • Easy to use and to learn independent distro.

Custom Kernel #

  1. Linux-Zen
    • Result of a collaborative effort of kernel hackers to provide the best Linux kernel possible for everyday systems. Some more details can be found on Liquorix.
  2. XanMod
    • XanMod is a general-purpose Linux kernel distribution with custom settings and new features. Built to provide a stable, responsive and smooth desktop experience.
  3. Linux-TKG
    • This repository provides scripts to automatically download, patch and compile the Linux Kernel from the official Linux git repository, with a selection of patches aiming for better desktop/gaming experience. The provided patches can be enabled/disabled by editing the customization.cfg file and/or by following the interactive install script.
  4. Configure Your Own
    • Kinda outdated, but its a decent base to see what you can do and how hard/easy it is.

Software #

  1. NoiseTorch
    • Background noise removal from your microphone.
  2. Lutris
    • Open source platform for gaming on linux, easy to download and install games from any platform with the help of the community installers / scripts.
  3. Wine
    • Compatibility layer for running Windows applications and even games on Linux.
  4. Proton-GE
    • Custom build of Valve’s proton, multiple patches and fixes for steam games using proton.
  5. Wine-TKG
    • Wine-tkg is a build-system aiming at easier custom wine builds creation. Includes several patches and much more for your convenience.
  6. Bottles
    • Lutris alternative, in my experience alot better and way more simple.

Useful #

  1. yay
  2. Arch-Wiki
    • The official Arch Linux documentation webpage.
  3. Linux From Scratch
    • Linux From Scratch (LFS) is a project that provides you with step-by-step instructions for building your own custom Linux system, entirely from source code.
  4. Brave, the false sensation of privacy
    • Why Brave is not what you may think it is.
  5. Firefox Profile Maker
    • Tool to create your own profile for fireox to import.
  6. Ratpoison: Kill the rat
    • Ratpoison is a simple Window Manager with no fat library dependencies, no fancy graphics, no window decorations, and no rodent dependence, the first link has more helpful information in it.
  7. Polybar-MPV
    • Display current playing file and scrolls the text with zscroll, cycle pause and volume control, simple to edit and easily expandable. Made by an old friend.
  8. Gamepads/Controllers
    • Use any USB Gamepad that you would normally use in windows, to use a PS3/PS4 controller, run this command in the terminal sudo xboxdrv --detach-kernel-driver.
  9. Chaotic AUR
    • Automated building repository for AUR packages.
  10. Dusk
    • Just another fork of dwm. (Personally use it)
  11. LARBS
    • LARBS is an efficient shell script that will install a fully-featured tiling window manager-based system on any Arch or Artix Linux-based system, without any of the routine of manual post-install processes and configuration.
  12. archfi
    • A simple bash script wizard to install Arch Linux after you have booted on the official Arch Linux install media.
  13. OpenRazer
    • An entirely open source driver and user-space daemon that allows you to manage your Razer peripherals on GNU/Linux.

Pacman Commands #

Most Common Questions #

  1. Do I Need To Use The Terminal In Linux?
    • Short answer, Yes.
    • Basic answer; You don’t have to use it everytime, but you should learn how to use it to an extent, it is about your full control over your Operating System, GUI applications can cover up terminal usage, but its not unlimited. Slowly but surely you should learn how to use the terminal for basic usage and even advanced.
  2. What is GNU/Linux, and why should/would i use it?
    • Click for information.
  3. How can i manually partition with calamares?
  4. What is swap, should i use a swap file or a partition?
    • For this question i am going to link you towards the same channel with the calamares manual partitioning, here is the video
  5. Where can i find help for Linux?
    • Almost every distro has a wiki section, a forum, a server, or something to help you out, like the Arch wiki linked above.
  6. Which Linux Distro should i install?
    • As a newbie, you should look forward to install something like Manjaro or Linux Mint after spending some time on it, you can see what Linux can be, by doing it yourself, installing Debian, Arch or their system-d free versions linked at the top
  7. How can i extract a .tar archive?
    • Run the command tar -xvf yourarchivename.tar.zst