general linux differences from windows or mac?

krahn

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Hi,
I'm looking to start into linux i am currently running ubuntu in virtualbox right now checking out the program. I'm not experienced in coding but know how to run simple commands in the command line to navigate and such and do basic looking through files etc. I would like to start on learning more but have no idea where to start or what the aim would be. It may sound ridiculous and wish washy and I understand its hard to help someone if they don't exactly know what they want. I used to mess around when i was younger on ms-dos prompt and such and always found it interesting as well as creating things. One thing leads to another obviously but I have been out of the loop for so long that its hard to know where to start (kind of like coming into a tv show on the fifth season). Mostly I am just wondering if there are any major differences or advantages to running linux. I understand that the software is open source and coded by the "community" but is it more of just another option of os to run that kind of in a way does the same thing as others just a bit different? Like navigation and everything seems simple enough to me, running downloading programs seems pretty simple and the app software section is pretty cool with all the free open source software. Understand I'm not digging at Linux so far I quite like the layout and program availability just is there more to it? Most likely just inexperience talking so if there is something I'm missing or if anyone could shed some light on it more than the youtube videos and countless web pages I have read that all seem to beat around the bush and say the same things. Best way to get an answer is to ask a question.... or write a big paragraph on what's in your head and put it out there! Thanks for your help\insight in advance.
 


Hi @krahn, and welcome! Linux is different things to different people, and it will take time to realize what it is, or what it means, to you. Even though it is free and open source, some people make a living with it, such as System Administrators.

Of course, as you know, it's is simply a computer operating system. It's a tool, like MacOS or Windows. There is no "Start Here" instruction manual... if there was, you have already passed that by installing via VirtualBox.

The thing now is to use it, explore it yourself, find what it can do, and possibly can't do, to satisfy your computer needs. When you run into problems, try to solve them yourself if you can (make Google your best friend). If you can't find solutions, you can ask questions here and we will be glad to try to help you.

There are courses and tutorials online, YouTube videos, and literally tons of help and training available... find it, and use it.

But you don't have to master Linux... just to become competent to use it for your daily tasks is usually quite enough.

Cheers
 
Gidday, if not for your second-last line I would say "Let's teach him about paragraphs?".:rolleyes:

(Wizard appears in a puff of smoke, sets fire to stray paperwork, thinks of putting it out with his beer ... thinks better of it and continues typing as glowing embers settle)

Hi @krahn and welcome to linux.org :)

Sounds like you are off to a good start using VirtualBox on the 'buntu.

I cut my Linux teeth on Ubuntu, using a program called WUBI (Windows UBuntu Installer), to run it in a folder under Windows XP. Sadly that was discontinued, some think as far back as 2013, but I am living proof that the last Ubuntu to use it was their point release 15.10 ''Wily Werewolf'.

Good news is, if you want to use WUBI (which will perform faster than on a Virtual Machine, USB stick or DVD), WUBI is still around.

I saw it four or five months ago, and have tracked it down

https://www.lifewire.com/wubi-linux-installation-program-2201175

Enjoy your Linux and sing out if you need help

Cheers

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz
 
Thanks guys. I'll for sure check out that program you are suggesting. just one more question about coding etc. what is a good language to start with that is applicable to linux? i have the atom text editor (a bit over my head to be honest haha. But I kind of have a bit of experience in C++ but can you do things in linux with it?
 
Thanks guys. I'll for sure check out that program you are suggesting. just one more question about coding etc. what is a good language to start with that is applicable to linux? i have the atom text editor (a bit over my head to be honest haha. But I kind of have a bit of experience in C++ but can you do things in linux with it?

The Linux kernel is written primarily in C and assembly.

But other than that - for general applications - you can use literally ANY programming language.

Name a programming or scripting language from the last 50 years or so and there's almost certainly an implementation of it available:
C, C++, assembly, lisp, python, ruby, shellscript, perl, basic, haskell, php, java (and any jvm based languages like clojure, groovy, kotlin, scala), D, go, rust, pascal, scheme, fortran, cobol - even C#!

The list just goes on and on!

There are numerous IDE's available for various programming languages.

Huge numbers of libraries and toolkits are available for different programming languages.
Bindings for graphics toolkits like QT, GTK, OpenGL and Vulcan. Bindings for various open source game-engines, Audio libraries, Imaging libraries etc. etc.

Web-development is also strongly supported.
You could set up a development web-server and start working on websites or web-based applications/services.
Development of Android apps is another possibility.

You can even set up cross-compilation, allowing you to build apps that target other platforms.
So you could build a Windows executable on Linux using mingw.

Hell, if you wanted - there's nothing stopping you from using silly novelty languages like:
arnoldc - where you write programs using Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes,
chef - where programs are delicious recipes,
LOLCODE - where you write programs using lolspeak
and brainf*** - which does exactly what it says on the tin!

However - that's taking things a bit far! Most of us stick to more conventional languages! XD

My point is - if you want to get into any kind of development - Linux literally has it all!
 
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Woah okay! Thanks a lot for the info! Maybe I'll just start with c and see where that takes me. Honestly best forum ever hopefully some day soon I can pass on the help and keep it going!
 
Honestly best forum ever

I very much agree, @krahn - I won't hijack your Topic for long other than to say this: on 1st May coming, I will have been here for 12 months, following 3 years at another place that made my life merry hell for the final 12 months, and then some. This place and these people welcomed me with open arms, and I am thankful :p. There is a diverse range of knowledge held by a good-sized number of people, and I can pick their brains and have a feast. And Staff are cool, which is icing on the cake.

Back on track.

general linux differences from windows or mac?

  • Robust
  • Scalable
  • Secure
  • Free
  • Customisable
  • Fun :D:D
A number of those bullet points sound like what a business might be looking for in a Server, where the systems are mission-critical, and Linux have the Servers as well. So it is a vocational goldmine for someone your age.

November 24, 2017 :

"It finally happened. Today, all 500 of the world's top 500 supercomputers are running Linux."

http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-totally-dominates-supercomputers/

Enjoy your Linux, we do

Wizard
 
Woah okay! Thanks a lot for the info! Maybe I'll just start with c and see where that takes me. Honestly best forum ever hopefully some day soon I can pass on the help and keep it going!

By all means - If you're already comfortable with C++ - then stick with C++ for now.

My comment about C was in reference to the Linux Kernel. If you want to get into kernel development - developing device drivers and getting right into the guts of the Linux kernel itself - then C is essential.

If you want to help out with the development of any exisiting piece of software - you would need to learn whatever programming languages its developers use before approaching their developer community and attempting to contribute.

But if you are interested in developing your own applications, you can use pretty much any language you want.

C and C++ are probably the main programming languages used for most of the applications that are available in Linux.

But there are also lots of programs and utilities written in python, perl, java, ruby, lua, etc etc.
There's even a window manager/desktop called XMonad which is written in Haskell!
And of course emacs is written in C,C++ and lisp.

So it all depends on what you want to do.
Whatever you decide to do. Enjoy the ride!
 

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