What Does It Mean to “Learn” Linux

The word learn gets thrown around a lot when people talk about Linux—phrases like “I’m learning Linux” or “You should learn Linux.” But what does that actually mean? Is it like a programming language? Let’s “learn” what’s going on.

Is Linux Something You “Learn” or Something You “Use”?

First and foremost, Linux is a tool, and you’re supposed to use it to achieve something. It can work like a simple operating system that you turn on to open the apps you want to use, just like you would with Windows or Mac. However, it can also work as a verstile tool to perform complicated tasks, in which case, you’d need to learn how it works!

For example, Linux powers the majority of the world’s supercomputers, web servers, and the vast majority of cloud infrastructure. Most IT professionals interact with Linux in some capacity, whether they’re system administrators, DevOps engineers, or cybersecurity experts.

If you want to use Linux for these complex workloads, you need to know how it works. You need to understand the Linux directory structure, get comfortable using the terminal, familiarize yourself with different command-line tools, and still that’s just scratching the surface.

So, yes, there is a lot to learn about Linux (if you want to), and it is a skill that—once you learn—you can proudly show off on your resume. Many professionals spend years mastering Linux’s more advanced features and capabilities.

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Can You Use Linux Without Learning It?

If you want to use Linux like a regular desktop operating system, similar to Windows or macOS, you don’t need to worry about reading books or taking courses. Yes, there is still some amount of learning you need to do, but I would call it familiarizing rather than learning.

Think of it like this—if you were using Windows and want to switch to macOS, would you need to learn macOS in order to use it? It’s more about familiarizing yourself with the nuances instead of learning, right? It’s the same thing with Linux! When you’re switching to a different operating system, elements of the experience will be arranged differently, and you just need to get to know how it works on this side of the playing field.

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In fact, to ease the transition, there are Linux distros designed to feel like other operating systems. For example, if you’re coming from Windows, you can pick a Windows-like Linux distro, and you should find a work environment that looks and functions similarly. Likewise, there are macOS-like Linux distros as well.

The modern-day Linux desktop is extremely intuitive and has made a lot of improvements to its graphical apps. Distributions like Linux Mint and Elementary OS are designed to be user-friendly right out of the box, and you rarely need to open the terminal. If your needs are basic—web browsing, document editing, and media consumption—you might not need to learn anything beyond the initial setup.

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Why People Say Desktop Linux Is Hard

During the early days, think back to the 2000s, installing Linux itself involved a lot of fuss. You’d have to deal with hardware compatibility issues, configure X servers manually, and troubleshoot various components just to get a basic desktop working.

Linux wasn’t something you’d recommend for regular desktop use. It was meant for the tech-savvy DIYer or people who had professional incentive to learn it. It is fairly recent that desktop Linux has become so user-friendly that you can just install and use it without a ton of expertise.

So, through that history, Linux developed a reputation as a skill that you need to learn and get good at. However, that was a long time ago! Unless you’re looking at Linux as a professional skill—in systems administration, for example—you don’t need to worry about learning it. You can just start using a desktop version similar to how you’d approach Windows or macOS.

For context, the first Linux distro I tested was with Ubuntu 16.04. Installing it was a breeze—I’d argue it is simpler than Windows 10. Many warned me that defining the partition to install Ubuntu would be difficult—something I should look up. However, I just selected “Install Ubuntu Alongside Current OS” and it automatically figured it out for me. Of course, I later learned how to partition your disks, which, honestly, is a 10–20 minute tutorial and nothing to be scared of!

Now, after booting into Ubuntu 16.04, I did face some issues down the line, and troubleshooting required tinkering in the terminal and visiting forums and reading documentation. But it’s been nearly a decade since then, and you barely need to touch the Linux terminal as a daily user now.

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The beauty of Linux lies in this flexibility—it meets you where you are! Instead of worrying about learning Linux, I’d recommend that you focus on the problem at hand. Remember, Linux is a tool, and you only need to know it well enough to do the work you need to do. If all you want is a computer desktop to open a browser with, it can do that.

That being said, of course, if you want to learn more about Linux, you can learn more! And it’s never learning gone to waste, because Linux as a skill is in-demand, meaning with enough learning it can open professional doors.