So, I installed Linux Mint not too long ago, and while I’ve been able to do what I want to do without touching the Terminal, I am a bit curious how it works, and whether it could help me.
In particular, I am slowly getting into programming, and I’ve heard some people talk about strange, otherworldly things, like Vim, and Shell Scripts.
There was this PDF I downloaded called “The Linux Command Line” by William Shotts, but it is 570 pages long, and glancing through it, it seems to go into many different things, and I am afraid I’ll end up learning a hundred things while only ever using ten of them, if you get my meaning.
So yeah, anyone who has some tips, or resources for a Linux newbie, please let me know.
I would suggest easing yourself into it. Since you’re in Mint start off with just installing and uninstalling programs via the terminal. If you really want to get into terminal use what helped me was this. “is there a GUI that I use a lot that I could potentially do from the terminal? lets research how.” So for example instead of using a package manager, use the terminal. Instead of using a file manager use the terminal with something like Yazi or Ranger and then from there you can use the terminal to manage files quite easily.
Want to unzip something? instead of doing it via the file manager look up how to do it via the terminal. need to empty your trash bin? same deal.
Instead of trying to learn everything at once when you’re doing something on your machine think to yourself “could I do this via the terminal?” and then look it up.
As far as programming goes I still firmly believe there’s nothing better out there than Vim/Neovim or Emacs/Doom Emacs. If you want to go that route instead of using Vim checkout Neovim with Lazyvim. both are extremely easy to install. OR if a total package and then some is what you’re looking for check out Doom Emacs. I use Doom Emacs currently for all my dev work and I love it. on my server I use Neovim just because it’s a bit faster since I have to SSH into it and it’s offsite.
Really like this take. I do move a lot of files between directories, so I could look into copying, cutting, and pasting things via the terminal.
I think learning my way around Neovim also couldn’t hurt. I was planning on setting up a little webserver at home, and accessing it remotely sounds pretty handy.
yup that’s the way to go. just whatever you want to do think “can I do this via the terminal?” and it’ll all flow from there.
AND if you start using Neovim you’ll start getting addicted to vim style navigation and want to apply it to everything…which you can for a lot of things. you’ll then find that using vim nav and doing things via the terminal is a lot faster than using your mouse in a GUI.