I’m talking about like your mom if she started using Linux, and just needs it to be able to open a web browser and check Facebook or her email or something. A student that just needs a laptop to do homework and take notes, or someone that just wants to play games on Steam and chat on discord.
I’m working on a Windows - > Linux guide targeting people like this and I want to make sure it can be understood by just about anybody. A problem that I’ve noticed is that most guides trying to do something like this seem to operate under the assumption that the viewer already knows what Linux is and has already made up their mind about switching, or that they’re already pretty computer savvy. This guide won’t be that, I’m writing a guide and keeping my parents in mind the whole time.
Because of this there’s some things I probably won’t talk about. Do these people really need to know that it’s actually GNU+Linux? No, I don’t think so. Should I explain how to install, use and configure hyprland, or compile a custom gaming kernel? I dont think that’s really necessary. You get what I’m saying? I don’t want to over complicate this and scare people off.
That being said I also want to make sure that I’m not over simplifying by skipping on key things they should know. So what are some key concepts or things that you think even the most basic of Linux users should understand? Bonus points if you can provide a solid entry level explanation of it too.
DO NOT download and install random programs from the internet. Not a deb/rpm file, not an elf binary, not an install script, nothing. Use your package manager or desktop environment’s app store. At most use flatpak or snap packages.
Linux gets its reputation for not getting malware from the same place Mac does: It has a managed app repository where you get all your software from. Difference is Mac doesn’t let you install arbitrary programs at all, while Linux expects you to know better than to do that. Someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing downloading Linux programs from random websites will inevitably hit one of the super rare Linux malware in the wild.
Even ignoring security issues, running an install script even from a reputable open source project’s website can open you up to package dependency hell. And if you ever need to upgrade or modify it, you’re in for a rough time because none of the existing tools built into your distro will help you. It’s even worse than Windows when this happens because Windows at least expects for things like this to happen (because everything comes in its own installer and handles updates separately) and has UX elements to help non tech savvy users deal with their mess of apps, Linux expects anyone bypassing the normal package manager to know what they’re doing and if you don’t, it won’t be a good day for you.
Sadly, just the store doesn’t work for many professional programs and non-free software.
Segger j-link, renesas go hub, Nordic tools, etc… (though AUR solves this on arch distros)
The average day of a “computer wiz” on debian (me):
sudo apt install ./randomshitfromgithub.debsudo nano /etc/apt/sources.listpastes stuff in“Oh no something isn’t working right!” Pastes some slop from chatgpt into the terminal
9 months later
“This shits fucked beyond repair, time for a clean install!”
Honestly? Not much different than my experience with windows. ;P
Since when does Mac not let you install whatever program you want? Are you thinking of iOS?
I think it’s like by default not allowed but there are settings you can change but you have to go through a bunch of warnings and scare prompts
As far as I know when you download a dmg, the OS checks its signatures against Apple’s registry and only allows installation if it’s approved. The developer would have submitted the app to Apple (for like $100) for them to inspect even if it’s not on the “official” app store.
Not a Mac user so please call me out if I’m just talking out my ass.
Right click, select “open.”
In a better time, yes. These days it’ll throw a warning that the application can’t be trusted and offers to throw it in the bin. You have to run a command in the terminal now. Every time the app updates.
LibreWolf has updated?
Gotta do the dance again. Every. Fucking. Time.
I’m still running 14, has it changed since?
Does this still work to disable it system-wide?
sudo spctl --master-disableis it impossible to disable gatekeeper now?
Yes it’s impossible to do it fully now :( but you can open programs from unapproved developers by going into settings > security > and select “open anyways”. It’s kinda a hassle when you like using open source software.
Great response, which also helps to answer one of the first questions from non-tech users: which anti-virus do I download for Linux?
Also, for Arch folk: AUR isn’t a traditional repo. Always be careful what you pull from there. Check pkgbuild files for weird shit and avoid unpopular bin files.
Now the KDE Discover store on Kubuntu needs to let me say no when an app asks for “Full Access: Can Access Everything on your System”. It’s a bloody text editor, what access could it possibly need.