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The Realistic Timeline for Learning Linux: How Long Will it Take You?
Linuxcareers.com ^ | 6 February 2023 | Lucas Rees

Posted on 02/10/2023 12:59:33 PM PST by ShadowAce

Are you curious about the world of Linux but don't know where to start or how long it will take to master it? Look no further! In this article, we'll delve into the realistic timeline for learning Linux and provide you with a clear roadmap to success. From understanding your current skillset and familiarizing yourself with Linux concepts, to getting hands-on experience and building a strong foundation in the command line, we've got you covered.

Understanding Your Current Skillset and Goals

Before embarking on your journey to learn Linux, it's important to understand your current skillset and set realistic goals for what you hope to achieve. By taking stock of what you already know, you'll be able to set achievable targets and identify areas where you'll need to focus your efforts. This step is crucial, as it will help you determine how much time and effort you'll need to invest in order to reach your desired outcome. Whether you're looking to become a professional Linux administrator, a developer, or simply want to learn more about the operating system, having a clear understanding of your goals and skillset will help you create a roadmap for your journey ahead.

Familiarizing Yourself with Linux Concepts and Terminology

"Familiarizing Yourself with Linux Concepts and Terminology" is a crucial step in learning Linux. It involves understanding the basic structure of the operating system, including the file system hierarchy, the role of the kernel, and the purpose of various software packages and utilities. Having a strong foundation in these concepts will make it easier for you to navigate the system, perform common tasks, and troubleshoot issues as you progress in your learning journey. By taking the time to learn these foundational elements, you'll be better equipped to make the most of your Linux learning experience.

Getting Hands-on Experience with Linux Distros

In order to effectively learn Linux, it is crucial to get hands-on experience with various Linux distributions. This will help you understand how different distributions approach system administration, package management, and overall user experience. By using and experimenting with different distributions, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Linux operating system and the different tools and techniques used to manage it. Additionally, hands-on experience will help you become familiar with the command line interface, which is an essential aspect of working with Linux systems.

Building a Strong Foundation in the Command Line

Building a strong foundation in the command line is a crucial step in your journey to become a proficient Linux user. The command line interface (CLI) is the primary way to interact with a Linux system, allowing you to perform tasks and manipulate files and directories with precision. It's important to become familiar with basic commands such as navigating the file system, working with files and directories, and managing processes. As you gain more experience, you can explore more advanced commands and techniques for automating tasks and customizing your environment. The key is to practice regularly, seek out resources and tutorials, and actively apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios.

Learning the Fundamentals of System Administration

Learning the fundamentals of system administration is an essential part of becoming a Linux system administrator. Knowing how to configure and maintain a Linux system, as well as troubleshooting common issues, are all important skills to master. It is possible to learn the basics of Linux system administration relatively quickly. With a moderate amount of effort, you can develop a basic understanding of how to install, configure, and maintain a Linux system in as little as two weeks. During this time, you should become familiar with the Linux command line, as well as essential system tasks such as user management, network configuration, and security. For more advanced system administration, such as server automation and scripting, it may take several months or longer to become proficient. Depending on your level of experience and amount of effort, it can take anywhere from one to six months to gain a comprehensive understanding of system administration. Overall, the amount of time it takes to learn system administration depends on your level of dedication and understanding of Linux. With the proper guidance and a commitment to learning, you can become a Linux system administrator in a relatively short amount of time.

Diving into More Advanced Topics and Technologies

Diving into more advanced topics and technologies with Linux can be a great way to become an even more proficient user. With the vast selection of applications available, you can become a pro at almost any technology you choose. Advanced topics like server administration, scripting, and system programming can take months or even years to master, depending on the complexity of the technology. Additionally, if you plan on using Linux for a career, you'll need to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, which can be a full-time job in itself.

Staying Up-to-Date with the Latest Developments in Linux

In order to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in Linux, one should periodically review industry publications, blogs, and websites aimed at Linux professionals. Additionally, attending local meetups, conferences, and seminars can be beneficial in order to interact with others in the Linux community and hear the latest news. Finally, following official news sources such as the Linux Foundation, Linux.com, and other online resources can provide the latest updates on the Linux operating system.

Finding Opportunities to Practice and Apply Your Skills

Learning Linux requires a lot of practice and application of the skills you have acquired. As you continue to learn new concepts, you can look for opportunities to apply them in your daily life. Consider taking on an open source project, or joining a Linux user group. You can also practice your skills by setting up a home laboratory, or by contributing to an existing project. Additionally, you can look for opportunities to volunteer or attend workshops and hackathons where you can work with experienced people.

So How Long Will it Take You to learn Linux?

In conclusion, the timeline for learning Linux can vary greatly depending on several factors such as your current skillset, goals, dedication, and available resources. On average, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year to become proficient in Linux and to be able to use it in a professional setting. However, with a structured approach and consistent effort, you can make significant progress in a relatively short amount of time.

We hope that this article has provided you with a realistic timeline for learning Linux and has given you a clear roadmap for your journey. If you're serious about learning Linux and building a career in the field, we encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter for more helpful tips and resources. Additionally, we invite you to share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below, and don't forget to check out our Linux job board for the latest Linux job opportunities.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: linux; linuxjobboard
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To: ShadowAce

ping


41 posted on 02/10/2023 6:19:09 PM PST by krogers58
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To: CatOwner

“Well, now that it’s being reported that Linux is as weak on viruses and malware as Windows, why bother?”

Because it is still not even close to as vulnerable as windows. It is still far far more secure than windows in structure alone.


42 posted on 02/10/2023 6:21:36 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Silentgypsy

“I recall downloading an app that allows you to learn and experiment with Ubuntu without actually instead of installing it until you’re ready.”

Just about all the Distros do that now. :)


43 posted on 02/10/2023 6:27:29 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: ShadowAce
"While this is true, the casual user of a Linux system (Not the same thing as what is being discussed in the article) can use a Linux system effectively without ever having to touch the CLI."

I showed Mrs. Pete a few things on the desktop and she has pretty much transitioned to a Linux Mint desktop from Windows without any problem. Of course about all she does is write letters, use the calender, and surf the web with Firefox. Still, for most retired people that' pretty much all they need.

44 posted on 02/10/2023 6:28:15 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“I showed Mrs. Pete a few things on the desktop and she has pretty much transitioned to a Linux Mint desktop from Windows without any problem. Of course about all she does is write letters, use the calender, and surf the web with Firefox. Still, for most retired people that’ pretty much all they need. “

Yep, absolutely. It is easy peasy for normal use. Thank you for sharing that truth. :)


45 posted on 02/10/2023 6:36:36 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Openurmind

I was most;y being sarcastic. Just amused that were now seeing those types of articles regarding Linux’s weaknesses from a security standpoint.


46 posted on 02/10/2023 6:39:17 PM PST by CatOwner (Don't expect anyone, even conservatives, to have your back when the SHTF in 2021 and beyond.)
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To: Openurmind
Some info on Linux Security issues here.

https://techgenix.com/linux-security-threats/

...snip "The report also found that over 200 different vulnerabilities were targeted in Linux environments in just six months. It is also worth noting that a majority of the vulnerabilities detected were from systems running old or end-of-life versions of Linux. This elucidates that cybercriminals are likely taking advantage of older and outdated software with unpatched vulnerabilities and bugs." more at link

47 posted on 02/10/2023 6:49:23 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: CatOwner

I see... But I don’t think it is weaknesses in Linux. I think they are just finally getting better at side skirting it’s true strengths. They make a big deal out of some of those bugs, but what they never share is that 99 out of a 100 require “hands on” to put it in the machine. That means for the home user, A hacker would have to physically come into their home and hack the password on their machine local and put the hack in. There has only been one or two that was an actual concern as an external remote non-local source. Compared to what? Thousands of remote bugs that windows has allowed in? Sometimes even from MicroSoft themselves...

There really is a huge difference when the whole story is told. :)


48 posted on 02/10/2023 6:53:23 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“Some info on Linux Security issues here.”

I know, I am fully up to date with it. Thing is when you dig into those you will find that 99 out of a 100 require “hands on” to put it in the machine. That means for the home user, a hacker would have to physically come into their home and hack the password on their machine local and put the hack in. Only 1 out of a 100 can be applied remotely, and only because the user flubbed and let it in without using discretion. User misjudgment and error is not the fault of Linux.


49 posted on 02/10/2023 6:58:48 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Openurmind

And that is good information to have out on the thread!

Thanks!


50 posted on 02/10/2023 7:01:32 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

Truly my privilege. :)

Now when you have an environment where a lot of people are using a system, such as an office environment then some of these can indeed become a problem. But they still require hands on from one of the users who has access to the system. :)


51 posted on 02/10/2023 7:06:31 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: ShadowAce

ITT Technical Institute used to advertise they could prepare you for a job in Linux in six weeks...

... and look what happened to them.


52 posted on 02/10/2023 7:34:52 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: catnipman
" ... modern interpreted languages and GUI operating systems turned drudgery to joy ... F**k the command line!"

I'd been doing remote support (via telnet & ftp) in HP-UX, AIX and Xenix for two years before I discovered UNIX even had a GUI.

53 posted on 02/10/2023 7:41:38 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

I’m running Linux Mint 21.1 XFCE on an old 2008 Thinkpad T400, updated with maxed-out DDR-1600 RAM and SATA III SSD drive.

It runs like a champ — probably faster than it did under its original (*gag*) Windows Vista configuration.

It does just fine with basic light office use (LibreOffice), web surfing (Firefox) and sending e-mails (Thunderbird).

It also offers the option of more in-depth Linux learning if needed. LOVE IT.


54 posted on 02/10/2023 8:30:44 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

I am doing the same with Mint cinnamon on a 2008 HP Pavillion.


55 posted on 02/11/2023 3:00:47 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Paal Gulli
ITT Technical Institute used to advertise they could prepare you for a job in Linux in six weeks... ... and look what happened to them.

I remember them but did not know what happened to them and so I did look:

ITT Technical Institute (ITT Tech) was a private for-profit technical institute with its headquarters in Carmel, Indiana and many campuses throughout the United States. Founded in 1969 and growing to 130 campuses in 38 states of the United States, ITT Tech was one of the largest for-profit educators in the US before it closed in 2016.[3].. In 1998, an ITT Tech whistleblower reported on the school's use of predatory recruitment practices.[6] In 2004, federal agents raided campuses in 10 states. However, the school continued to settle legal cases and collect billions of dollars in Pell Grants and federal student loans. Finally, in August 2016, following state and federal investigations, the United States Department of Education prevented students from using federally guaranteed student loans at ITT Tech locations. All ITT Tech campuses were closed the following month and ITT Tech filed for bankruptcy.[7]
In 2018, ITT Tech's court-appointed bankruptcy trustee sued the United States Department of Education and lenders to repay $1.5 billion in claims against ITT alleging that regulators took advantage of low-income students and neglected their oversight duties.[8] Three years later, the US Department of Education allocated $1.1 billion in relief to an additional 115,000 former ITT Tech students.[9] In 1946, ITT Tech was established as Educational Services, Inc.[10] From 1965 until its IPO in 1994, ITT Tech was a wholly owned subsidiary of the ITT Corporation (as "ITT/ESI")...By 1999, ITT Corporation had divested itself completely of ITT Tech's shares. The schools were allowed to continue using the "ITT" name under license.[13]...In 1999 Daniel Graves filed a whistleblower lawsuit against ITT Tech that lasted about 17 years. The case was closed in 2003, despite showing a culture of corruption.[51]
In about 2004, ITT Tech came under fire for questionable practices including allegations of high-pressure recruiting tactics, falsified paperwork, high default rates on ITT Tech student loans, and inadequate educational standards...n 2004, federal agents raided the company's headquarters and ten of its campuses in Indiana, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, California, and Oregon.[52] The investigation negatively affected the company's stock and triggered several class-action lawsuits by investors.[53][54] The same year, the Office of the Attorney General for the State of California ("CAG") investigated ITT Technical Institutes in California. The CAG's investigation was in response to qui tam actions filed against the company under either state, federal, or both False Claims Acts. (Qui tam actions are writs through which private individuals who assist a prosecution can receive part or all of the damages or financial penalties recovered by the government as a result of the prosecution). The probe alleged that ITT Tech falsified records relating to student attendance, grades, and academic progress. It also said that ITT Tech falsified student grade point average calculations used to qualify students for financial aid under the State's Cal Grant Program and retaliated against employees who may have complained about those alleged acts.[55] Omer Waddles, ESI's CEO, and a former counsel for Edward Kennedy, also resigned.[56][57]
In October 2005, ITT agreed to pay $730,000 to settle a lawsuit with California. The involved employees alleged that it inflated students' grade point averages to qualify them for more financial aid from the State of California.[58] A February 2011 investigative report by WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee found evidence of widespread grade inflation at the school's Milwaukee area location in Greenfield. In one instance a student received a score of 100% on a computer forensics assignment by emailing the professor a noodle recipe. The station believed this to be a way to increase federal student aid funding.[59] ... In 2013, ESI began operating public charter schools in three cities: Indianapolis, Tempe, and Troy, Michigan.[22] In charter documents, the company referred to potential students as "educational have-nots."[23] ITT Technical Institute charged among the highest tuition fees in the industry - between $45,000 to $85,000 in 2014 - and had the industry's highest rate of loans that went into default within two years of attendance.[24][25]
In 2016, Chinese investors Zhifeng Zhang and Yude Zhang became ESI insiders, purchasing more than 3,000,000 shares of ITT Educational Services stock.[26] In July 2016, ESI reported that enrollment was projected to drop by 30% to 40% from 2015 to 2016.[2] In August 2016, the U.S. Department of Education barred the company from enrolling new students who use government loans. On the 30th of the same month, ITT Technical Institute stopped accepting applications for new enrollment.[27][28] At that time, ITT Tech said that existing students could still finish their studies. ITT Tech also said that they would continue to operate until the last of its enrolled students either graduate or drop out.[28] However, on September 6, 2016, ITT Technical Institute announced that it was shutting down all of its campuses, effective immediately.[29]
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITT_Technical_Institute

The problem was not tech, but a corrupted managerial OS.

56 posted on 02/11/2023 4:25:25 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him who saves, be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: ShadowAce

Me, asking a couple of Linux nerds:
“Hey, real quick, what’s the command to see the contents of a directory?”

Me, after two hours of listening to the Linux nerds discuss the various commands, arguments, switches, piping, formatting, and version differences:
“So just ‘ls’, then. Thanks.”


57 posted on 02/11/2023 7:55:49 AM PST by Ignatz (Winner of a prestigious 1960 Y-chromosome award!)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

“The report also found that over 200 different vulnerabilities were targeted in Linux environments in just six months. “

Most noteworthy is ... vunerabilities are everywhere

If you have Windows you depend on Microsoft staff for fixes
If you have a Mac, the same with Apple
If you have linux, there are thousands of geeks at work 24/7 to reveal and fix any issues. The others are big conglomerate to decide what needs fixing or what is a feature (aka backdoor)


58 posted on 02/11/2023 8:12:15 AM PST by George from New England
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To: Openurmind

Thanks! I didn’t know that.


59 posted on 02/12/2023 2:49:47 PM PST by Silentgypsy (In my defense, I was left unsupervised.)
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To: George from New England

“If you have linux, there are thousands of geeks at work 24/7 to reveal and fix any issues. The others are big conglomerate to decide what needs fixing or what is a feature (aka backdoor)”

ABSOLUTELY! Thank you!


60 posted on 02/12/2023 3:09:06 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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