What Linux skills are most gamechanging/worth learning?

[Morgan Krieg]

What would you recommend learning?

[Moem]

That fully depends on what it is you want to use Linux for. There is no universal 'gamechanging' because we are not all playing the same 'game'.

[Pierre]

Just How to use this new Linux System.


it's different in some ways, from what you've doing with some of the other Operating System,
that do dominate the Computer Scene, at most times.
and quite similar, in may other ways, as well.

[Morgan Krieg]

That fully depends on what it is you want to use Linux for. There is no universal 'gamechanging' because we are not all playing the same 'game'.

For a home user.

[Moem]

All home users are different. For me, it's very worthwhile to learn to use GIMP; your user case will probably be different.

[CarrotCake]

I think the most gamechanging is not so much in a skill, but in an attitude.
That attitude being, about accepting you will need to learn how to do things, you may experience assume frustration and you may need some help sometimes.

If you accept that the system may be different than you are used to (coming from Windows or Mac), you will learn the skills you personally need quickly enough.

[kc1di]

What is your skill level now? and go from there. Do you know a little about linux? if so build on that knowledge. If not start with one of the many free learn linux web pages around. But as others have said you need to determine what you want to do with linux and go from there. The field is vast.
Good luck in your search. As far as game changing I think you'll never go wrong learning the terminal.

[JoeFootball]

What would you recommend learning?

For me it was having a proper backup regimen, because I learned about Linux most by breaking it.

Another game-changer for me was learning to use the command line. That said, I don't think anyone has to learn commands to have a satisfying Linux experience.

But if interested, I can recommend LinuxCommand.org, as well as its companion The Linux Command Line book (it's available for free as a PDF). Both are quite educational.

[Portreve]

The most game-changing thing about GNU+Linux in general is the mindset it has towards empowerment through encouraging people to have and maintain a software-level commons.

I'm not sure what kind of user skill would be "changed" through using free software.

[AndyMH]

For me it was having a proper backup regimen, because I learned about Linux most by breaking it.

+1 so true! That's, I suspect, how most of us have learnt.

[Hoser Rob]

I think the most important thing is actually reading documentation. Many don't really.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

What would you recommend learning?

For me it was having a proper backup regimen, because I learned about Linux most by breaking it. ...

I agree about developing a proper backup regimen, and not just because we break it a lot. "Stuff" can happen due to no fault of our own and having our data properly backed up will reasonably ensure we won't lose it when (not if) things go sideways. Having the OS and programs backed up will help make restoring a wonky computer to its previous state much easier and faster.

[rickNS]

What would you recommend learning?

Good question.

That fully depends on what it is you want to use Linux for. There is no universal 'gamechanging' because we are not all playing the same 'game'.

Good point.

it's very worthwhile to learn to use GIMP

Good example.

I'll list a couple of "my opinions", and reasons.

1) Gimp, so one can get away from PS and it's hefty costs. (I've never used PS)
2) Libre Office, so one can get away from MS office (just read a thread, someone trying to get MSoffice2010 running in WINE, looks painful, and convoluted)
3) VirtualBox, when one wants to experiment / try something new, do it on a virtual machine, no need to "break" your actual machine. You don't even need a full installed VM, you can just boot a fresh .iso if you like.
4) rsync, (command) Especially if you have more than one linux machine. It's so easy to move files back and forth between them (one line command). And for other purposes too, like backup.

While the first three are not exclusive to Linux, they are typically not seen (first two esp.) on the other OS.

[tuxoneseven]

What would you recommend learning?

Linux is mostly used for server side things. I recommend learning how to configure servers, all the terminal commands and stuff like docker and virtual box. We are still waiting for years of the Linux desktop

[majpooper]

That fully depends on what it is you want to use Linux for. There is no universal 'gamechanging' because we are not all playing the same 'game'.

+1 Exactly - this is such an open ended question. What is it you want to do with linux? That is the real question - then go learn how to do it.