I just stopped by to really say "hello" to everyone as a little bit of a guru (not in everything though). I've been on various Linux distros for over 10 years, I had Mandriva, Gentoo, Sabayon, for the past 2 years Kubuntu and now I jumped onto Mint. Overall - a very good experience, although I think Mint could improve some bits of the graphics interface and programs like the Software Installer, I find the system incredibly fast and responsive. And it looks rock solid, we done guys
As for the main topic about hints? Well, I just met a Spaniard who was trying Linux Mint as he is into programming and using PHP/MySql, etc. He said he loves it and is planning to get rid of Windows (7 by the way). From this perspective my hints:
1) Do not jump the gun. Try and not to use your main computer for experimenting. If you wipe your Windows installation and run into problems on Linux you may be dissapointed. Get and older used computer or buy/steel/borrow a spare hard drive. Yes, the Mint installer brilliantly let me split my Kubuntu installation into 2 partitions for a new Mint installation. However, make sure you protect your existing system from being wiped out. Learn first and then get rid of Windows. It is possible, I have 2 PC's and 4 laptops at home, none of them have Windows.
2) Install the system and learn how updates work. The process is so simple everyone should be able to do it, but get familiar with it. The concept is almost as close to what Windows does, but there may be some small hurdles. Understand the difference between just software updates and kernel updates. What does it mean that you will have a new image and what is it.
3) Learn to backup and restore your system!
What to use, for example you can use copy/paste onto an external USB drive, but learn what the command "rsync" does. It's the most convenient way of backing up your system. Learn that a .tar file is, what commands like "tar", "bzip2" do. For example to backup and copy your Firefox profile (everything including your passwords) you can do:
# tar cvf firefox.tar .mozilla
Here .mozilla is sort of a hidden file.
Copy the file firefox.tar to your other machine and run:
# tar xvf firefox.tar
Open Firefox now and see that all your settings are copied/restored.
Do the same thing with all your Thunderbird profiles:
Back it up:
# tar cvf thunderbird.tar .thunderbird
Restore it:
# tar xvf thunderbird.tar
4) If you have a Windows 10 computer you need to learn what UEFI is, how to disable it. You can do a search and find instructions how to disable it before you boot from a USB Linux stick.
5) You don't have to learn VIM or EMACS, those are hard code UNIX editors, although Vim seems to have a more user-friendly counterpart I never tried it. VI as I call it is best used in core non-graphical environments on servers for example. Learn it if you have to, but I know professional programmers who hate Vi or VIM and never used it. I've been on UNIX boxes since 1986 and there was nothing else at that time. There are things VI can do Notepad or Kate cannot. The full power if VIM comes with "regular expressions" for string editing.
6) Go to Youtube, there are pletny of people showing off their skills. I used Youtube to learn about MS-SQL administration and there are some fantastic videos. Some even on how to program using the Shell.
7) Learn the difference between a copy of a file and a link. Something like MS shortcuts. This check on the "vi" program reveals that actually it is linked to other commands, which means it's the same binary inder different calls and can perform different things:
Code: Select all
phoenix:[ritdev]/bin> ls -l vi
-r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 vi
phoenix:[ritdev]/bin> ls -lisa vi
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 vi
phoenix:[ritdev]/bin> ls -lisa | grep 70037
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 edit
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 ex
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 vedit
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 vi
70037 356 -r-xr-xr-x 5 bin bin 362686 10 Mar 2012 view
http://linux.die.net/man/8/fsck
http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2012/08/fsc ... d-examples
Corruption can happen especially when you unplug your USB drive without unmounting it. Or your laptop shuts down because it overheated just then you were running a system update.
9) Learn how to use a live DVD to fix your system that is already installed.
Hope you find this helpful...
Regards,
Richard