4 Things I Learned Switching to Linux for a Year

Early one June morning last year, I found myself locked out of my hard drive thanks to some update error with Windows. However since my hard drive was encrypted, I was unable to run the boot repair until I provided the admin password. "No big deal. I have a password manager so this should be a breeze," I thought. Famous last words... Long story short, Windows 10 wouldn't accept any password and I was forced to reinstall Windows, losing all my data. It was decision time. I had been thinking of making the switch to Linux for security reasons for a while but I always found a million excuses not to. However, this time I took the plunge and installed Linux alongside my fresh Windows installation.

The following is a list of thing I've learned in my journey so far...

1. Linux is not for everyone...

Let's be realistic here; Grandpa isn't the first person who should consider swapping his Windows 10 laptop for Ubuntu. I mention this to illustrate the point that Windows is popular for a reason and will always make more sense for certain use cases. You need to be able to troubleshoot a computer issue to run Linux.

Certain programs are limited to only MacOS or Windows. Windows' plug and play usability makes it a no-brainer if you are looking to play games with your computer. Many game developers don't even support Linux operating systems requiring users to run virtual machines.

2. You are in control of your operating system for better or for worse.

Linux affords users with root access the permission and ability to do pretty much anything they want. The occasional application might throw an "Are you sure? (Y/n)" message at you but for the most part commands given with the legendary sudo prefix try their best. This level of control will often cause errors and sometimes break your system. At the risk of sounding cheesy: great power comes with great responsibility. I think every Linux user can attest to that feeling when you permanently delete the wrong file on accident. You are in charge of maintaining the software and security of your system.

This power comes with its perks. You are the system administrator of your machine. You choose what runs when and how. No more Windows Updates shutting down your system. You are able to reclaim control over your operating system, data privacy, and security. The variety of Linux variants allow users to pick one that aligns with their technical, moral and ethical values.

3. You can solve almost any problem by asking the right question.

If you are new to Linux, you are going to run into hangups from time to time. I'll admit that I've definitely spent the better part of an hour before trying to get the audio to output through my HDMI port. However, the beauty of the Linux is that getting help is pretty easy.

The Linux community is old and odds are you aren't the first person to have this problem. Googling the error code often gets you the help you need. Error codes for most applications give a pretty good description of what went wrong and where to look for the problem. Also when you can't find that right post from five years ago, communities like StackOverflow can help solve almost any problem with the right log files. The Linux community is filled with curious problem-solvers with years of experience.

So yes, you will run into problems, but I would wager that after you've solved your problem you're more likely to understand what caused the error in the first place. Eventually, you learn the limitations of the hardware and software of your system and what makes it tick.

4. Once you get the lay of the land, the sky is the limit.

Admittedly, for most people graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are pretty much all they ever known. And while the command line can be intimidating at first, once you master it you unlock a whole new world. The ability to use command line interfaces (CLIs) combined with a little programming know-how allows you to control every aspect of how your system works. For example, I love being able to remotely login into any computer on my local network using SSH. Scheduling tasks is simple if you learn how to utilize bash scripts and crontab. If you can follow a guide, you can access the APIs of your favorite services and make applications or bots of your own. I myself have already made a bot that turns a subreddit into a Youtube playlist. My point is that if you are determined enough and are willing to learn you can accomplish almost any computer function you've ever dreamed of.

In Conclusion...

I found taking the plunge was easier than I thought and I find that I only boot up Windows to play Steam games with my friends. I've found that the technical experience that I gain running Linux has really paid off as I learn more and more about programming and network security through my daily life. I understand the addiction to Raspberry Pis now... haha...

If you've ever thought of giving Linux a try, check out guides for making bootable USB installations of Linux. These versions are able to be loaded up from a flashdrive giving you the ability to test Linux without committing to any changes to your computer's setup. If you're truly ready to take the plunge, check to see if you're computer can dual-boot Linux alongside your current operating system. Installing Linux in this fashion always you to boot into either Linux or your current operating system. This is a great option for users that still need Windows or MacOS for gaming or particular applications. Give it a try today!