My First Experience with Linux
When did you first dive into Linux? Was it for studying? Building a website? For me, it all started when I heard the story of Linus Torvalds as a kid. I was watching a video on B-site where the uploader was explaining Linux, and that piqued my interest.
Later, I bought a book called Bird Brother’s Private Kitchen to learn more, but after a while, I stopped. Maybe the commands were too boring, or maybe I just didn’t like it. Linux lacked the convenience of Windows’ point-and-click interface, and I struggled with it at first.
Back then, I spent most of my time tinkering with virtual machines in VMware. Downloading an ISO was a slow process, but once I got it, I set up my first Linux virtual machine. I remember when I first started searching for Linux distributions, Ubuntu popped up everywhere. I installed it out of curiosity. Ubuntu’s desktop wasn’t as user-friendly as it is now, and there were still a few compatibility issues. Gnome was fine, but if you’re using a laptop, I’d recommend KDE for its better performance.
The first few Linux commands I learned were simple: cd, cp, mkdir, and touch. Those were easy to understand. But then came more complex ones like ls -al and chmod for managing file permissions — these took more time to master. At the time, I was just in junior high school, and I had even bought a Raspberry Pi. Funny enough, I sold it last year and got almost the same price I paid!
A High School Encounter with Linux
In high school, I met someone interested in game development, who is still pursuing that path today. He was a real pro back then — compiling Linux, running Docker on a Xiaomi phone, and even setting up Windows to run on it. I was amazed by his skills, especially since he participated in national competitions.
As for me, I didn’t get serious with Linux until much later, during my university years. I was more focused on having fun back then. Only recently did I start working with Linux again, setting up cloud servers and installing CentOS — no graphical interface, just this:
The Linux Struggle: Trial and Error
I can spend all day working with Linux now, though progress sometimes feels slow. Google and Baidu became my best friends, as I constantly looked up errors and issues I encountered. Most of the problems were due to downloading software from external sources without using domestic mirrors, leading to many 404 errors and failed installations. It was frustrating, but also a learning process.
I also came across some dangerous commands, like the infamous rm -rf. This command forcefully deletes files without warning, and running it can wipe out your entire system if you’re not careful!
Linux in Everyday Life
You might think you’re far from Linux, but in reality, it’s everywhere — from underground metro systems to servers, Android devices, embedded systems, robotics, big data, and AI. Linux is the backbone of so much modern technology, and the more I work with it, the more I realize its importance.
Linux has been a journey for me, from curiosity to frustration, and now to appreciation. I’m still learning, but I’ve come a long way from my first virtual machine experience. What’s your story with Linux? Let me know in the comments!