Table of Contents
Starting Your Journey with Linux
Linux can look mysterious at first, but it is simply a family of operating systems that power a huge part of the modern world. This first part of the course introduces you to Linux from the ground up. You will learn what Linux is, where it comes from, how it is used, and how to get it running on your own computer in a safe and practical way. The goal is to move you from complete beginner to someone who can confidently install and use a Linux system for everyday tasks.
Throughout this part, you will move from very high level ideas to concrete hands on steps. You will begin with the basic concept of an operating system, then see how Linux fits into that picture, and finally end with a working installation that you can explore.
What You Will Learn in This Part
In this part of the course you will first discover what an operating system actually is. Instead of treating it as a vague term, you will see how it sits between your hardware and your applications, and why nothing works without it. From there, you will examine how Linux grew out of the older Unix family, how the Linux kernel itself works at a high level, and how the GNU project and the Free Software Foundation contributed crucial pieces. This will naturally lead into the ideas behind open source, and how they shape the way Linux is developed and shared.
Once you have a sense of history and philosophy, you will look at where Linux appears in the real world. You will see how it powers servers, desktops, phones, small devices, and even appliances. You will also compare how Linux behaves on desktops, servers, and embedded systems, so you understand why there is no single “one size fits all” Linux.
With that background in place, you will turn to choosing and installing a Linux distribution. You will learn what a distribution is, how different package formats relate to each other, and what makes popular options like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux, and openSUSE distinct. You will explore the difference between rolling and fixed release models so you can make an informed choice that suits your needs and your tolerance for change.
Next, you will walk through practical installation scenarios. You will learn how to create a bootable USB stick, how to install Linux on actual hardware, how to set up a dual boot system with Windows, and how to install Linux in a virtual machine if you want to experiment without touching your main system. You will also be introduced to partitioning and the common areas of a Linux disk layout, then finish by performing a first time setup of a new system.
After installation, you will focus on the first steps needed to make the system usable for daily work. You will become familiar with the desktop environment, learn how to update the system, install essential tools, handle drivers, and use the graphical software center to find and manage applications. This will give you a comfortable way into Linux before you encounter the command line in later parts of the course.
The final topics in this part introduce the Linux filesystem structure and the graphical environment. You will see how the root filesystem is organized, what the most important directories are for daily use, and how file types and paths work in practice. You will also discover the main desktop environments that distributions provide, such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, and XFCE, and how their file managers, settings tools, and workspace features help you control your system.
How This Part Fits into the Course
This part of the course is for absolute beginners. You are not expected to know any commands or programming. You do not need a technical background, only curiosity and patience. Later parts will go much deeper into the command line, scripting, system administration, security, and advanced topics. All of that depends on a clear understanding of what Linux is and how to get it installed and running. By completing this part, you will build that foundation.
You can also treat this part as a gentle place to make mistakes. Installing Linux in a virtual machine, trying different distributions, and exploring the desktop environment are all safe ways to experiment. The rest of the course will assume that you have a Linux system available and that you recognize the basic structure of the system, so time spent here will make everything that follows easier.
By the end of Part I you should be able to install Linux, start it, log in, navigate the graphical desktop, update your system, and recognize the main parts of the filesystem. This is the essential starting point for all later Linux skills.
What You Need Before You Begin
You do not need to know anything about Linux to start this part. You do need access to a computer where you are allowed to install software. A basic familiarity with using any modern operating system, such as clicking icons, opening windows, and saving files, will be enough. If you are unsure about installing Linux directly on your hardware, you will see how to use virtual machines to practice without risk.
Whenever you feel lost, you can return to this part to review installation steps or the structure of the desktop. It is completely normal to repeat these early exercises several times. Each repetition will make the later command line and administration topics feel more natural.
Moving Forward
From here you will move into the first specific chapter, which starts with the idea of an operating system and the place of Linux in the wider history of computing. Read the chapters in order if possible. Each one builds on the last, and together they form a complete introduction to Linux fundamentals for a beginner.