Linux Tutorial for Beginners

If you’re new to Linux, this tutorial will help you get started with the basics. Linux is an open-source operating system that powers everything from smartphones to supercomputers. It’s known for its stability, security, and flexibility. Let’s dive into some fundamental concepts and commands that every beginner should know.

What Is Linux?

Linux is an operating system kernel created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. When people say “Linux,” they often mean a Linux distribution—a complete operating system built around the Linux kernel, combined with software and tools. Popular distributions include Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and CentOS.

Installing Linux

There are many ways to install Linux. You can install it alongside your current OS (dual boot), replace your current OS, or run it inside a virtual machine like VirtualBox for testing.

For beginners, Ubuntu is a user-friendly distribution to start with. You can download an ISO image from the Ubuntu website and create a bootable USB drive using tools like Rufus or balenaEtcher.

The Linux File System

Unlike Windows, Linux uses a different directory structure. Here are some important directories:

• / – The root directory, the top of the file system
• /home – Contains user directories
• /etc – Configuration files
• /bin – Essential binary (executable) files
• /var – Variable data like logs
• /tmp – Temporary files

Basic Linux Commands

Once you have Linux installed or running in a virtual environment, open the terminal and try these commands:

• pwd – Displays the current directory path.
• ls – Lists files and folders in the current directory.
• cd – Changes the directory. Example: cd /home
• mkdir – Creates a new directory. Example: mkdir myfolder
• touch – Creates a new empty file. Example: touch file.txt
• cp – Copies files. Example: cp file.txt backup.txt
• mv – Moves or renames files. Example: mv file.txt newname.txt
• rm – Deletes files. Use cautiously.
• rmdir – Deletes empty directories.
• cat – Displays the contents of a file.
• nano or vim – Text editors to edit files.

Understanding Permissions

Linux has a permissions system that controls who can read, write, or execute a file.

• r – Read
• w – Write
• x – Execute

You can check file permissions with ls -l. The output shows something like:

-rwxr-xr-- 1 user group 4096 Jun 1 12:00 script.sh

The first part (-rwxr-xr--) indicates the permissions for the owner, group, and others.

To change permissions, use chmod. For example, to make a script executable:

chmod +x script.sh

Installing Software

Most Linux distributions use package managers to install software easily.

• On Ubuntu or Debian, use apt:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install package-name

• On Fedora, use dnf:

sudo dnf install package-name

• On CentOS, use yum:

sudo yum install package-name

Using Superuser Privileges

Some commands need administrative (root) access. Use sudo before a command to run it as root. For example:

sudo apt update

You will be asked for your user password.

Networking Basics

Check your network settings with commands like:

• ifconfig or ip addr – Show network interfaces
• ping google.com – Test your internet connection
• ssh user@hostname – Connect to another Linux machine remotely

Editing Files

Use text editors like:

• nano – Very beginner friendly. Use arrow keys to move, and Ctrl + X to exit.
• vim – Powerful but has a learning curve. Press i to insert text, Esc to leave insert mode, and :wq to save and quit.

Searching and Finding Files

• find – Search for files. Example:

find /home -name "file.txt"

• grep – Search text inside files. Example:

grep "hello" file.txt

Getting Help

If you don’t know how to use a command, you can check its manual page with man:

man ls

You can also use the --help flag:

ls --help

That covers some of the essential basics to get you started with Linux. As you practice, you’ll become more comfortable navigating and using this powerful operating system.