7 Common Mistakes Linux Beginners Make

Linux is one the most popular operating systems with a fast-growing user base. More than 600 Linux distros are available to fulfill various user requirements. Furthermore, the world’s fastest supercomputer contains Linux, and over 10 million web servers are also on Linux. Linux’s immense popularity and importance prove that it is a big part of modern technologies.

Still, many users prefer other operating systems because Linux can give a frustrating experience if a user makes some mistakes as a beginner. So if you also want to know the common mistakes Linux beginners make, read the following article. 

7 Common Mistakes Linux Beginners Make 

1. Don’t Know the Exact Needs

Many beginners make the common mistake of choosing the wrong Linux distro or installing it in an incompatible system. As we mentioned above, there are hundreds of Linux distros for various user requirements, so it is essential to choose the right one. For instance, as a beginner in development, you should use something other than Linux distros like Alpine Linux and Arch Linux, as they are programming-centric distros. 

Hence, choose the simpler Linux distros such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Furthermore, we recommend using VirtualBox to get your hands on a Linux distro. On the other hand, many devices are Linux-compatible but sometimes show hardware issues. That’s why please check the compatibility of your system hardware with the Linux distro you want to use.

2. Terminal is More Important

The terminal is the essential utility of Linux that you must use daily. Still, many beginners are always afraid to use the terminal because they have used GUI utilities before to perform various tasks. 

Many users also think using the terminal is challenging due to the complex commands. That’s why some beginners sometimes get frustrated and end up installing Windows again. 

However, the terminal is much more efficient than the GUI-based tools and saves you a lot of time. Using the Linux terminal more often helps you improve your skills and make your Linux experience smoother. 

3. Root is Something Different

The root is the superuser account in Unix and Linux that contains the highest access privileges on the system. Hence, you must not use the root privileges more often as a beginner because it can harm your operating system. 

You must have information about the root to use it, or your system can become vulnerable to viruses. Furthermore, you may damage sensitive files that potentially damage and crash your Linux distro. Therefore, we only recommend using the root privileges to understand its use.

4. Updates Are Not Automatic

Updates are essential as it provides new and improved features while removing existing bugs. These updates are also important for system security, and Linux contains the automatic update feature but is disabled by default. 

That’s why new users sometimes don’t update the system and get errors. Although it is easy to enable automatic updates in Linux, beginners still don’t know how to do it manually. Hence, please check for updates regularly and update the system to remove bugs and vulnerabilities. 

5. Linux is Not Windows

If you switched from Windows to Linux, please understand that you need a different mindset for Linux. The significant difference between both operating systems is that Linux is an open-source Kernel/OS, and Windows is a commercial OS. Being a Linux beginner, don’t look for the same software and tools you used in Windows. 

By default, you can’t use the .exe files in Linux, but there are various tools by which you can use Windows software in Linux. However, setting up these third-party tools requires some knowledge and skills. That’s why please go for the alternatives rather than looking for the Windows tools. For example, if you want to use Microsoft Office files in Linux, you can use the MS Office alternatives such as LibreOffice, Apache OpenOffice, etc. 

6. Commands Are Easy

Linux users majorly rely on commands to perform various tasks quickly. So as a beginner, it is expected that you make mistakes while using commands, but it sometimes becomes a nightmare. Commands in Linux or Windows command prompts are case-sensitive. Hence, this mistake can lead to errors if you are new to commands. It’s a fact that it is impossible to remember all commands correctly, but make sure you learn basic commands in the beginning. 

However, we don’t recommend running any command you find online because it may make your system vulnerable to threats. Instead, you can follow our guides to learn every detail about the commands with the best possible information. This will help you in learning commands and become a Linux expert. 

7. You Learn From Mistakes

Mistakes give you a new experience, so making mistakes while learning Linux is good. Learn everything step by step, please take your time with things, or you will leave Linux forever. 

As a novice, you have so much to learn because everything starts from zero. If you misconfigure something, don’t worry because there will be a chance that you will know about the troubleshot of that misconfiguration. Hence, always try to find solutions if you make a mistake instead of giving up.

A Quick Wrap Up

So this was all about the most common mistakes Linux beginners make, and we have also included their solutions. Many developers worldwide will recommend using Linux due to its stability, reliability, and utilities for programming. 

Hence, Linux is a fantastic operating system that you can use to improve your skills. However, please ensure you learn everything step by step to get in-depth knowledge. If you are a beginner, don’t worry because mistakes will give you experience and ways to tackle them. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Linux easy for beginners?

There are various types of Linux distros for different purposes. So as a beginner, you can go for simple Linux operating systems such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Pop_OS! etc. These Linux distros are easy to use, and you can learn many things without issues.  

2. What are the challenges of Linux?

There are a few challenges in Linux that you may face as a beginner: 

• Improper uses of the superuser(sudo) 
• Errors while using commands.
• Setting up the configuration tools. 
• Search for files and directories.

3. How do I start learning Linux?

First, explore your requirements to find the right Linux distro for your system. Once you get your hands on the Linux distro, learn the basics of the operating system. Finally, keep practicing and improving your skills to become a Linux expert.