Flavours of Linux

     Very first thing that would generally hit most of you when trying to begin with Linux would be, getting your hands into it. Well trying to get a feel of your first Linux distro. Distro? what is it? is that question is bothering you? I believe many of you might be knowing what a distro would be, but for ones who are new to this. For them I would like to share little bit about the community culture of Linux which has emerged from strong ideas of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software). I don't want to discuss much about FOSS over here but I will attempt to explain what Open source is about? So what is open source? It's a type of licensing under which Linux has been published, these license allows the an individual to copy modify the code freely on the condition that you have to pass the same benefit to others in simple words what ever you create from open source will remain open source, you cannot hide or close down the source of your software just because you made changes to it. You were benefited because someone has freely distributed the software code now you modify and made it better so is it yours ? NO!, you were able to make it better because someone shared it first. well I will try to narrow down the discussion about open-source here as the intent is to just give and idea. So how does that affects Linux and what are distros? these questions are still in their place. Yes!! very well they are so why above explanation? it's because of the open-source nature of publishing and distribution of Linux it has gained a huge popularity among many curious programmers/ students around the globe, to be frank it is not just limited to programmers or students its' from many individuals who share common vision and interest have came together and put their efforts in development of this piece of software. There are some non-profit organizations commercial organizations who are also participating in development of such software. so all these communities / organization they bundle such open-source software into a package which we generally refer to as distribution or distro. So is every distro different operating system? Umm some what yes! some what no!!, huh ? confused? to explain this in simple words. Basics of Linux come for it's kernel which is core piece of software for any operating system this remains same as regardless what distro you use, so what are the  changes in distro?  its most likely the look an feel and the content of package. In simple words regardless of manufacturer what ever cell phone you use, basic functionality cellphone is always going to remain same. I know some genius can prove x phone is different from y, but to me basic functionality of cellphone is to be able to make and receive call and text, without which one would not be called phone.

    There are several distros available nowadays, it's really hard to keep track of them these days. Any way I've been asked by may which is the best distro to get started with? I simply reply them try and find out!, I may do same here to but I would like to tell you little bit more bout them and may be list few and try to tell you little more about their features, may be this might help you to chose one that suite your needs for starters. Although  I know a lot of distributions I've chosen few of them over here. I will try to explain little bit about their features whichever I know.

1) ubuntu:- This is one of the well known distribution available, this comes with flashy interface something like what you might expect on your smart phone (unity interface), if you don't know what is "unity interface"  just ignore don't want you to confuse with those things in this post. What you will get here is latest and the most hot developing piece of software available on Linux platform, this one has a good support for gaming stuff etc, very large forum, most of the things are easily available on this distro, I personally don't recommend this as I feel it's way too easy for me LOL!. Many software are  officially supported on this, so if you are kind of person who is looking for lots of support you may go along with this, remember support on Linux may not be some thing as in windows click here click there even tho it is officially supported. over all good support for gaming and medial applications.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR UBUNTU http://www.ubuntu.com

2) Linux Mint :- This is one the most recommended distribution by me to beginners, Although this is derived from ubuntu itself, the feel and features of this distribution are pretty much like that of classic Linux Graphical Desktop. This would be Ideal for those who are looking for a Linux distro with simple interface and neat graphics and easy availability of things. Most of the things an average desktop user might need are available over here, better stability availability of new things. Some times latest releases may not be available on this distro but with small tweaks almost all the ubuntu software will run on this. over all good support for media applications.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR MINT http://linuxmint.com/

3) fedora :- This might be a tiny bit of different step towards usage of Linux on desktop, there is participation of commercial organisation in development and planning of future path of this distro so there is a bit different touch in this distro. I would say this might be a little advancement over other two distros mentioned earlier in terms of usage and getting things done, this distro would be ideal for performing task like office work more inclined towards workstation and server. you may not always find the latest flashy desktop applications working on this but there is way to get them work here. over all design is suitable for good stable desktop/work desk environment.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR FEDORA https://getfedora.org/

4) Open Suse :- I would say this is one of the most polished and thoughtful work desk you may find, design and feel is simple elegant and classic, availability of things may be a bit limited in some areas although you can make things available yourself, this distro fits a typical office work desk. I've not use much of this but I would say installation process itself is so well polished and so much well thought  about, that makes me feel this is one of the good distro. many of you might find it too confusing due to it's tweaklity and availability of lots of modification options. Overall stable and rich featured workstation.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR OPENSUSE https://www.opensuse.org/en/

5) puppy Linux :- This is a small and fast thing. one of my favourite distribution ideal to run your old and less capable hardware, this is fast and lightweight. availability of things may be little less but you can easily have some decent day-to-day applications available on this. Over all lightweight fast distro good one to utilize old hardware.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR PUPPY http://www.puppylinux.com/

6) Debian :- This is one of the classic Linux distributions, If good stability and classic feel of Linux is what you are looking for this is what you might be need to check out, this belongs to classic community move little slow in terms of development but this is one good distribution you can find, you will get to know bit more about Linux when you are using this, may not be first recommendation for newbie although there is no such thing like you can't. over a stable distribution latests thing might not be easily available.
OFFICIAL PAGE FOR DEBIAN http://www.debian.org/


   Here I am closing my list of distors and their explanation, I admit what ever given here is not complete for most of the cases, idea is just to keep it simple for first timers and get hang about ditros and helping them find one suitable for themselves , when it come to make things available in 95% of the cases what runs on one distribution can be made running on most of the other distribution running but things may not be straightforward in all the cases, but remember there is always way of doing thing when it comes to Linux. I 've omitted some of the distros from above list like Arch, gentoo, LFS , centos kali , which many might want me to add here but idea behind the post is for user to get started with his/her routine day-to-day usage in place without much hassle in some cases debian might be too much for a beginer but some times I find it simple in terms of usage. regarding availability of things. you can try any/many/ all of them you want. This post has been written to introduce the reader to idea of different communities their origins and different tastes and flavours available in Linux many things are not complete but I never intend to put entire encyclopedia in small three paragraphs. I am ending my conversation here and let you explore the and understand ideas about Linux distribution and it's communities I've added some links this time to help you getting on their official page. next time we will try to come up with some essentials about installation.

Getting started with Linux

          It's been quite long now since I've been asked about learning Linux. In the light of same numerous requests, I've decided to scribble-up some thing to help readers to understand and get started with Linux. This one is specially written for some of my close friends who always ask me how to get started Linux, Many generally ask me which book should I refer. And I keep telling them there is no such thing as book for learning Linux, I would like to say this might as well imply to any kind of learning process. I would specially like to ask those impatient peoples to slow down their gears who are just impatiently wanting to do some thing. Many individuals which I've came across usually have misconception about learning Linux, they often see it as memorizing commands, if you are one of them, then you are darn wrong about it!. Linux is simple to get started, but what I am trying to convey might be bit much more than just being able to use an operating systems with help of some commands. I believe Linux is much more than being able to run some fancy commands. Linux introduced me to idea of open-source, prior to which my world of computing was pretty much tied up with windows, where I was using things that were given to me in the way they are presented by some propitiatory organization with their own mindset about it, now when I think back about it I feel more like I some jack-ass who is given a sliced tomato when apple is demanded, this might be an bad example in simple word you often are given thing which someone wants to sell, may be there is a way to do things you want but it will always be the seller who will be deciding how and what for you. Linux offered me much more than that, freedom, flexibility to changed it to suite my requirements, I didn't had to wait any more for anyone do it for me, instead it gave me power to change thing for my betterment and also opened me to endless possibilities and ideas shared by many others.

          In term of being able to do thing on Linux I can pretty much manage do everything on Linux which average person does on his desktop workstation etc, so what difference does it makes on Linux? this a good question, one might ask, well to answer this, might be as simple  as It just let me do things I want it to do. next one coming would be "how come so?" well to answer that I would say I've always known more  than one way of doing same thing does that satisfies anyone no!. fun fact is you can always chose the way of doing thing, the way that you understand the best. If things don't work go and ask help in community, you will get a very good feedback(WARNING: many Linux communities don't encourage spoon feeding.) Initial phase of getting reply might be tough, but once you get the hang of it, you will find them much friendly and helpful in some time and by the time you reach there you will nothing you are better understanding your challenges. I've matured my Linux skills in relatively much friendly forum community but I too had my difficulties earlier, It's not just the Linux but to start any thing new you will always face difficulties, but thing keeps on getting better as more time you spend with it. Often people turn their back to Linux due to unable to succeed in their first attempt or may be two or three, many say it is hard! it's difficult! actually it is not about It's simple or hard fact is you don't know much about it, so how to know more? simple ask questions! to whom ? Linux community is very huge one and many of them definitely take out some time to help  each other. These days google and youtube is good friend, in most cases finding " how to?" is easily available  on these but, that may not be always enough doing thing, learning is no fun unless you share it with someone, so you can participate any or many communities over internet or around your. If your are afraid Linux is very big to learn  or too much to learn, and feel like "I can't do it", or "I don't have time" well In that case I would like to tell you learning is a continuous process one never stops learning new things, quantity doesn't matter one should try to get quality and that can be achieved by simply understanding things rather than memorizing way to do them.

          Many might end-up on this blog expecting to get some sort of command, or may be some cool download which will do the magic for them. But one may not find any such thing in here at-least on this post, as told earlier getting started with Linux is not about know n number of commands or being able to do some freaking stuff over commands, Getting actually stared with Linux is about understanding what is happening  beneath, it about freedom its about transparency it is about being part of something you like, it about sharing, it about being able to see the things from your own point of view and able to perform them on your computer, for me this has not just limited to the world of computing but  has opened new way of thinking openly and much broader scope. Getting started with Linux is about participation in development for everyone, understanding things happening in computing and guiding it with your vision up-to fulfil your requirements and it's also about having fun at same time while doing all this, those who are not much into computing can simply see to it as flexible way of doing thing with better understanding about it same time.  well how will you participate in above thing? first thing get handicap your daily computing. doesn't mean to break your computer by hitting it with hammer or throwing it away from window, instead remove your regular operating system and install Linux on your pc try doing usual routine things on it. it's only when you will push yourself to do things and take your steps in understanding what is that running on your pc. Next thing would be joining community, join some forums ask for helps, use google etc and that should get started. Final word for the post don't wait for some holy book  or some one else to guide your way instead start finding your one way to do thing and then you will actually get started with Linux. I am closing my little conversation over here and Let you guys decide your own path of learning Linux.