Let’s look at some common things you should steer clear of when using your new Linux installation.

These tips are helpful for all Linux users, irrespective of their expertise.

Therefore, always give a shot to understand the commands before hittingEnter.

linux tux showing the stop sign

It might feel time-consuming at first, but this small effort goes a long way.

This is more so the case with running commands as root.

sudo, su, and doas let you execute Linux commands as another user, usually root.

linux commands in an online forum

Programs meant to cause harm take advantage of this and compromise the security of your setup.

Delete Random Files in the Root Directory

The Linux directory structureisolates user and system files into distinct directories.

To maintain stability, you should never remove files inside any directory other than home.

running a malicious script with sudo

This can cause programs to behave unexpectedly, as you might remove configuration files on accident.

This is especially the case with unknown PPAs and third-party package sources.

But what about the repositories created by an individual with no credibility?

what-is-distro-hopping

In such cases, it’s important to review the code before installing it on your machine.

This will lead you to switch back to Windows, but you should spend some more time with Linux.

All it takes is some time and a few tutorials on YouTube.

a person annoyed with someone else

You shouldn’t distro-hop either as it would make it even harder for you to adapt to Linux.

Every Linux distro family has a different set of tools and offers a unique desktop experience.

Therefore, the best route would be choosinga good beginner-friendly distroand sticking with it for a few months.

Fear the Command Line

The command line is your friend.

If you’ve installed Linux thinking you’d get away with using the terminal, you might be wrong.

Pester Your Friends and Family to Switch

You managed to install a Linux distro on your machine.

And you seem to like it.

It’s stable, customizable, and offers everything you need in an OS for free.

The next step would be recommending Linux to your loved ones.

You’ve got to introduce them to freedom and make them switch, right?

It’s fine to suggest Linux to people, but only to a certain extent.

In such situations, having a backup to fall back on can help.

This would ensure your files stay safe even if your OS can’t boot.

Even better, you canset up a snapshot utility to take a snapshotof your system at specified periods.

It’s easy to configure a backup or snapshot utility on Linux and is much better than regretting later.

Now You Know What You Shouldnt Do on Linux

Prevention is better than cure.

It’s essential to know what things are a complete no-no when using Linux as a beginner.