Begin with Linux #1
Tags: linux, python, opensource
Published: 2020-10-20 13:33:42



I know many people who are still confused if they should switch to Linux or at least give it a go. In this article series I'll taking you through the steps I followed and my experience while switching to Linux and how I learn and do python projects solely on Linux.
Just in case, I'm not saying you should switch to Linux, if you're curious or want to try something new just give it a try, fun fact it's free!

### Let's get started with installing Linux on your device.

This series will be focusing on Ubuntu since that's what I'm using now and writing this article on. 

1. First you'll need an USB stick, I recommend minimum of 8gbs. Now let's download everything that you'll be needing.
 - You can download the iso from <a href='https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop'>here</a>.
 - Now you'll need something to make a bootable usb stick, and for that we'll be using balena etcher. You can get it from <a href='https://www.balena.io/etcher/'>here</a>.
 
**Note-** if you follow the videos mentioned below, follow the steps they show on what to and how to download. 
 
2. I'll be leaving here the video tutorials which I followed here since I'm no expert in partitioning and things.
 - If you want just ubuntu on your device check out <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt5Lu_ltPkU&ab_channel=LinuxPlus'>this</a> video. 
 - If you want to install it along side windows refer to <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iSAyiicyQY&ab_channel=KskRoyal'>this</a> video.
 
### Install the drivers and software packages.

1. If you're using a device with an nvidia gpu check out <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GljujCLixzE&ab_channel=EricMunoz'> this </a> video.
2. If you're using a device with built in gpu or an amd gpu, you should be fine.
3. Now let's run the command to update your system and installed softwares first
```
$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt upgrade
```

4. Now you're almost good to go and download any software you wish to, you don't need to use the terminal to install software if you don't want to. However, there's several ways to intall software on linux:-
- Use snap packages, you can use snap packages, ubuntu comes prebuilt with snap support since snap is developed by canonical, the same company which developes ubuntu. You can open the software centre and most software there will be snaps by default.
- Use aptitude, you can use `apt` to install software directly from ubuntu's repositories. For eg,
```
$ sudo apt install vlc
```
- Use deb packages, like windows' exe and msi packages you can download software's deb file which works very much like exe or msi packages, just click on it and it'll install the software. One benefit is that the deb file will add it's repository on your device so you can update it directly from you terminal or software center.
- flatpak, flatpak is very much like snap but flatpaks generally have faster load times compared to snaps.
Check out <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf--Et0vB-s&ab_channel=LearnLinuxTV'> this </a> video to see how you can install flatpak on ubuntu.

### Forums and help
Ubuntu is one of the biggest and most used distro out there, if you have an issue the chances are it's already solved by someone else just give it a google search.

**In next article, I'll be writing how I setup my device while I'm mastering python.**

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