Linux Coding & Programming The Complete Manual

Discover everything you need to know to master coding with the Linux OS! Linux may not have the user numbers that Microsoft or Apple enjoy but those who have adopted the open source world into their digital life have found this remarkable operating system, and the available free programs it offers, a breath of fresh air. Linux offers the user a fast, secure environment, free from bloated software, to work and play on. Not only are you able to configure it to your own personal tastes, you can also enjoy a superb everyday desktop operating system that’s developed by a community of like-minded users. 100% unofficial.

Say Hello to Linux

Why Linux? • For many of its users, Linux means freedom. Freedom from the walled garden approach of other operating systems, freedom to change and use the OS as you please and freedom from any form of licensing or payment. There’s a lot more to Linux than you may think though.

The Best Linux Distributions • There are lots of versions of Linux available, known as Distributions. Each has a different ethos and approach. Here are five great distributions to try and where you can get them.

Equipment You Will Need • The system requirements for successfully installing Linux Mint on to a PC are surprisingly low, so even a computer that’s several years old will happily run this distro. However, it’s worth checking you have everything in place before proceeding.

Desktop Environments • Linux Mint comes in several different versions, or flavours: Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce; there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions of these too. What does it all mean though and which version should you choose for your installation?

Which Distro? • Up to now we’ve looked mainly at Linux Mint but there are other Linux distributions out there to try. In truth there are thousands of Linux distros available to download and install, so which one should you decide on to use?

Getting Started with Linux

Creating a Linux Installer on Windows

Installing Linux on a PC

Installing a Virtual Environment • A Virtual Environment is a simulated computer system. Using a Virtual Machine, you can mimic a standard PC and install an entire operating system to it without affecting the one installed on your computer. It’s a great way to test and use Linux, while still having Windows 10 as your main OS.

Installing Linux in a Virtual Environment • With Oracle’s VirtualBox now up and running, the next task is to create the Virtual Machine (VM) environment into which you install Linux. This process won’t affect your currently installed operating system, which is why a VM is a great choice.

Getting to Know Linux

Introduction to the Cinnamon Menu • Now that you have Linux installed it’s time to have a good look around. First though, if you’re using Virtualbox you’ll have a notification regarding Software Rendering; here’s how to fix it.

Navigating the Cinnamon Desktop • Each desktop environment behaves differently to that of the next. Some DEs offer widgets that can be customised and placed on the desktop, others instead opt for a clean, sharp look to keep everything running as fast as possible. Let’s see what the Cinnamon desktop has to offer.

10 Things to do After Installing Linux Mint • Linux Mint is a polished distro out of the box but, as with most Linux distros, there are some tweaks that can be applied to improve the way it works. Although these are Mintspecific tweaks, most can be applied to other distros.

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Creating Users • When you first install Linux Mint it is configured for use with a single user. While sharing a user account with the entire family is fine, there may come a time when you need to create separate users with their own unique Home folders.

Customising the Desktop • Customising the operating system desktop...