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How-To Geek: Linux Distributions, Linux Terminals, Linux desktops, and Howtos
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Why you should learn the Linux terminal
Are you new to Linux and resisting the terminal? Or perhaps you're a longtime passionate user like me? Regardless, learning the Linux terminal opens up an entirely different world on Linux, and I will explain why.
The terminal isn't a fad; it's undeniably a better way to use Linux. It looks confusing, but it's easy. Linux is well-suited to a text-based interface, and there are compelling reasons you should learn the terminal: help and support, automation, bloat reduction, and personal growth, to name a few. Learning the terminal is a fate that most Linux users cannot avoid.
4 Linux terminal text editors I use instead of nano
Even if you tend to avoid the Linux terminal, chances are, at some point, you will have to edit a text file within the terminal. By default, pretty much every Linux distribution uses the 'nano' text editor. It's entirely keyboard-driven and uses some old-school shortcuts from the 1990s. Those shortcuts are counter-intuitive for me and I just don't want to bother learning them anyway. I have two choices here: learn something like Vim, which would take even longer, or use a more modern alternative of 'nano.' I went with the second option and tested a lot of console text editors. These are my favorites.
4 interesting Linux distributions that first appeared in 2025
There are tons of Linux distributions out there, and for better or worse, the list keeps growing. Here are some 2025 arrivals fresh out of the open source operating system development oven.
Keep in mind that I don't necessarily recommend installing any of these, especially as a daily driver. Not only are they mostly in beta or even alpha phases of development, but some have only one developer maintaining them. That's typical for brand new distributions, but it presents an unavoidable reliability problem: what if that one person overlooks a security patch because they're busy, and what if changes in their personal or professional life make them unable to keep up with the project at all? Newbies to Linux in particular I recommend sticking to popular, well-established distributions with a team of developers keeping the engine going.
6 reasons 2026 could finally be the year of desktop Linux
Are you exhausted by the “Year of Linux” predictions that never pan out? Do you roll your eyes every time someone declares Linux’s breakthrough is imminent? I don’t blame you for being skeptical—but there are six major shifts converging in 2026 that could finally make desktop Linux mainstream.
For over two decades, Linux advocates have proclaimed “next year will be the year”—and been wrong every single time. The promise became a punchline. But 2026 isn’t just hype-driven optimism. New market forces and institutional policies are creating conditions that could finally make this the year of Linux.
5 best Windows-like Linux desktop environments for a familiar look and feel
Do you want to try Linux but don’t want to relearn a new interface? Worried that an unfamiliar desktop might slow down your workflow? You’re not alone—and these five Windows-like desktop environments (DEs) are designed to help you feel right at home.
Most people assume switching to Linux means adopting a completely new way of interacting with their system, but that’s simply not true. Several Linux desktop environments deliberately recreate the Windows experience—often referred to as the traditional desktop paradigm. These desktops let you keep the same taskbar-and-window workflow you’re already comfortable with, so you can focus on getting work done instead of learning a new interface.
How to customize Linux Mint to look like macOS
Linux Mint is famous for offering a familiar Windows-like desktop experience, but did you know it’s also one of the most customizable distros—with built-in tools to tweak its look and feel? To give you an idea of what's possible, here's how I made Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition look like macOS.