The Linux Index · plain-English directory since the early days · find your distro below
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The Linux index for people who'd rather just get started.

Plain-English guides, an honest directory of the tools that matter, and a finder that points you at the right distro in three clicks.

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June 20, 2026

Does Linux Use NTFS or Ext4?

Short answer: Linux installs onto Ext4, while NTFS belongs to Windows. The longer answer is where it gets useful, because Linux can read and write NTFS just fine when it needs to.

June 20, 2026

Best YouTube Channels for Learning Linux (2026)

There's no single best Linux channel, only the best one for where you are right now. Here's how the good ones differ and who should watch which.

June 18, 2026

What Is Open Source Software? (With Real Examples)

Open source software is everywhere, from the phone in your pocket to the servers running the internet, but most people have only a vague idea of what "open source" actually means or why it matters.

June 18, 2026

What Is the Most Common Linux File System?

If you've ever installed Linux and just clicked through the disk partitioning screen without thinking about it, you almost certainly ended up with ext4. That's not a bad outcome, but it's worth understanding why.

June 18, 2026

Linux Git: What It Is, How to Use It, and Why It Matters

Git was born on Linux, built by the same person who created Linux itself. Understanding that history makes the tool make a lot more sense.

June 18, 2026

Linux Source Code Download: Where to Get It and What to Do

Downloading the Linux kernel source code is straightforward once you know where to look, but most guides skip the part about what you're actually getting and why it matters.

find your distro

1. What's the machine?

Old / low-spec Modern laptop/desktop Server / homelab

2. How comfortable are you?

New to Linux Some experience I live in the terminal
Pick one from each row to get a recommendation.

the essentials

🔎

Check your Linux version

Three one-liners to find your distro, version and kernel.

$ cat /etc/os-release
🧠

How much RAM does Linux need?

Honest numbers by use case, and reviving old PCs.

$ free -h
🧭

Best beginner distros

Where to start without regretting it a week later.

$ pick-a-distro
⌨️

Essential commands

The 25 commands that cover 90% of daily use.

$ man everything
💿

How to install Linux

From USB stick to first boot, the safe way.

$ dd if=distro.iso
⚖️

Linux vs Windows

An honest, non-zealot comparison for switchers.

$ diff os

trending in open source

// most-starred Linux projects on GitHub

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