As a novice exploring Java, curious about Rust, and learning computer principles, I have always felt that “understanding operating systems” is a crucial step in becoming a better technician. Recently, I finally decided to tackle “Bird Brother’s Linux Private Kitchen” and installed the initial version of Arch Linux (a clean version without unnecessary configurations, perfect for practice) using the UTM virtual machine. Today, I will organize the key takeaways from my first day of learning and share them with fellow Linux beginners!
1. My Learning Environment: Why Choose Arch Linux + UTM?
1. Virtual Machine Choice – UTM: As a Mac user, UTM is an open-source and highly compatible virtual machine tool that supports ARM architecture. It runs Arch Linux smoothly without lag, and the configuration steps are simple, making it beginner-friendly. 2. System Choice – Initial Version of Arch Linux: It does not come with pre-installed software, allowing me to start from the most basic command line and gradually build the system environment. This aligns perfectly with the core logic of “understanding Linux from the ground up” in “Bird Brother’s Linux Private Kitchen,” making it more effective for practicing fundamental skills compared to using graphical systems like Ubuntu.
2. Core Knowledge Points from Day One (Corresponding to Basic Chapters in Bird Brother’s Textbook)
1. Core Advantages of Linux (From a Novice Programmer’s Perspective)
• Open Source and Free: Customizable kernels and system components, suitable for studying underlying principles; • Multi-user and Multi-tasking: Supports running multiple programs and user logins simultaneously, highly compatible with server scenarios; • Strong Stability: Background processes run stably and are less prone to crashes, making it the preferred operating system for servers; • Efficient Command Line: Once proficient, operation speed far exceeds that of graphical interfaces, suitable for batch processing tasks (a must-have for programmers).
2. Basic Rules of the Command Line (Essential! Avoid Pitfalls)
(1) Command Execution Format • Core Format: command [options] [arguments] (options and arguments can be omitted and added as needed) • Key Features: ◦ Options can be combined: for example, ls -a (show hidden files) and ls -l (detailed list) can be merged into ls -al (order does not matter, can also be written as ls -la); ◦ Multiple spaces are valid: between commands, options, and arguments, no matter how many spaces you press, it works, for example, ls -al /home and ls -al /home yield the same result. (2) Case Sensitivity of Commands • Linux commands are strictly case-sensitive; a typo will result in an error “command not found”: ◦ Correct: date (shows system time), cal (shows calendar); ◦ Incorrect: DATE, CAL (system does not recognize).
3. Basic Operations of Initial Version Arch Linux (Command Line Introduction)
(1) Login and System Control (Shutdown/Restart Related) • Login: Enter username → Enter password (password is not displayed, just press enter after typing); • Logout: Enter the logout command; • Shutdown/Restart Commands (4 Common Ones): ◦ shutdown -h now: shut down immediately; ◦ reboot: restart the system; ◦ halt: equivalent to shutdown (simple and direct); ◦ poweroff: force shutdown (similar to halt); ◦ Important Precondition: It is recommended to enter the sync command before shutting down to synchronize system files and avoid data loss. (2) Common Basic Commands (Must Remember! Including Newly Learned Tools) Command Function Description Example Notes ls List files/folders in the current directory ls -al (show all files + detailed information) Options can be combined, supports multiple space separation cd Change directory cd /home, cd .. (return to the previous level) Absolute paths must start with / pwd Show the current directory path Just enter pwd Essential when lost! mkdir Create a folder mkdir study_linux Multi-level creation requires -p parameter touch Create an empty file touch note.txt Can create multiple files at once (e.g., touch a.txt b.txt) cat View file content cat note.txt Suitable for viewing small files rm Delete files/folders rm note.txt, rm -r study_linux -r is a required parameter for deleting folders date Show the current system time Just enter date Case sensitive, DATE is invalid cal Show calendar Just enter cal (shows current month), cal 2025 (shows the entire year of 2025) Printing the calendar is super intuitive, a must-try for beginners! bc Simple calculator Enter bc to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division The initial version of Arch Linux does not come pre-installed, cannot be used directly nano Text editor nano note.txt (edit note file) Simple and easy to use, suitable for beginners to edit text (3) Help and Assistance Commands • –help: A universal help method for all commands, e.g., ls –help (view usage of ls command), shutdown –help (view shutdown command parameters); • man: View detailed command manuals (e.g., man ls), not pre-installed in the initial version; • info: More detailed help documents (e.g., info cd), also not pre-installed in the initial version. (4) Practical Shortcuts (Improve Efficiency + Emergency) • Tab: Auto-complete commands/directories/file names, just type the first few letters and press Tab to avoid spelling errors (e.g., typing cd /ho and pressing Tab will auto-complete to cd /home); • Ctrl + C: Forcefully interrupt a running process, e.g., executing find / (which will list all system files endlessly), pressing Ctrl+C will immediately terminate it; • Ctrl + D: Equivalent to exit, directly log out (no need to manually enter logout). (5) Understanding Directory Structure (Core Logic of Linux) The initial version of Arch Linux has no graphical interface, so understanding the directory structure through the command line is essential. Remember these core directories: • /: Root directory, the starting point for all files and directories; • /home: The main directory for ordinary users, where each user defaults to upon login; • /bin: Stores commonly used commands (like ls, cd), accessible to all users; • /etc: Stores system configuration files (a directory that must be modified for future configurations); • /usr: Stores system software, documents, etc. (similar to Windows’ Program Files).
4. Learning Insights: A Beginner’s Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls
1. The initial version of Arch Linux defaults to only the command line, with no graphical interface, don’t panic! This is a great opportunity to practice the basics; it’s fine to master the command line before installing a graphical interface. 2. Don’t rush when you make a mistake in commands; Linux will provide error messages (e.g., “command not found” could be due to a typo, case error, or the command not being installed). 3. When learning from Bird Brother’s textbook, be sure to “practice while watching”; type commands multiple times in the virtual machine; muscle memory is more effective than rote memorization. 4. When encountering problems, first check the command’s –help for assistance, or search the Linux community; one of the core abilities of a programmer is “self-solving problems”.
Future Learning Plan
Next, I will continue learning about file permissions, user management, software installation, and other topics from “Bird Brother’s Linux Private Kitchen.” I will also attempt to set up a programming environment on Arch Linux (such as installing Java and Rust compilers) and resolve issues with commands like bc and man not being usable. If there are friends also learning Linux, feel free to exchange ideas and check in together. If you have any questions, you can leave a message in the comments, and we can solve them together! Do you need me to help organize these commands into a “Beginner’s Quick Reference Card” (in table format for easy copying and saving), or provide simple operation steps for the nano editor (like saving and exiting)?