Skip to content

Day One: Getting Started with Linux

Every Linux expert started exactly where you are. This is Day One.

Welcome to Linux

This is your first time working with a Linux system, and you're probably feeling one of two ways:

  • Excited: "I've heard Linux runs everything! Time to learn!"
  • Nervous: "I just got server access for work and have no idea what I'm doing..."

Both are valid. You're in the right place.

This guide is for anyone starting their Linux journey—whether someone handed you SSH credentials to a production server, or you're setting up your own Linux environment to learn and experiment.

What You'll Learn

By the end of Day One, you'll know how to:

  • Get access to a Linux environment (via SSH or setting up your own)
  • Orient yourself after login—where am I, what is this server, who am I?
  • Explore safely without breaking things
  • Understand your permissions and access levels
  • Read logs like a pro using tail, grep, and journalctl
  • Find help when you're stuck
  • Avoid common mistakes that could impact production systems

Two Paths, One Destination

This guide acknowledges that people come to Linux from different starting points:

You have server credentials.

Someone gave you an IP address, username, and password. Maybe it's a production server, staging environment, or cloud instance. You need to connect and start working—safely.

We'll cover: Connecting via SSH, orienting yourself on an unfamiliar system, understanding what you can and cannot do, and staying in read-only mode until you're comfortable.

You're setting up your own environment.

You want to learn Linux but don't have a server. You're choosing between WSL2, VirtualBox, cloud providers, or a physical install. You want a safe playground to experiment.

We'll cover: Quick setup options with links to official guides, choosing what works for your situation, and validating your environment is ready.

Either way: Once you've got access to a Linux terminal, you're on the same journey. The commands work the same, the concepts are identical, and you'll build the same foundational skills.

Who This Is For

  • Perfect For

    Developers — First-time server access

    Junior DevOps — Starting your journey

    Students — Learning for class or career

    Hobbyists — Hands-on exploration

    Career Changers — Moving to systems work

  • You Don't Need

    Prior Experience — We assume none

    CS Degree — Concepts explained clearly

    Command Memorization — We teach how to find help

    Fear — Safety emphasized throughout

The Articles

Work through these in order for the full Day One experience:

  1. Getting Access to Linux - Connect via SSH or set up your own environment
  2. First 60 Seconds: Orientation - Where am I? What is this? (coming soon)
  3. Understanding Your Permissions - What can I actually do here? (coming soon)
  4. Safe Exploration - How to look around without breaking things (coming soon)
  5. Reading Logs Like a Pro - tail, journalctl, and grep (coming soon)
  6. Finding Documentation - Where's the team wiki? (coming soon)
  7. Common First Tasks - Checking status, finding configs (coming soon)
  8. The "Don't Do This" Guide - Safety rules for real systems (coming soon)

Articles Publishing Soon

Articles are being published as they're reviewed for quality. Start with Getting Access to get connected to a Linux system.

The Philosophy

Throughout Day One, we emphasize safety and confidence. How you approach Linux depends on your environment:

If you're working on a real server (production, staging, team infrastructure):

  • You won't break production by looking at things. Reading logs, checking processes, exploring files—these are safe operations.
  • We stay read-only until you know more. No deleting files, no restarting services, no making changes until you understand the system.
  • It's okay to ask questions. Everyone was new to this once. Your team would rather you ask than guess wrong.

If you're learning on your own (VM, WSL2, personal server):

  • Breaking things is how you learn. In a safe environment, mistakes are educational.
  • You can always rebuild. VMs can be snapshotted and restored. WSL2 can be reset. Cloud instances can be deleted and recreated.
  • Experimentation is encouraged. Try commands. See what happens. Learn by doing.

Our Teaching Approach

Day One focuses on practical, immediate needs—the skills you need in your first hours and days working with Linux.

  • We Teach

    The "Why" — Understanding purpose, not just syntax

    Real Scenarios — Situations you'll actually encounter

    Finding Answers — How to help yourself when stuck

    Safety Habits — Practices that serve you forever

What's Next?

Once you're comfortable navigating a Linux system and reading logs, you're ready for Level 1: Everyday Navigation. That's where you'll level up your command-line skills with the tools you'll use hundreds of times a day.

Ready?

Start with Getting Access to Linux and we'll get you connected to a Linux system.

Remember: The person who looks like a Linux wizard today? They had a Day One too. This is yours.