10 Ways True Linux Power Users Get More Out Of The World's Best Os

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Linux is powerful, flexible, and tin do conscionable astir anything.

However, to really get nan astir retired of Linux and your computer(s), location are definite skills and habits you request to bolster; otherwise, you're not really enjoying nan riches that tin beryllium mined from Linux. 

Also: 8 ways I quickly leveled up my Linux skills - and you tin too

Trust me, location are riches successful that open-source operating system.

So, if you want to get superior astir this, publication connected and see these tips arsenic basal to getting nan astir retired of those computers.

1. Configure keybindings for typical keys

I've been utilizing Linux for 30 years and person recovered keybindings essential. A keybinding is simple: you hindrance a cardinal to an action. Don't correction this for keyboard shortcuts, because keyboard shortcuts impact aggregate keys that are assigned an action. What I'm talking astir present is simply a azygous cardinal bound to a azygous action. 

Now, earlier you spell chaotic pinch this -- keybindings are mostly assigned to typical keys, specified arsenic nan "Super" cardinal (aka -- mod4 -- often called nan "Windows" cardinal because connected immoderate keyboards it'll person nan Windows logo). You tin besides hindrance your Alt cardinal arsenic good (aka -- mod1). You tin delegate those keys circumstantial actions for illustration opening nan terminal window, nan record manager, aliases nan desktop menu. These keys tin beryllium configured pinch apps for illustration dconf-editor, xbindkeys, and xdotool.

2. Get a much useful terminal

Although you don't person to usage nan terminal, it's an basal instrumentality for powerfulness users. Most likely, nan terminal app that shipped pinch your distribution is reasonably modular and doesn't connection a batch of options. Why not instal a amended terminal application, 1 that's much suited for powerfulness users? 

Also: 5 Linux terminal apps amended than your default - and they're each free

I for illustration to spell pinch a drop-down terminal for illustration Guake because I tin easy telephone it pinch a cardinal (see No. 1), but besides because it drops down from nan apical of nan display, truthful it's ever location but retired of nan way. 

Or you mightiness want to instal a tiling terminal model (such arsenic Terminator) that allows you to unfastened aggregate terminals successful a azygous window, specified that you tin spot them each astatine erstwhile (as opposed to a tabbed terminal). This is simply a awesome measurement to thief you troubleshoot Linux.

3. Lean into nan bid line

If you really want to get nan astir retired of Linux connected your computer, you have to study nan bid line. If you only want to usage Linux for nan emblematic tasks (shopping, societal media, news, email, documents), past you tin skip nan terminal window. But if you're a existent powerfulness user, you cannot get by without it. The bid statement gives you truthful overmuch powerfulness and elasticity that nan GUI simply cannot match. 

I've covered Linux commands extensively, including nan champion ones for new users, the ones I usage nan most, which commands to usage for troubleshooting, and moreover immoderate fun Linux commands everyone should effort astatine slightest once. 

4. Customize your desktop

One of nan champion qualities of Linux is really elastic and customizable it is. It would beryllium a shame if you simply accepted your distribution's default setup erstwhile you tin make it activity precisely really you want it. For example, System76's upcoming COSMIC desktop has tons of awesome tweaks. I person recovered myself spending hours customizing my Linux desktop truthful it's a cleanable instrumentality of efficiency, and you should do nan same. 

Also: The 5 astir customizable Linux desktop environments - erstwhile you want it your way

If you don't for illustration nan desktop situation you're presently using, instal a different one. Just make it yours.

5. Memorize keyboard shortcuts

This isn't unsocial to Linux, but you really request to memorize those keyboard shortcuts. You mightiness want to get nan astir retired of LibreOffice and a awesome measurement to do that is pinch keyboard shortcuts. The quality pinch Linux and different operating systems is that keyboard shortcuts are everywhere. There are keyboard shortcuts for nan terminal (such arsenic Ctrl+A to return you to nan opening of a statement and Ctrl+E to return you to nan extremity of nan line) and astir each app you person installed. Learn them, perpetrate them to memory, and usage them.

Also: 10 Linux keyboard shortcuts I dangle connected for maximum efficiency

6. Use Linux for everything

Don't conscionable usage Linux arsenic an amazing desktop distribution. Use it arsenic a server connected your LAN. Install immoderate it is you need. Need a streaming server? Use Linux. Need a router? Use Linux. Need IoT devices? Use Linux. Need a web server? Linux. Database server? Linux. 

Also: The 6 Linux commands I usage nan astir - and why

The database goes connected and on. Every clip you deploy Linux for thing different than nan desktop, you'll study much astir nan OS. 

7. Get an in-depth knowing of your firewall

Did you cognize that immoderate Linux distributions vessel pinch nan firewall disabled? That's right. As a powerfulness user, you don't want that. Enable that firewall and past make judge you cognize really to usage it, truthful you don't person to interest astir utilizing a security-focused Linux distribution. You'll astir apt want to let SSH postulation into definite Linux machines, but not others. You mightiness request to fto HTTP/S postulation walk into 1 peculiar server connected your LAN, but not each of them. 

Also: An uncomplicated preamble to Uncomplicated Firewall

Whatever you need, make judge you cognize really to manipulate it pinch your firewall. If you're utilizing a Ubuntu-based distribution, that firewall is Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw), and if you're utilizing a Fedora-based distribution, that firewall is firewalls.

8. Educate yourself connected containers

Containers are an astonishing measurement to not only grow nan services you person connected your location (or business) network, but they are besides a awesome measurement to study moreover much astir Linux. Nearly each instrumentality uses Linux arsenic its base, and because containers tin get reasonably complicated, you'll request to really understand really nan OS works. The much you study astir containers, nan much you'll study astir Linux.

Also: What are virtual appliances, and really to quickly deploy them for capacity gains

9. Learn really to constitute ammunition scripts

Learn really to constitute bash scripts. These scripts tin beryllium arsenic elemental aliases analyzable arsenic you want aliases need. You tin commencement disconnected by creating a bash book to backmost up important directories to an outer drive, past move to backing up those directories crossed your network. You tin past usage bash scripts to automate each kinds of tasks. 

Bash scripts are a awesome measurement to make Linux do immoderate you need. If you want to study really to automate tasks pinch ammunition scripts, cheque retired my piece, "How I automate basal tasks connected Linux pinch bash scripts - and why you should effort it," which is simply a bully launching constituent for your preamble to this tool.

10. Learn regular expressions

This will beryllium 1 of nan much analyzable skills you'll study connected Linux because regular expressions (aka regex) are a superior symptom to learn. However, erstwhile you study nan ways of regex, you'll find that you person moreover much powerfulness astatine your fingertips. Just don't get disappointment arsenic you statesman your travel pinch regular expressions, because it will beryllium a challenge. If you want to get a commencement pinch regex, cheque out: "5 ways I usage regex successful Linux (and why they're truthful essential)."

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