Ask HN: How can a intermediate-beginner learn Unix/Linux and programming?

Next, get a book on bash or other shell. You’ll learn the most important parts quickly. Then do the same for Python.

If you make it that far, read the art of Unix programming to approach greybeard status.

Start with installing a distro of your choice in a virtualization tool, I always recommend Ubuntu on VMWarePlayer because it was what I started with. Distro/Virtualization Software doesn't matter, what matters is that you use it.

Then I have students work through Linux Journey [1] one module at a time, while being available to answer questions as they go.

Once a student has finished the LJ modules I have them play the Bandit Over the Wire [2] game up to challenge 15.

After that I usually teach Hardware and Operating Systems, but if you are just looking for general ability to do things, skip to the CyberAces Linux modules. [3]

Once you have finished those, do the CyberAces Bash Scripting module and the CodeAcademy Python [4] course and you'll have enough scripting ability to be dangerous.

From there, just keep using Linux as your daily driver and you will continue to improve, especially if you take on programming projects.

All of this can be done by yourself, but I teach a free online course on Computing Fundamentals and Security if you are interested in it being more of a guided experience. [5]

[1] https://linuxjourney.com/ [2] http://overthewire.org/wargames/bandit/ [3] https://tutorials.cyberaces.org/tutorials.html [4] https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-python [5] https://www.hoppersroppers.org/course.html

1) Do all day to day tasks with the CLI. It will force you to challenge yourself.

2) Learn line editing with GNU Readline. What is this? E.g., when you have a bash shell open and you hit Alt+B, your cursor moves back a word. This will make your time in the shell a lot more pleasant. Similarly, the basics of VIM, which will make text editing a lot more pleasant. Less friction means everything comes quicker, and you get tighter learning iteration loops. Don't go overboard on this: it's mostly about navigating around and editing text, not installing plugins or anything beyond an hour or two of study.

3) Don't waste time purposefully memorizing userland tools. You'll forget them in a week, and most of the time they're pointless clutter in your head. There is zero value in memorizing all the options for `tar`. Memory will come naturally with use.

4) Do not waste time building the perfect set of dot files (e.g. `.bashrc`, `.vimrc`). Know where they are, but futzing with them should be 5) Do not waste time building a Linux desktop, configuring a window manager, etc. Linux is, first and foremost, an operating system for servers, and the skills needed to get a polished Linux desktop user experience are entirely separate from (and usually dependent on) the skills needed to get a solid Linux server environment up and running.

6) Man pages are your friend. Before Googling how to do `something`, try `man something`. If you don't even know the man page you're looking for, try `man -k something`. If it's totally new, read the whole man page. If you're just looking for an obscure `tar` option, just skip to that section.

7) Cert book for RHCSA. Honestly pretty much every non-junior developer should have the skill level of a RHCSA. It teaches you how an entire system fits together. Note you don't have to pony up some obscene fee to RedHat to actually take the test and get the cert (though, as far as certs go, it's one of the better ones); the point is the content. And actually do all the labs/exercises in whatever book you get.

8) Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment (APUE). This is less critical and only relevant once you are vaguely at the RHCSA level (and know how to program), but it can give lots of valuable knowledge about the programming system interface.