Welcoming new Linux users
Doghouse – Linux Beginners

Planning and community effort can help welcome Linux beginners online without precluding more advanced discussions.
I am on several Linux Facebook groups, and some groups continually deal with new users coming onto the group with questions like "What distribution of Linux should I use," or "I am new to Linux, and I want to use this distribution which specializes in diagnosing malware in the kernel – how do I get it to boot?"
After the initial question comes the inevitable comments about "noobs" and questioning the new user's intelligence and their inability to "read the f'n manual" (RTFM). Going down the list of comments, it is obvious that many of the people making new comments have not taken the time to read any of the previous comments and felt justified in restating the same thoughts that had already been applied. This makes it time consuming to determine whether or not your own thought has already been applied, particularly when 50-60 percent of the answering comments are small paragraphs basically stating that the original poster should use one of three or four more mainstream distributions or (as said previously) RTFM.
Recently, AI has been added to various comment sessions of social media to summarize, at the beginning of the comment section, what the comments to date have stated. This might help both the person who asked the question and people who would like to add comments that have not previously been submitted. The AI could be invoked after two or three comments were submitted, and then after each new comment, to incorporate it into the answer.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.