Many websites related to Linux and open source software have high technical content and often have less attention for the actual use and the things you can do with this operating system. But some of us just have other expectations. As a beginner or every day user in the Linux and Open Source world, you have different information needs than an experienced, highly skilled Linux user or developer. But also Linux users who use their computer for example for content creation, are less interested in the technical backgrounds, and have mostly different needs. In this artcle I give my thoughts on 10 great Linux websites for beginners and everyday users.
10 Great Linux websites for beginners and everyday users
The initial version of this article was published in November 2018, and I never updated it since. But things changes, websites disappear, new ones are born, so it was time for an update.
When I started with Linux myself, I had a great need to know how other people once found their way in this extensive open source world when they were a beginner, but also what applications other people use and how they use them. This highly supported and simplified the process of making my own choices. For example many people want to know how they simply can set up a photography workflow in Linux, or how they can seriously edit video and which software is most suitable for that. It is not always easy to find the right information that fits your requirements as it is scattered all over the internet. Here are my random thoughts on some great Linux websites for beginners and everyday users that I regularly visit myself:
linuxstans.com
The first website in this list is one that was brought to my attention very recently. LinuxStans is a relatively new (started in 2020) website about Linux that posts unique content. Categories span from hardware (like Linux laptops, tablets, phones), software (like best browsers for Linux, best office suites), best distros lists, comparisons, tutorials, and more. You’ll get content from multiple authors with different viewpoints, and as the authors want to emphasize, all content is checked and researched. By Linux Stans, for Linux Stans.
Website: LinuxStans.com
Linux Uprising
Linux Uprising is in my opinion interesting for both novice and experienced users. This website offers lots of articles in categories like news,applications, tutorials, and tweaks. There is something to find for everyone and every Linux need, about the well known applications, but also on hidden gems, on software and hardware tweaks, and on all things new in the Linux and Open Source world. Linux Uprising wants to be easy-to-understand, but as they say themselves, if you think things are still too complex, they are open for your requests for clarifications. Linux Uprising is in my opinion a great Linux resource.
Website: linuxuprising.com
pixls.us
The website pixls.us is dedicated to free and open source photography and cinematography and related topics. It offers very nice articles and tutorials on various graphical effects, workflow support and a showcase for work from photographers who use open source solutions. It gives information on upcoming article ideas, different observations on the open source world of photography and a good overview on open source based photography applications. It also provides a forum for people who have something to say in the free and open source photography community.
Website: pixls.us
davidrevoy.com
If you interested in Linux and open source and you are passionate about comics and drawing than you should have a look at www.davidrevoy.com, the website of David Revoy. David Revoy is a great blogger and an even better digital artist using 100% open-source software. On his website he talks about the technique of drawing, the software he uses, and he explains a lot about using drawing tablets and how to make them work under Linux. David Revoy really pushes open source software to the limits. He has been working with Krita for years with an open comic initiative under the name Pepper & Carrot. But he not only uses Krita as his daily driver, he also frequently develops new brushes for Krita that he offers free of charge to the community. And his brush kit is now so popular that Krita asked him to work on the default brush kit. Below an immensely impressive time lapse showing how David Revoy uses Krita to color his comic.
Website: davidrevoy.com
The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide
Probably the name of this website is self explanatory enough. The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide is a blog with the focus on Linux beginners and has been around since 2001. This website offers a newbie guide that describes in an accessible and friendly manner how to choose a distribution, how to install it and how to effectively use your new operating system. Further it offers how to’s, quick tips, reviews, real world examples and comments and thoughts of the editor on a diversity of Linux and open source topics.
Website: linuxnewbieguide.org
OMG! Ubuntu!
OMG! Ubuntu! is a really great website on Ubuntu and derivatives but also on more generic Linux and open source topics. Almost daily Joey Sneddon, the creator and maintainer of the website, publishes news and tutorials on applications, games and themes in a very accessible manner. Sometimes guest bloggers contribute as well. It is a very informative and dynamic website, not only because of the content, but also as a result of the energetic followers who have daily discussions and make additions to the blogs that are posted.
Website: omgubuntu.co.uk
itsfoss.com
For many years the It’s FOSS website has been a one man maintained blog by Abhishek Prakash, a software professional with many years of experience. But the site became more and more popular, even award-winning, so it is now maintained by a bigger team. The It’s FOSS website is a great and reliable source dedicated to beginners that focuses on Open Source in general and Linux in particular. According to the team Its motto is “to make your desktop Linux experience better. The aim of It’s FOSS is to increase the number of Linux desktop users and that aim is achieved by helping them to solve various issues one might encounter. Tutorials are written keeping beginners in mind with screenshots and proper steps”. Next to all kind of tutorials, this website also provides news and information on various Linux based applications.
Website: itsfoss.com
linuxscoop.com
Linuxscoop is a different kind of website as it doesn’t focus on written words but on a more visual presentation via video. According to Linuxscoop the website is dedicated to Linux and Open Source Apps video sharing. It also allows users to submit videos on linux distribution reviews, open source application reviews and open source apps how to’s. All videos have a unique visual character as they are more slideshow based with nice dynamic transitions. For those of you who don’t want to read long blog posts this website could be refreshing.
Here an example video:
Website: linuxscoop.com
noobslab.com
Probably the name of this website says enough. It is dedicated to noobs and mainly focusses on Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The tone of voice on this website makes you feel right at home. It offers hundreds of up to date tutorials, articles, information on themes, wallpapers and a great list of free to download ebooks on Linux and open source software. The tutorials are easy to read and will guide you step by step through installation, setup and usage procedures. It is great for beginners but when you grow more experienced you probably stick to this site as well.
Website: noobslab.com
ubuntupit.com
According to the information on ubuntupit.com the website is being maintained by one person, Mehedi Hasan. He is a freelance blogger and mainly focuses on Ubuntu and derivatives, but he has tested and used many Linux based distributions including Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Arch Linux, Manjaro and Debian. Ubuntupit only started in August 2016, but it already offers a very extensive, wide and deep base of information on applications, distributions and games and offers lots of useful tutorials. With simple and easy to follow how to guides, ubuntupit.com targets both newbie and advanced Linux users.
Website: ubuntupit.com
Final words
I hope you liked this article and I hope that these 10 diverse websites can help you in your Linux journey. Of course it is a bit pretentious if I would add my own website www.reallinuxuser.com to this list ;-), but my website exists now since 2017 , and in that time span it gathered more than a million visitors. So I like to believe some people found some value in my website and I hope maybe one day it will have a place in someone else’s top 10. Please let me know via the contact page what you want to see and read on this website to make it more interesting for all of you. Thanks and see you soon.
If you appreciate what I do on this website…,
