I’m over 50 and all I know about Linux is it’s mascot is a penguin and I think it has something to do with programming. But I’m trying to learn, do new things, and reinvent myself. Where/how should I go about learning? Or at this stage, should I even bother? I do want to learn, tho
I think that’s awesome that you’re trying to learn.
Linux only indirectly has to do with programming. Linux is an operating system, like MacOS or Windows. An operating system is basically everything on your PC that’s not the apps, so the desktop, task bar, start menu, settings menu, … are all part of it. And of course a lot of stuff you cannot see because apps need a lot of ground work to function properly.
First let me say, you should bother. No matter if it clicks for you or it doesn’t, trying something new is always a good idea.
If you want to get into Linux, you can install it instead of windows / MacOS on one of your devices. Make sure to backup all your files beforehand of course. Then you download an ISO from a Linux distribution (the flavour of Linux you want). if you just want something that works, Linux mint is one of the most straightforward ones. You download a “.iso” for that. Then you use a tool like “Rufus” and a USB stick, and put your iso file on that USB stick. After that, you plug that into the PC you wanna put Linux on, reboot, and look for the USB stick in the boot menu (different on every PC). And then you will be guided through the installation of Linux mint. After that you should be done and when the PC shows your new Linux mint desktop, you are done and you can unplug your USB stick. So much for Linux.
Getting into programming is a little bit less of a process, and more logic puzzles to understand how code works. I would recommend you look at an easier language, for example python, learn the basics of that and then set your sails on an intermediate project. For example a Webserver can be a cool one.
I know Lemmy hates AIs but I also gotta mention every time you wanna learn something, ask AI all the small questions. I personally like the free Claude AI; especially when you start out with a new hobby an AI will be helpful 99% of the time.
But most of all, do it for fun, stop when it’s too frustrating, just keep at it, everything else comes with time. You’ll quickly see if this is interesting to you or not, and I hope it is :)
Just to clarify op, it’s not just Lemmy that hates ai, most people do, and for very good reasons. Don’t get tricked, you can do a search on the Web for the small things with your hobby, you don’t need a robot misinforming you.