sorrybookbroke

I'd argue gentoo isn't the worst thing to do even as a beginner, but installing arch would likely be the best first step as it's shorter and you're more likely to get it running first try. You also don't have to compile.

As for other resources, though I prefer reading and doing, youtube might help. Specifically, chris tituss tech's linux basics playlist or learn linux TV playlist on the subject. Another great resource is to just read the man page for and specific command

Other than that, install in a virtual machine and start breaking things. Finding the solution will likely teach you quite a bit

Absolutely, arch will teach you quite a bit. Not nearly as much as Gentoo though. If you're going for learning how things work at a core level Gentoo is a fantastic place, though of course LFS will be better though more involved. I'm glad you're willing to take the harder path though!

As for arch, it'll teach you about mounting, user management, partitioning and partition management, an overview of how to set up a system and a few of the options available, and make you more comfortable with the command-line. With a few exceptions, that's about it. you can understand what makes arch arch in less than a day.

As for Gentoo, it's a guided experience that will teach you all of that but much, much more than arch will. With arch you could look more into it, and arch will be very well documented on what to do, but Gentoo will lay out the choices clearer with an explanation as to why. What is SystemD and why would you use something else (or, why you need so much to replace one thing?) How is networking built up? how do package managers work? What different kernels are available and why would you use them? What file system should you use? How does networking work on Linux? How do you install a tarball? What are firmware and microcode?

Just look at the index (legend?) on this page Gentoo Wiki and then this page Arch Wiki (on the left.) You'll see how much more Gentoo goes over

To be clear, I use arch on my main system, it's a fantastic OS and I'll likely use it until the heat death of the universe, but installing Gentoo, following the links, and searching up what I don't understand has taught me much more. LFS will, of course, teach you essentially everything though. It's a great option, and you're in for a fantastic journey. Once you're done you'll be the most impressive person in the room, if that room is full of us linux nerds

I can also suggest installing gentoo if LFS is a bit much, which is understandable. It won't have as much direct information as LFS but if you look up everything you don't understand and follow all the links you'll get a fairly good concept of the thing

you're correct, though I'd disagree with the idea of convincing people away from windows if none of what makes linux linux appeals to them. Some people like windows, some people just use what's on their system to browse facebook, some people couldn't care less if bill gates was in the room watching them get pegged by their wife, some people just hate computers and want to use them as little as possible. For those people I see no reason for them to switch and wouldn't argue they should. Not to say there aren't more reasons than I listed to switch those are just some of my favorites. When people ask me why they should switch to linux, I say because they want to. If they don't, eh, who cares, it's an OS. I'm more than willing to ramble about why I like linux but if none of that entices them I gain nothing from shoving it down their throats.

I'd disagree with that last part. There's alot more that linux does which they may find useful. You can change the entire paradigm of how your computer looks and feels by installing another Desktop Environment while losing nothing, your original DE will still be there, all your apps will be too, and you won't have to re-install.

You can get some absurd amounts of customization from KDE Plasma too if that's your thing.

Also, in my experience, it breaks less. And when it does break it tells you exactly how. There's more info out there than "Error 1204, 483, and 2096 all mean that the update failed. If you see one, try running sfc scannow" or other generic codes that end up in the same three commands which only work 30% of the time. On linux, you tend to find helpful instructions with an explanation as to why it happened

On top of that, choice. If you hate change with a passion, you can install debian and only update every 5 years. It'll be completely secure and your system will not change how it works over that time. Also, xfce and trinity keep the same look and feel so many people liked alive. If you hated the transition from windows 7 and wanted to stay on it even to this day, that's impossible on windows, on linux there can be forks that keep it alive.

Also, theming for plasma can keep new features while still looking like the old.

There's more features to some of the tools as well. I hate to keep tooting the kde horn, but if you want to do it plasma very likely has a solution for it.

You can add entries to the file managers right click menu, add features to krunner the linux version of macos spotlight, change how windows work while moving them, zoom into sections, invert a windows colours, change how clicking on a window works at a fundamental level, add burn my windows effects to 'beam them up Scottie' or light them on fire (not my style but I'm glad it's possible), change out everything on the panel like I do with the clock; calendar; and start menu with ease, add new random stuff in like a colour picker; timer; now playing on spotify, your colour scheme will apply to many non-default apps too (gnome also does this), etc.

Or, you can get gnome, which is a very locked down by default but polished user experience.

Tiling windows managers, automatic or manual tilers, different docks and shells, and mixing them all together.

Easier sandboxing with flatpack for the security minded, a better experience while installing apps in my opinion, godly forums with very helpful people, and the penguin will jack you off once weekly. God I love linux.

The leapfrog leappad used to run linux. People were able to hack them in order to run full on operating systems, by rooting their children's learning toy

That's the old version, steamOS v2. That ran on the failed steam machine. steamOS v3 is arch based. It uses pacman, pacman keyring, has arch packages, etc. Debian uses apt. The steamdeck is using an immutable variant of arch linux with it's own mirrors of the arch repositories.

I implore you, try using apt on your steamdeck. It will not work. Try installing a .deb, it will not work. It is not debian based. What you have linked to is the old, steamOS operating system used in their initial console trial, which failed

Hey! Glad to see you're interested. To confirm though, steamOS is arch based not debian based. I really wouldn't suggest arch though, it sometimes takes manual intervention to keep working and you should keep up to date with what's going on if you use it. Subscribe to the mailing list, keep up with the community on lemmy, etc.

SteamOS will handle all of that but Arch absolutely will not. If you're ok with a distro that needs some for babysitting arch is a fine thing to use. It's not as bad as some say and it's certainly not "for CS majors or people who know every detail of how a unix like system works" as the other guy states. That's nonesense, and the rest of their comment was filled with misinformation too

Sorry to say but there will be no "one to one" option.

However, the "desktop mode" is something called KDE Plasma and is available on all distributions. Kubuntu is a good option, it's just ubuntu but it looks different. The underlying tech is the same. Personally I'd suggest looking at the KDE linux mint flavour/spin though.

Though I'd stick to ubuntu or a ubuntu based distro, Fedora Kinoite is also a great option for gaming, or nobara with the plasma spin. Both will be more up to date and nobara is made specifically for gaming

Sorry for the info dump, wish you the best

I don't know your situation. Though I'd caution you about contacting them without knowing your local CPS and their track record, I hope if it is or becomes untenable that'll be an option.

I wish the best for you. I know quite a few people who've had terrible experiances with their parents, I hope like them things can get better for you with time

Hey, sorry, in a perfect world that would be the answer but in most places no, CPS will not be a good idea. At best they can remove you from that situation at which point you enter the very, very under-funded foster care system. This means a loss of friends and family perhaps changing schools alot of the time not enough food to eat some nights, or proper clothes, education, protection, etc.

On top of this, often those in charge of these places are quite terrible people too. Abusive mentally, sexually, or physically.

At worse, and more commonly, they do nothing and the abuse gets worse.

I really wouldn't suggest this option so willingly unless you knew the local system or the abuse was much worse than the, admitadly very concerning and not something this kid should have to deal with, current description.

This is kind of ironic, using a tool that steals from other people without attribution or care taking their creativity and hard work while erasing their credit and contribution to the art in order to promote a gpl v2 free and open source project which values transparency and moral programming.

Wild world I guess.

Those apps aren't helpful sadly. The best way to learn programming is by making things. The apps can make you think you're learning syntax, apis, OOP, a language, or other concepts but the second you're asked to make something or apply your knowlage it's all useless.