1. Thou shalt not log in as root.
Use “su -” for administrative tasks.
2. Thou shalt use the package manager when possible.
Sometimes installing from source code can’t be avoided, but when you use your distro’s package manager
to install software, you can also use it to update and remove it. This is one of the main strengths of Linux.
3. Thou shalt be a part of the community.
Freely give what you have received for free. Offer help and advice whenever you can.
4. Thou shalt read documentation and man pages.
Always read the documentation. The people who wrote the software tried to anticipate your questions,
and provided answers before you asked.
5. Thou shalt use the available support system.
Switching to Linux can be tough. It can be frustrating, but there are a lot of people out there who
want to help you. Let them.
6. Thou shalt search.
In most cases, your question or problem has already been addressed. Try to find the answers that are
already out there before asking someone to provide a new one.
7. Thou shalt explore.
Linux opens a whole new world of options and possibilities. Try everything you can.
8. Thou shalt use the command line.
Especially when it comes to configuration, use the GUI tools to get your system working, but get to
know the command line versions as well. In many cases, the command line is the only way to use some
of the more advanced features.
9. Thou shalt not try to recreate Windows.
Linux is not meant to be a clone of Windows. It’s different. Embrace and appreciate the differences.
10. Thou shalt not give up.
I tried several distributions before I found one I liked. I still try other distros from time to time.
I also tried several different programs to serve one purpose before settling on what I use now (amarok,
xmms, beep, exaile for music – azureus, ktorrent, deluge for bittorrents). If you don’t like the defaults,
remember that you can change almost everything to suit you.
