TL;DR: This is a guide for anyone new to Linux, or that have never used Linux before. After reading the guide, you should be able to switch from Windows, macOS or ChromeOS to Linux, or at least know more about it and why many people prefer it. What is Linux? You can think of Linux as an alternative to Windows and macOS; An operating system for your computer. An OS is responsible for managing the computer’s physical components (hardware) and programs (software)....
Why am I doing this (again)? I’ve been using Linux for many years, and recently tried FreeBSD on a spare laptop. I didn’t see many differences initially, but it got me wondering: What really are the differences between Linux and *BSDs? Which OS should I use? Of course, the short answer is always the same: It depends. So, I had to decide what is most important to me. Before continuing, I recommend that you do the same....
A bit of context What is a display server? If you use Linux or any BSD variant, you have likely heard of, and used, a display server. A display server is the component required to load any graphics or graphical user interfaces (GUIs - most browsers, games, …) and display any video content. The display server also handles input, manages the physical display, listens for requests to draw graphics, and supports hardware acceleration....
Why run AI locally? AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini can be very useful, however, they have a few issues: Price (Some tiers can be expensive and require a monthly subscription) Freedom (You may be limited by the moral beliefs of the company behind it) Internet Access Privacy (All your requests are sent to the company’s servers and can be seen and used by them for any purpose.) Ease of access (Sometimes you may encounter shortages or be unable to use AI efficiently with the tools you already have) Local AI solves most of these issues: Your requests never leave your computer, and so they are private and can be done offline....
What are dotfiles and why should I care? After using your system for a while, you will likely change settings everywhere: On your desktop environment, different programs, and even create scripts to automate your work. Most of these configurations are saved in your $HOME directory, in the form of .app_name. These files begin with a dot (making them ‘hidden’), hence the name dotfiles. Some apps (like most browsers) are able to sync settings between different devices, but most programs can’t....