<div dir="ltr"><div>Yeh, raspbian in particular is basically debian, a popular Linux distro with all the bells an' whistles (I'm typing this reply on my Debian desktop machine). <br></div><div><div>One of the great things about using an RPi is its size -- the whole OS fits handily on a 16 gb card, so backup and restore of the entire thing is pretty feasible from a desktop PC. Screw it up entirely and can't find your way out? Just restore!</div></div><div><br></div><div> I always kind of wonder what 'learning linux' entails. To me at least, it means being comfortable at the command line and having a working knowledge of Linux directory structure and administrative tasks (e.g. adding and removing users, connecting to wifi, mass storage setup, software installation from a repository, and perhaps setting up the webserver of your choice). Command line comfort means being able to troubleshoot simple problems (e.g. setting ${PATH} correctly), familiarity with at least one text editor (e.g. pico, vi, or emacs) and the ability to write at least a few lines of the shell of your choice to automate common tasks, like editing the next chapter of your novel or firing up your favorite DAW software. Raspbian comes pre-configured to Just Work, but you can easily dive into this stuff from there. Familiarity with Raspbian will be really handy for setting up Debian (and vice-versa). Most other distros differ only in what my daughter calls "buttonology". <br></div><div><br></div><div>I've taught several iterations of a three-hour "Intro to Raspberry Pi" class using Rasbian. We go through some basic setup tasks, connect to a local network, and create some simple ways to control an LED from a browser. One other cool thing about the Pi is that the hardware is right close to the OS. Talking to the digital I/O pins is easy-peasy even from the command line (you basically just echo a "1" or a "0" to a device). That puts all kinds of entertaining projects within reach of the average basement hacker. <br></div><div><br></div><div>-- CHS</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Jan 7, 2021 at 11:49 PM Chuck Payne via Ale <<a href="mailto:ale@ale.org">ale@ale.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Useful. I won't worry about, messing with another distro or hardware<br>
until you get the basic down. Raspberry OS is perfect for that. Think<br>
about this, for the cost, it pennies compared to install on a desktop<br>
or laptop. You don't have to worry about do I have the correct drivers<br>
for my wifi or will I lose my Windows install if you try to do a dual<br>
boot.<br>
<br>
$45 for Pi4 with 4 Gigs, is a good desktop. There are limits, but to<br>
again to get the basic how to use linux it great.<br>
<br>
On Thu, Jan 7, 2021 at 11:16 PM Boris Borisov via Ale <<a href="mailto:ale@ale.org" target="_blank">ale@ale.org</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> Yep besides running small size computer there is nothing small about Raspbian. You can do almost everything on it. Probably cannot use it as VM host but that is particular use.<br>
><br>
> On Thu, Jan 7, 2021, 23:04 Byron Jeff via Ale <<a href="mailto:ale@ale.org" target="_blank">ale@ale.org</a>> wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> Both. Raspian is a complete Linux distribution that targets the pi. Also<br>
>> there are others.<br>
>><br>
>> What specific commands are you planning on learning? Just curious.<br>
>><br>
>> BAJ<br>
>><br>
>> On Thu, Jan 07, 2021 at 08:14:30PM -0500, electrophic wrote:<br>
>> > Jeff, are you saying that Raspbian is a full version of Linux or that<br>
>> > one can load a full version of Linux as an alternative to Raspbian?<br>
>> ><br>
>> > Sent from my Galaxy<br>
>> ><br>
>> > -------- Original message --------<br>
>> > From: Byron Jeff <<a href="mailto:byronjeff@clayton.edu" target="_blank">byronjeff@clayton.edu</a>><br>
>> > Date: 1/7/21 7:31 PM (GMT-05:00)<br>
>> > To: Mark Ogilvie <<a href="mailto:electrophic@gmail.com" target="_blank">electrophic@gmail.com</a>>, Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<br>
>> > <<a href="mailto:ale@ale.org" target="_blank">ale@ale.org</a>><br>
>> > Subject: Re: [ale] How useful is Raspbian for Newbie Learning Linux?<br>
>> ><br>
>> > It isn't a subset. There are full Linux distributions for the Raspberry<br>
>> > Pi.<br>
>> > The only thing is that you have to work out your connectivity. You'll<br>
>> > need<br>
>> > a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and power supply to get it going.<br>
>> > BAJ<br>
>> > On Thu, Jan 07, 2021 at 07:27:11PM -0500, Mark Ogilvie via Ale wrote:<br>
>> > > How useful is Raspbian as a tool for a beginner who wants to learn<br>
>> > > Linux commands?<br>
>> > > I have other options, so I don't want to spend too much time on it<br>
>> > if<br>
>> > > it is not full-featured, a subset of standard Linux OS. Thanks!<br>
>> > > _______________________________________________<br>
>> > > Ale mailing list<br>
>> > > <a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org" target="_blank">Ale@ale.org</a><br>
>> > > <a href="https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>
>> > > See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
>> > > <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>
>> > --<br>
>> > Byron A. Jeff<br>
>> > Associate Professor: Department of Computer Science and Information<br>
>> > Technology<br>
>> > College of Information and Mathematical Sciences<br>
>> > Clayton State University<br>
>> > <a href="http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff</a><br>
>><br>
>> --<br>
>> Byron A. Jeff<br>
>> Associate Professor: Department of Computer Science and Information Technology<br>
>> College of Information and Mathematical Sciences<br>
>> Clayton State University<br>
>> <a href="http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff</a><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
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><br>
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<br>
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