this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2026
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Also, @CarlLandry357@lemmy.world, another factor in learning the CLI is that it gives you power in automating your desktop workflow. Using Bash with a bunch of Unix tools is the most basic automation script you can have, and Linux is very nimble about it (invoking processes is considerably more costly in Windows, so apps tend to do everything in a single process with threads).
For example, a file manager like Double Commander can have custom actions for files defined in the options, and you specify those as a terminal command to invoke.
A more advanced example is a launcher like Alfred (for MacOS) that can run scripts on custom keywords. I've had it doing stuff like connecting/disconnecting bluetooth headphones without mucking about with the mouse and tray menus, or handing the headphones over to the phone. Haven't found anything like that for Linux yet.
Generally, a programmer that knows multiple languages and paradigms is better than one that sticks to a single one, because they've encountered different ways of doing things. Particularly, for desktop automation, learning Lua is a boon, because it's small and fast as hell and finishes scripts before Python can start up. I'm in perpetual mourning for absence of anything like Hammerspoon for Linux, which allows scripting in Lua and has lots of APIs to interface with the OS.
Of course, one milestone in a programmer's career is learning Lisp instead of the usual stuff.