Ubuntu Youth
Written by Andrew from www.TeensOnLinux.org
So you've installed the latest version of Ubuntu, you've got your wicked awesome Compiz Fusion effects set up — now what?
I asked the same question about a year ago when I started with Kubuntu 6.06. So here are a few things I came up with to keep you from getting bored.
1. Explore the file system
Trust me, you can learn a lot this way. Here's what you do: open your file manager and press the “up one directory” button twice. This should take you to the top level of your installation. You'll see a bunch of directories like /usr, /proc, and /home. Look through them and find out what they're for. I would highly recommend Linux Reality podcast episode 11 for this: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/111c30
2. Try an obscure Window manager
By default, Ubuntu comes with GNOME, KDE, or XFCE. Why not try something different? IceWM or Fluxbox are two alternatives. They're both fast, free and in the Ubuntu repositories. Just go into Synaptic (or Adept, if you're a Kubuntu user like me) and search for “window managers”.
3. Figure out that command line
Try using the command line for a day. Use it for everything! Try Elinks or w3m. Try some CLI games. Heck, even try managing your music collection! It's faster than a window manager and infinitely more flexible. See: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/745c00
4. Code, code, code
Try learning a programming language like Ruby or Python. I have been learning Ruby for the past few months and I'm really enjoying it. For some tutorials on programming, see http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/ or www.python.org. Or if you're a book person like me, take a look at: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/9d47a0fr_or: http://url.fullcirclemagazine.org/b2a379.
5. Contribute
The nice thing about the Ubuntu community is that they're always open to your ideas. Send in a feature request to your favorite project. If you can code, try making some of those features possible. You could even try writing for Full Circle Magazine!
Now have fun, and remember that you have no reason to be bored!
