The 7 levels of Linux users: Which one are you?

https://www.howtogeek.com/levels-of-being-a-linux-user/

Publish Date: 2026-04-06 07:30:00

Linux has a weird way of pulling you deeper. One day you’re installing Ubuntu, and before you know it, you’re tweaking configs, switching distros, and living in the terminal. As such, if you’ve been using Linux for some time now, a natural question pops up—how far down the rabbit hole have you actually gone? Here are the seven levels of Linux users to help you see where you land.

Level 1: You installed your first Linux distro

Everyone needs to start somewhere

Your Linux journey officially begins the moment you install your first distro—and for most people, that’s Ubuntu. It’s the most popular Linux distro, practically synonymous with Linux—and for good reason. It’s stable, reliable, and optimized for general use, meaning you can get most of your work done without running into complicated technicalities.

That said, some of you might have a well-intentioned Linux-savvy friend—or maybe you did some preliminary research before committing to a new OS—and came across Linux Mint or Zorin OS. Technically, these distros are also based on Ubuntu, but they offer a more familiar, Windows-like layout along with additional tweaks that make them especially beginner-friendly.

At this stage, you’re at level one: you’ve installed your first Linux distro and started using it.

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