The way I usually start teaching using the console to my (very much non-tech) students is set up a safe container and then let them type whatever, invariably generating a lot of error messages. Then I challenge them to generate different error messages, “gotta catch em all” style. Then we talk about the error messages and what they might mean. After this exercise they usually get the basic idea of command – response, what to look out for and how to compose valid commands.

This sounds like a good idea, but I think the problem here is that a lot of popular software runs great on Linux but is very clunky and ugly on other systems (looking at you, LibreOffice). So keep that in mind if you try out FOSS on Windows as a sneak peek.

Navigation on Android: Osmand lets you download and cache OSM data so you can use it offline. Cache is unlimited if you download Osmand via F-Droid.

You can put together a media server and build a catalogue so you can watch movies and series offline. Maybe not a huge priority in that situation but definitely nice to have.

Jellyfin is a good option for streaming from a media server to other devices. The *arr suite is an option for building the catalogue.

If I’m not mistaken, ffsend generates a link that you can share with non-tech people (which is a big difference in my book).

ffsend targets Send which is an actively maintained community fork of Firefox Send.

It’s not centralized, you can host your own or choose from the public send instances.

A real classic: BBC Radio 4’s History of the world in 100 objects

You can load bitmap images into Inkscape and manipulate them to a degree, but Gimp is much better at that. You can probably also load vector graphics (svg) into Gimp, but I’d assume they would be converted to bitmaps.

Vector vs bitmap is a good topic to be familiar with for anyone who works with computers, I keep running into professionals who really should know the difference but don’t.

Helpful answer: vlc, libreoffice, gimp, inkscape, zathura, obs-studio

Real answer: gnome, run-or-raise, foot, fish, tmux, fzf, silver-searcher, neovim, neomutt, vifm

As others have said, less is super useful, you should keep it installed. There are better ways to open text files with your preferred editor than removing all alternatives.

Looks like less to me. How did you open the file? Double click from file explorer? Then you need to check your default applications.

I should add that Zathura comes with a minimal graphical interface and you sort of need to learn the vi-like keyboard controls (or look them up with man zathura). But boy is it fast!

Try Zathura! I’ve been loving it.

~500 MB for /boot and the rest is LUKS-encrypted btrfs

“One, two, three, two, five, three, seven…”

Yelling yabadabadoo and sliding down that dinosaur