Linux has a strange way of pulling you in. One day you Installing Ubuntuand before you know it, you’re tweaking configurations, switching distros, and living in a terminal. So if you’ve been using Linux for a while now, the natural question is – how far down the rabbit hole have you actually gone? Here are seven levels of Linux users to help you see where you fall.
Level 1: You have installed your first Linux distribution
Everyone has to start somewhere
Your Linux journey officially starts when you install your first distro, and for most people, that’s Ubuntu. This the most popular Linux distrois 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 complex technical issues.
However, some of you may have a well-intentioned Linux-savvy friend, or you may have done some preliminary research before committing to a new OS and come across Linux Mint or Zorin OS. Technically, these distros are also based on Ubuntu, but they offer a more familiar, Windows-like layout make them especially suitable for beginners.
At this stage, you are at level one: you have installed your first Linux distro and started using it.
8/10
- Operating system
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Kubuntu 24.04 LTS
- CPU
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Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.7 GHz to 5.4 GHz)
This laptop is designed for developers and professionals who want a portable workstation and gaming platform running Kubuntu Linux. It has an Intel processor that can hit 5.4GHz and a dedicated NVIDIA 5070 Ti GPU for both integrated graphics and machine learning or gaming when you need extra power.
Level 2: You use Linux more than Windows
It’s time to do
Most people who install Linux for the first time do not leave Windows overnight. A more practical move a dual boot setup– to be honest, that’s how I started. You keep Windows as a safety net for when you hit a wall on Linux, don’t have time to troubleshoot, and need a familiar system to get your work done. Meanwhile, in your free time, you gradually figure things out and change your workflow.
This is where many people fall down. After eagerly installing Linux, they rarely touch the partition and proceed to boot into Windows out of habit. But if you find yourself reaching for Linux more often—to the point where Windows is reserved for exclusive Windows tasks rather than familiarity—you’ve reached the second level.
Level 3: You’ve started distro hopping
The grass is always greener on the other side
Once you get comfortable with Linux, it doesn’t take long for the interest to start. As you spend time in Linux communities and watch YouTube videos, you slowly notice that other distros seem sharper, get updates faster, or ship features that you don’t. Technically, it’s all Linux, and you can replicate most of these advanced features in your current “starter” release. However, this usually requires a lot of tweaking and a deeper understanding of how Linux works – it’s often easier to switch.
And so you enter distro hopping. You are no longer satisfied with general purpose distribution. You begin to understand why there are hundreds of distros – each optimized for a specific type of workflow. So you start looking for someone who feels like home –Your “forever distro”.
This is the third level, and for many people this stage continues until they reach the final level.
Level 4: You’re comfortable with the Linux terminal
Welcome to the world of text
For a long time, the Linux terminal was one of the biggest obstacles holding people back from the transition. In fact, one of the reasons Linux has become so popular recently is because modern distros are so popular terminal is completely optional— there are graphical tools for almost every day work, and you can get pretty good results without ever touching the command line.
However, the terminal is still a first-class citizen in Linux. If you spend time in Linux communities, follow guides, watch YouTube videos, or install programs and monitor system resources, you’ve probably been exposed to it more than you think. This constant, low-cost exposure quietly removes the fear.
At level four, you are already comfortable using the terminal. In fact, you’re probably aware of and starting to explore terminal-based alternatives to many of your graphics applications. Maybe you pass some of them, maybe you don’t. But the fear is gone – and even if the terminal isn’t your preferred way of working, you’re comfortable reaching for it when you need it.
Level 5: You have switched to the window manager
A dream of a beautiful yet lightweight operating system
Window managers it’s probably been on your radar since third level. You’ve likely come across them while distro hopping, and they stand out – highly customizable, lightweight, and full desktop environments with a unique aesthetic that simply can’t be matched. However, you never committed because the technical overhead was a real obstacle. Unlike a desktop environment where most things are separated, window managers require you to edit configuration files to get the basics up and running.
For someone not yet comfortable with a text-based workflow, this is a bargain. But now, with the newfound convenience of the terminal, the idea of a fully text configured system doesn’t seem so daunting. So you finally give it a shot. The transition isn’t easy – especially if you choose a tiled window manager. It can be confusing at first when you struggle to remember the keyboard bindings. But if you stick with it, it starts to click. You end up with a lightweight, programmable desktop that looks and behaves exactly how you want it to.
Do for others what others have done for you
In all of this, you’ve probably visited more Linux forums than you realize. Most of the time it was passive – a search result took you to a thread where someone asked your exact question, you found the solution and moved on. But then one day you run into a problem and there is no available thread. So you send your first question and FOSS (Free and Open Source) society passes. You have made your first contact.
From there, something changes. You start visiting the forums more regularly, you recognize the usernames and maybe even make a few friends. Then one day you see someone asking a question you actually know the answer to – so you answer.
Likewise, you’ve gone from asking to giving – help someone else find their place in Linux as others have helped you before. By now, you’re probably recommending Linux to your friends and family and helping them use the OS. The sixth level is about going beyond your immediate environment and becoming an active participant in the global FOSS community.
Level 7: You’re Running Linux From Scratch (LFS)
When it’s already this deep, it only makes sense to go deeper
At this point, Linux isn’t just an OS you work on, it’s a hobby you actively work on. You tinker with it in your spare time and get comfortable enough with Linux internals that you want to go deeper. This is when you focus Linux from scratch: the final Linux project where you follow the book and build your own system – “from scratch” – ends up with an OS exactly tailored to your needs and workflow.
Now you don’t need to switch to LFS right away. There are distros like Gentoo or Slackware that you can use as a stepping stone. The main idea here is not only to create the most personalized daily driver. It’s about getting the hang of how Linux works.
Basically, the seventh level is about being a Neo – looking at the code of the Matrix and bending it.
Of course, this is not the end of the journey. Beyond this point, you can write packages, maintain software, or contribute to projects. But at that stage you are no more just Linux user – you’ve entered a whole different league.
So what level of Linux user are you?
Wherever you fall, don’t look at it as a ceiling. Every level on this list is there because someone got curious and decided to go a little deeper. Linux rewards this interest every time, and the next level is always closer than it seems.
