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Are you masters figuring it all out on your own or are there specific classes a person could take?  I'd like to learn how to write scripts and do anything and everything through the terminal window.

If you are a new user of Linux and you are just starting out, then I would recommend http://linuxcommand.org/lc3_learning_the_shell.php (http://linuxcommand.org/lc3_learning_the_shell.php) as a start.

After that, do a full installation of Arch Linux. They have really good documentation.

When you are comfortable in Arch Linux, go do a Gentoo installation. They have even better documentation.

When those are mastered, install Debian and relax. These three distros will give you a good understanding of the GNU/Linux operating system.

You could always do 'Linux from Scratch'.

Should know your stuff by the end of that.

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Don't really know if it's worth the hassle if he is not aiming to create a new distribution. :P

My general approach is that: "Anything can be done in Linux, I just have to figure out how." Going with that approach has taught me a lot.

Just like Zombo.com

Anything is possible. Anything.

+1 for this. :)

A great way to learn is setting up specific things, like Apache webserver, or the typical PHP/MySQL setup in addition to that.
Also, you can get Virtual Machine images for most distributions and utterly ruin them - knowing you can always go back to a fresh install.

Just dive in and mess with commands, "man" is your friend, as is other tools like gedit or vi for text files - dirty way for output on short text files like "cat <filename>", how to untar a tar archive - or under debian how to use "sudo apt-get <package name> install".

Just those kinds of things. Wreck a few virtual machines with "rm -rf" just so you know how dangerous it is under root.

Get your hands dirty, you'll learn pretty quickly.

+1, it has some easy to follow instructions.

If you want quick and easy, then installing Ubuntu will teach you a few things.

You might also want to take a look at creating a LiveCD or two. They're really handy to learn things on because you can't mess up your install, you just reboot and everything's fresh again.

Thank you very much to everyone in this thread, & Thank you Missionary.

Those are all great tips, and sites

I saved all the links and info, I am going to dive in and get my hands dirty.  This is exciting.  :D

its a lot more convenient to install virtualbox and hack around with a Linux virtual machine..

Learn by doing! Find something you want to know, Google it, and just do it. Over time you will become more adept at it. Just make sure you keep practicing.

RTFM

That's it.

First, I figured out stuff on my own, then I took a class in college.

Exactly what I was going to recommend.

Start with mastering LFS. If you keep it up at some point you'll get tired of doing everything manually and will have accumulated a collection of Bash scripts that kind of almost halfway automates the build and install process for you. This is about the time where you've learned enough to graduate to Gentoo because Portage does the exact same thing except much better.

Another vote for Virtualbox.

The other added benefit is if you're already set up with encryption (eg with Truecrypt), then you don't need to do that all over again for your new installs, just keep all your Virtualbox stuff on your encrypted container.

I'll toss in a vote for VirtualBox as well. I was thinking Ubuntu (using WUBI) would be the best option for a newbie, but since you won't be doing graphical things (like gaming) on it most likely while you're learning, VB will work better. It allows you to run Linux alongside your other OS, kind of like a hybrid system. The only downside is it sucks for gaming, but if you decide to move to that later you can just do a full Linux swap.

This

Try installing a distro that's fun an easy like Pinguy OS. It has lots of software already set up and it's based on Ubuntu so it will be easy to set up and operate. Just play with it for a while. That's the best way to learn. You will be installing compiz fusion and spinning 3d boxes on your computer in no time.  :)