roadmap.sh: Linux

What it is

roadmap.sh is a community-driven site of visual learning paths, and its Linux roadmap lays out the skills involved in using and administering Linux as a developer. It starts with the basics of the command line and moves through working with files and text, users and permissions, processes, package management, services, networking, shell scripting and troubleshooting. Each node opens a short explanation with links to further reading, and the page also lists practice projects.

Who it is for

Students and early-career developers who use Linux every day (on a laptop, in WSL on Windows, or on servers) but learned it in fragments. It is also a good checklist before a first backend, DevOps or cloud role, where you will be expected to find your way around a server without help.

How to use it

Do not try to learn every node in order. Treat it as a map:

• Tick off what you already know well.
• Pick the gaps that match the work in front of you, such as permissions, processes or systemd services, and study those first with a hands-on resource.
• Come back after a few weeks and see how much of the map has turned green.

Signing in, which is free, lets you track progress.

Is it worth it?

As a map, yes. It shows the size and shape of the subject in one view, which helps you avoid the common trap of learning a few commands and assuming that is all there is. It is not a course: the explanations are short, and real skill comes from practice on a machine or server. Pair it with a book such as The Linux Command Line and a practice game such as OverTheWire Bandit.

Time needed

Skimming the whole map takes under an hour. Working through the parts that matter for a developer, alongside practice, is a few months of steady part-time study.

Common questions

Do I need to use Linux as my main operating system? No. WSL on Windows, a Mac terminal for most basics, or a small cloud server are all enough to practise.

How is it different from the Shell / Bash roadmap? This one covers the operating system as a whole; the Shell / Bash roadmap focuses on the shell and scripting.

Is it free? Yes. roadmap.sh offers some paid extras, but the roadmaps themselves are free.