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One of the toughest aspects of switching from Windows to Linux is learning a new set of terminology and understanding its usage in your new operating system. Here is a list of useful terms, hope they help.

• Bash - Stands for Born Again SHell, standard shell for most Linux Distrobutions
• Distribution - Term referring to the collaboration of software packages that make up a specific Linux operating system, some popular distrobutions include Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora.
• Dependencies - Dependencies are essentially file packages needed for a software package to work properly, many of these packages are used by multiple software applications.
• Dual Boot - Dual boot refers to the process of running multiple operating systems on one computer. Linux distros can easily run alongside one another, or alongside Windows operating systems.
• EXT3 - One of the more common formats used by Linux distrobutions such as Ubuntu. This is like NTFS or FAT32 for Windows users.
• GRUB - GRUB is the program that manages your operating systems, especially in a dual boot system. GRUB is the program that allows you to choose which OS you will boot into on startup.
• GPL - GPL stands for the General Public License, which is the license of open source software, which generally allows for free distrobution and manipulation.
• Kernel - Kernel Refers to the core software of the operating system. This is the most basic set of files needed in order for the OS to work.
• Open Source Software- or OSS, is a term used to define software that the original source code is open and available to the public to modify freely.
• Package Manager - Most Linux Distrobutions come with some form of package manager that allows the user to easily add new software packages to the system with ease.
• Package - A package is a generally the source file for new software that is added to your operating system through the package manager.
• Repository - A repository is generally a server allocated by the distrobution provider or a third party source that contains all the packages that are available for that distrobution. A file storage facility if you will.
• Root - Root refers to the main administrator of the Operating System, when running in the terminal type sudo to run administrator level tasks.
• Shell - Shell is the equivilent of the C: prompt command line interface in Windows.
• Sudo - The command to use in the terminal to gain access to administrator level tasks.
• Terminal - Terminal is a command line interface similar to that of the C: prompt in Windows and Dos
• Tux - Tux is the mascot of Linux. He is a cute penguin.
• WINE - Wine is a Windows Emulation package in Linux that allows some Windows programs to run inside the Linux OS.