So after reading a number of posts and comments on here about Linux, I’ve decided to give 'er a go. I have access to an Azure VM, but I have never done anything involving Unix before and have only a basic understanding of coding in general.
Where do I even start? The most daunting thing for me is command line script, as it seems I have to memorize close to 150 common commands and their functions. Is there a set of tools or free classes that would make it easier for me to understand, or should I just get stuck in there? I was planning on using Pop!_OS since I do a lot of gaming and it seems like the closest thing Ubuntu has for that purpose.
I think that it is impossible to learn 150 commands. You will decide if you want to do your stuff via GUI or via terminal (beside common stuff like updating that you MUST do via terminal). If you opt-in for the second choice, you will memorize only stuff that you use daily and that helps you doing your tasks as you want. For everything else, Google but before using any command please learn what it does, how it works, use the man. This way you learn how to the terminal works and the most important thing, you don’t nuke your system if that specific command doesn’t convince you.
Anyway, as a start distro I suggsst PopOS. It was my first distro when I decided to full switch to Linux and I still use it today, even for gaming on my gaming RIG. Please, don’t use Ubuntu, it’s too bloated with snaps in my opinion.