One of the things that really slows me down in catching on with Linux is the huge difference between the file system in Linux versus Windows. Up until the last 3-4 years I only used Windows systems and its only been the last 2-3 months that I've really worked at getting accustomed to Linux. I think one of the things that really bothers me at this point is that I felt like I could find just about anything I wanted to when I began digging through the various folders in Windows. I had become accustomed to what kinds of things were placed where and when. I don't have that with Linux. I'm learning a few things like the /opt folder is where most third-party programs get installed… but my understanding is limited. What things are important to know to really understand the file system and to be able to locate different files and programs and such?
directory-structure – How Linux File System Organization Differs from Windows
directory-structure
Best Answer
Have a look at the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS), which is a standard of organising directory structure. I strongly suspect most (all?) Linux-based systems more or less follow it.