Linux for Windows users
Proof, then training.
win2linux is a plain-language course that teaches Linux to people who already know Windows — built for civil servants, public-sector teams and any organisation moving off Microsoft. No terminal, no jargon: 18 guided modules, hands-on labs and a certificate, in French and English.
This isn't theory
France has already done it.
The four key numbers
Every number has a source.
Official figures, public records. See the context; nothing here is invented.
The Gendarmerie Nationale runs its own Ubuntu — GendBuntu — on 103,164 workstations, 97% of its fleet, and has saved an estimated €500 million over 20 years (cited to the French parliament in 2024), with total cost of ownership down 40%.
In April 2026 the government extended the same move to every ministry.
2.5 million civil servants.
Gendarmerie Nationale on GendBuntu — June 2024.
Of the total fleet. The rest: specialist machines.
Over 20 years. Gen. Marc Boget · parliamentary inquiry, 2024.
Gendarmerie internal figure, in production since 2013.
A gradual migration, never a big bang.
Select a window to bring it forward.
What win2linux teaches
The Gendarmerie replaced the same tools you use.
Mapped to course modules M5 (email) and M6 (office suite, incl. Writer · Calc · Impress).
No terminal, no jargon. See inside the course →
Three operational reasons.
- Vendor independence — stop depending on a single supplier (IDABC architectural goal).
- Apps ported first — OpenOffice and Firefox ran from 2005-06, before the OS ever changed.
- Soft migration — new machine = Linux; old machine = upgraded in its own time.
“The end-user transition went unexpectedly smoothly. Almost no additional training was required.”
EU IDABC OSOR case studySelect a window to bring it forward.
For you
Lifetime access — €199
Create your account — email, password and a two-factor code — then unlock the full course for life.
Get the course →
Corporate & public sector
For teams & organisations
Teams of 5 to 5,000+. SSO sign-in (Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta, ProConnect), manager dashboard, SCORM, invoicing.
Talk to us →
A look inside
See it working.
Your home
Course progress
Practice
To finish
Your Linux journey · in progress
You're on Module 1.Module 1 passed. You're on Module 4.
Go to your next module, follow your progress across the 18 modules, collect your certificate at the end.
Next step
Module 1Module 4Module 1 · 25 min
What is Linux?
You already use Windows. You know how a computer works. This module answers one question. What is Linux, and why do people use it instead of Windows? Plain language. No commands. No installation.
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Explain, in your own words, what an operating system is.
- See how Linux differs from Windows.
- Spot three places where Linux already runs in your life.
- Drop the received ideas about Linux.
Module 1 quiz · one question of five
Module 1 says one of the big differences between Windows and Linux is who makes it. Which sentence sums it up best?
Not quite. Look again at who makes each one.Correct. Windows is one company's recipe, kept secret. Linux is built in the open by thousands of people, and the recipe is public. Module 4 is unlocked.
Module 4
GNOME desktop
Practice
Lab 1 — Practice
3 hands-on labs: practice rooms where you use Linux yourself in a safe place where nothing can break.
To finish
Your certificate
Pass the 18 modules at 80%, the 3 labs and the final assessment. Your personalised certificate unlocks.
| Step | Status |
|---|---|
| 18 modules at 80% | 0/181/18 |
| 3 labs | 0/3 |
| Final assessment | Locked |
A working look inside the course. Open Module 1, pass its quiz and watch Module 4 unlock.
Who is this for?
Built for people who already know Windows.
Built for:
For IT & public procurement
Ready to deploy, ready to buy.
UGAP, Chorus Pro, framework agreements. DPIA · EU sub-processors. Track by directorate, office, agent · CSV export.
Why it worked
Three operational
reasons.
Vendor independence.
Stop depending on a single supplier (IDABC architectural goal).
Apps ported first.
OpenOffice and Firefox ran from 2005-06, before the OS ever changed.
Soft migration.
New machine = Linux; old machine = upgraded in its own time.
Get the course
No terminal, no jargon: 18 guided modules, hands-on labs and a certificate, in French and English.
About the certificate, plainly. win2linux issues this certificate. It proves you completed the course. It is not a state qualification. It does not unlock CPF, RNCP, or government-funded training. It is not an industry credential like LPIC-1 or CompTIA Linux+. We are working towards Qualiopi certification, which would unlock employer / OPCO funding for B2B buyers.