And you, what’s your operating system to code ? Me, I use Arch btw
Unfortunately I have to use Windows for work, and it hurts my soul.
deleted by creator
Thankful to communities, building dev env on Linux is easier than that on Windows.
Most companies I worked with had a choice of the work laptop, usually Windows/Linux or MacBook. And the trick is, you cannot buy cheap MacBook. So the choice is using linux but with a terrible screen, unusable trackpad and bad hardware, or take MacBook and enjoy all premium.
So I always take MacBook and then ask for a local workstation where I will have linux with i3 / Sway WM.
I prefer a desktop. Don’t have to worry about swelling batteries from being plugged in all day… plus they’re cheaper so I get new computers far more often than my coworkers who get laptops.
My company didn’t leave me a choice, I got an XPS 15 which I had to setup with my distro of choice (but all the internal tooling is for Ubuntu, I personally would have preferred to install Fedora or Debian 12 with i3wm).
It’s not that bad a laptop but it overheats like crazy and has really shit battery life (barely enough for a meeting), and some of its features I can’t explain : why is a 4k touchscreen on a laptop a good thing? It eats 4x the battery for no noticeable visual improvement. I don’t use my laptop 5 inches from my face.
I remember having bad overheating issues with Linux years ago on an XPS 15 (9560 model if memory serves, so unlike yours no 4k or touch).
The key on mine was to disable the dedicated GPU which I didn’t need anyway. I remember afterwards, mint would run mostly quiet and the battery lasted longer than on the windows partition. If you are interested look up bumblebee on the arch wiki.
Also I know this reply is late, but maybe it helps.
I already thought about disabling the dedicated GPU on that laptop, but I unfortunately cannot since I need it to train neural networks and the occasional lan party at, work
If you set up bumblebee correctly you should be able to enable and disable the dedicated gpu on the fly if i’m not mistaken. Might still help with long teams meetings.
the point of 4k is that you can make ui smaller and show more things
I find that very strenuous on my eyes tbh
Yeah I remember the first time I tried a 1080p 15" display. Even that I had to look at really hard, can’t imagine a 4k version that actually uses 4k resolution for regular computing.
So many praises for Windows and Mac about ‘premium features’, ‘corporate environment’ and ‘device support’. But not enough talk about how they treat customers like crap and cash cows. Windows is replete with spyware and ads. It doesn’t respect the user’s choices, like when not to do an update or opening the links with a browser of user’s choice. Heck! Some versions don’t even allow you to register users without a cloud account. And now they are taking definite steps towards ensuring that you can’t do anything they don’t approve - with TPM and pluton non-sense. Praising windows is like being in an abusive relationship and finding justifications for it.
Mac is on the other extreme. They lock down their platform more and more in every revision in the name of security. It’s getting harder to side-load apps. Why? For security, of course! No mention of how security comes primarily from platform design. Then there is the hardware, where everything is glued, soldered, riveted, digitally locked, etc, etc. Any small issue, and it’s garbage. Not even parts from another genuine Mac can be used. Macs also have the strange distinction of needing calibration and signing of any part that can be replaced at all. It’s deliberately designed to extract more money from you and create a tonne load of e-waste (iWaste?). Mac fanbois have a habit of justifying it in the name of ‘miniaturization’ and progress. Honestly, that’s just hand-wavy and completely wrong technical argument. And Apple says it is all for ‘privacy’ and ‘security’ while their actual reason is the pursuit of double-digit growth (not just profits). So, in effect, Apple is saying to their customers “Oh honey! You’re are just too stupid to take care of it. So let me just decide for you” - all the while squeezing you for money. Does it end there? Oh no! They need developers to pay a yearly fee and want to take a huge cut from their profits. All that for “providing the engineering, platform and services”. As if the exorbitant price they extract from their customers isn’t enough.
The hardware situation on Linux distros and frankly even BSDs isn’t as bad as it is projected by some. Most devices just work even on a live installation medium. Even Nvidia works. (Have you considered the possibility that if any device doesn’t work, it’s the manufacturer’s fault and not the OS’s? There are plenty of devices for which the community maintains the drivers, just because the device manufacturer isn’t an utter trashbag). There are tonnes of games too - thanks to Valve and Proton. And as for the ‘corporate env’, you are probably just locked in or too used to them. There are users who have been on these platforms for decades now without complaints. And there are companies built entirely on them. Can you say the same about any of the company that makes your OS/devices? Is there one among them that doesn’t use Linux or BSDs?
Look! I’m not claiming that everything is rosy on the Linux and BSD side of things. Sometimes you have to find an alternative way of doing things (there are plenty of options). Sometimes, you have to configure a lot. Sometimes, you have to carefully choose your hardware so that your life is easier with Linux and BSDs. But there is one thing they don’t ask you to do- and that is to surrender your self-respect. You don’t get treated like cash cow. You don’t get spied on as if you are a thief. You don’t get restricted like a school kid. You’re not told that your choices are wrong. Your choices are not disrespected. You don’t get treated like you owe them after you paid your hard earned money on the devices they make. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if the little conveniences are bigger than your self-respect.
deleted by creator
Well so can you install Linux on Windows, Windows on macOS, Windows on Linux, macOS on Windows and macOS on Linux.
From that point of view, all OSs are identical (and to be fair, they pretty much are, nearly everything runs on a VM called ‘web browser’ already).
deleted by creator
a misleading statement at best
The monstrous thing is locked down tightly on a hardware level that even they can’t repair it. And the hoops you have to jump through to install a software is getting ridiculous by the day - I’m saying this from my unfortunate opportunity to use a Mac. And you say that my statement is misleading? It’s true what they say - you Mac fanbois have deluded yourself out of touch with reality.
deleted by creator
Macs are actually secure. Not as much as ios, but compared to the general linux userspace, it is like a military establishment vs a homeless tent.
Did you miss the part where I said they use the security argument to lock down the device and restrict the user? In addition, Linux distros in their default configuration may not be secure - but there are plenty of packages that can secure it down to a deep level. It just depends on the user’s threat level assessment. That military establishment vs homeless tent analogy is just pure hyperbole and FUD.
Security doesn’t work like that and I find it important to share the insecure nature of most linux distros with many people, hopefully to make it improve one day.
Currently a
make installcan do literally anything to your computer besides installing a video card driver (as per the old xkcd comic) and sure there is firejail… but let’s be honest, how often do you use it? Defaults matter, and thus linux is insecure.Also, again, how is osx locked down? What’s a concrete thing you can’t do on it?
deleted by creator
I had quite a few laptops that worked and then along the way, support was dropped so I had to keep an older kernel.
Windows here. And WSL. Best UI and hardware compatibility with all UNIX tools I might ever need. As a bonus I can also play games and use industrial apps for my hobbies.
Windows had a fantastic UI but I despise the changes they have made to it.
A bottom bar showing all your windows? fantastic! windows are such a core component of the OS that it sure looks like the OS was named after them right? So why in the world would closed programs, with no windows appear there? why would multiple windows fuse into a single icon???
I was fine with just not pinning programs and setting the task bar to “never combine”, but they literally removed the option with Windows 11. I really don’t understand why Microsoft is de-emphasizing the ‘windows’ part of Windows. Apparently ‘never combine’ is coming back at some point to 11, so that’s good.
Now, I’m not going to compare the Windows UI to Linux DE’s since there are many alternatives that may or may not fit someone better.
As for hardware compatibility, I would say its a mixed bag on both directions. I moved my laptop from Windows to Linux when it started bluescreening when waking up from sleep. It works fine on Linux.
Sure, you have some WiFi cards that don’t work out of the box on Linux. But they don’t work out of the box on Windows either, you need to install the drivers on both OSs manually so its not any better.
Then you have some computers where Linux works like ass and can’t sleep, and you got some computers where Windows works like ass and can’t sleep.
The only solid arguments against Linux nowadays is
- Programs don’t run.
- The Windows display stack is vastly superior, VRR, HDR and fractional scaling all working fine for a long time already where Linux is barely beginning to figure them out.
I personally like Windows UI as it is with all the pinned buttons. It is the same way on Ubuntu and MacOS and this is what everyone is used to. Windows also has a lot of accessibility features, it’s the only OS, which can be used with keyboard only, mouse only or even a gamepad only out of the box.
As for drivers, I only install drivers if I want additional features. Otherwise everything works out of the box. I haven’t seen anything that doesn’t work since Win7 days.
Linux time.
Best UI
KDE’s UI is better, even if you don’t take the lack of ads into account.
hardware compatibility
What hardware do you use that isn’t compatible with Linux? The only time I had a problem with that was when I was sold a bootleg PS4 controller on ebay once, and it didn’t work via USB (official controllers do work tho). Connecting via Bluetooth fixed it.
I can also play games
Same.
industrial apps
…like forklift firmware?
KDE’s UI is better
KDE was good many moons ago, sadly today it’s just a useless mess.
What hardware do you use that isn’t compatible with Linux?
Printers, NVIDIA GPUs, latest Intel CPUs, WiFi, Bluetooth, DRM protected stuff, etc.
…like forklift firmware?
Apps ranging from Photoshop to Fusion 360, from TI and Evolv board firmware flashers to Chinese device apps, all kinds of CNC controllers, etc. If your hobby requires an app and it’s not a software development related hobby then there’s a 99% chance that it won’t work on Linux. And even if there’s a Linux version of the app, it might lack critical features, like DaVinci Resolve which lacks audio and video codecs on Linux.
The sad truth is that Windows today is the best Linux distro out there for desktop use. And if you can get your hands on an enterprise licence then you won’t have any limitations or ads or whatnot.
inhales
I don’t know what window you been sticking your head out of, but bring it back in and put your seatbelt back on because the Linux train is not going to stop for your ass.
The Windows desktop was good many moons ago, sadly today it’s just a useless mess.
FTFY. KDE has more features, is more customizable, and has better performance than Windows. Personal preference is one thing, but you’re just wrong here.
Printers, NVIDIA GPUs, latest Intel CPUs, WiFi, Bluetooth, DRM protected stuff, etc.
Printers!?!?! When was the last time you tried to connect a printer to a Linux machine? They all work out of the box with zero config needed, no matter what distro you’re using. The same can’t be said about Windows, where you need to hunt for drivers to install and keep an eye out for that sneaky Mcafee checkbox. Printers are a solved problem everywhere except Windows.
Nvidia GPUs work fine. Again, I don’t know what paint you’ve been snorting. My current workstation has a 4090 in it, but before that I had a 1080->980->970. I went full time Linux with the 980, and never had any problems. I think you’re confusing the complaints; the complaints about Nvidia are that their driver is not open source. The drivers do work though, and they perform much better on Linux than on Windows (ask anyone doing compute heavy work, like AI, simulation, rendering). Nvidia’s recent trillion dollar valuation has little to do with PC gaming (Windows or not).
Wifi and Bluetooth work fine. That’s a myth perpetuated online by crack heads. If you can’t get wifi and bluetooth working on your machine, that’s on you.
Idk about the latest intel chips, but I do have a 7th gen Ryzen in my workstation, and it all works perfectly. Even if the latest intel chip doesn’t work today, of course it will be fixed. Linux is a primary platform for Intel and AMD both. Choosing Windows because of that is like preordering a digital game (aka pointless and dumb).
Apps ranging from Photoshop to Fusion 360, from TI and Evolv…
I understand your point of view. You’re used to a shitty operating system, and don’t have experience with one hyper optimized for virtualization like Linux. Even if you don’t have the technical skills to run software through Wine, or with an easy wrapper, there are many GUIs you can use to run Windows in a VM, with GPU passthrough and everything.
That’s just some utter nonsense, sorry.
I forgive you.
deleted by creator
No.
deleted by creator
Oh my God you sound like me 5 years ago, back when I was an insufferable Linux fan boy, constantly downplaying every negative of Linux and pretending none of the pros of Windows existed.
I never had the balls to pretend nvidia gpus performed better on Linux though, so you got me there.
What value brand cheese puffs are you planting into your cloaca? Nvidia GPUs do perform better on Linux. In fact, pretty much everything performs better on Linux.
Also, you should talk to your doctor about your balls bro.
Well, printers are completely insane bullshit carriers on Windows that take over your life if you let them. Linux don’t support them, it just makes them work.
WiFi works perfectly fine. Bluetooth works perfectly fine on Linux, while on Windows there is that bullshit of “this microphone isn’t compatible with this application” and similar stuff.
DRM protected stuff is quite a generic thing to say. The only thing “DRM protected stuff” has in common is that it’s all shit. Did you mean Netflix? Stuff like that runs on Linux just fine.
There are some issues with GPUs from manufacturers that actively destroy their compatibility. You would have to get one that doesn’t actively work against you, and yes, those aren’t many. On the other hand, you should do the same on Windows.
About the forklift firmware… There’s about as much chance random specialized software works only on Windows as it has of working only on DOS, or only on Linux, or only on QNX.
Lol ook, if you wish so…
Fedora Silverblue is very nice for development work. You can have separate
toolboxcontainers for each toolchain and not worry about it messing with the host OS.(Unless I’m working with Python. Then it’ll find some way to install shit deep in
~/.localor whatever.)Am I missing something? Why aren’t you doing python development in a venv? Or docker?
I don’t really write Python, but I occasionally find myself having to use tools written in it.
So Docker won’t work (unless I do some scuffed mounting to let it access my working files, which is suboptimal regardless) and I can’t be bothered to juggle venvs just to rip my Spotify playlists.
Juggle? Just creat a venv in the working directory of the script, and throw it on when you run it. It’s really bad form to run against the “local” install.
Or consider something like direnv, which does setup and virtualization when you cd into the directory. Very easy to set up and you never have to activate manually
Python belongs in docker for exactly thus reason
NixOS is the ultimate dev distro… For backend development anyways.
I’ve been interested in Nix for a while but haven’t devoted any time to it. What do you like about it? What problems does it solve? Why learn the Nix way of doing things when I could make a container using LXD and just transfer the container around?
What… What problems does Nix solve? throws down his beer What value is precision? Why make a cube about 10cm per side when you can make a cube 10.001 cm ± 0.001 cm? Do you want software that’s a collection of found parts that just happens to work? Or a system engineered to precise requirements?
Rant aside: that sums one difference. Both containers and Nix solve an encapsulation problem. They solve them differently. Containers gives software their own namespace. Nix requires software to exist in an a universal namespace. “/bin/bash” may be different between containers. While “/nix/store/bash-82828def8282829whatever/bin/bash” is always the exact same bash in Nix.
Precision has a cost but sometimes the precision is necessary. Eg: nix is great building closures that contain exactly the software requested and no more. While containers are more imprecise: take a base and add on additional stuff. From a software supply line perspective this can be exactly the precision required.
Nixpkgs is (afaik) the closest thing to Amazon’s internal package system. So the issues it solves is definitely valuable… To at least Amazon scale orgs.
As a dev who likes to tweak their system Nix offers an unparalleled ability to alter deep dependencies and correctly propagate those through everything. Wanna alter libc and rebuild everything - jvm and all - for some Java service? Yep. Nix will handle the build no problem.
Excessive? Sometimes - plenty of systems work fine when dependencies are mutated underneath. However, when there is a need there is NixOS in a class of it’s own.
Also, they are complementary solutions: nix is great at building containers.
Package management is the ultimate problem that was previously left unsolved (no, docker just pushes the problem away, doesn’t solve it. That apt install won’t be the same now as it was when you wrote it). Nix is the first thing that actually solves it properly.
I don’t really care they all have their issues and benefits. But mostly just dev in windows for support for almost everything.
macOS all the way.
All the comfort of a UNIX FOSS env, all the premium features of a corpo env.
One of the main issues with OSX is that docker sucks, it’s so slow even using the new fixes virtfs etc.
Arguably: docker sucks.
I wont work for a single day without linux
As long as I can use a single key combo to get to Wezterm and a single key combo to get to Firefox, I don’t really care. But Raycast is really nice if on Mac.
Cries in game dev
No, seriously. I’ve tried getting Unity to work on Linux once, and gave up after few hours of random crashes, bugs or errors. And I never even got to building the game, which I’m sure would be an entirely different adventure that would still in the end require to reboot to Windows and try the build there.
Also, getting O365 to work on Linux was another reason why I eventually gave up, since our company is simply a Windows-based, and the web apps are just too cubersome to use. And for alternative clients you usually need an app password (disabled in our domain) or another setting that you don’t want to enable for 95% of your employees, since it’s just a security risk in the wrong hands.
Oh, and then there are VPNs. I never managed to get Checkpoint mobile working on Linux, without it also requiring intervention from IT to enable some obscure configuration or protocol support.
It’s a shame, but every attempt I made to switch ended exactly the same - after few days of running into “make sure to enable this config on the server side” or “if you don’t see that option in the settings, contact your system administrator” for every tool I need for my job, I just gave up.
But I’m considering it giving it another try, and just go with the Unix + Windows VM for administrative tasks. But knowing myself, just the small hurdle of “having to spin up a VM” would be a reason to postpone and not do it properly, since that’s additional effort… And then there’s still the gamedev I do part-time, where I simply don’t believe it’s a good idea - after all, given the states the engines are in, it’s a recipe for disaster of “works on my machine but not in build” or “doesn’t work on my machine”…
I moved so Microsoft doesn’t spy on literally everything I do. For programming it does seem to be easy to discover new things when you are part of different linux circles.
