Mac Or Linux For Web Development
- Linux continues to grow in popularity, and recent developments with low-end laptops have seen Linux sold as an alternative to Windows. Development on Linux breaks down into a number of different areas: for simple system automation tasks, and small systems, Linux makes strong use of scripting languages such as Bash, Python or Ruby – all of which Blueberry has strong skills in.
- I’m not actually a developer but a sysadmin, so I am answering this from that perspective. I will first state that I agree with Alvin Lin on the downsides of Windows. And for those who say Linux is a great environment overall, I’d agree too.
Windows since day 1
I’ve been a windows user since… well, since the first PC I had.
I had a brief encounter with Macintosh when I was 11, which I used for a while. I don’t remember much of it but it was given to me for free along with a bag full of computer magazines, which had CD’s with a bunch of demo version of software. The only thing I remember was really a 3D flying game. Which was horrible…
I later got a brand new PC with Windows XP which I used for a few years. That’s when I was introduced to 3DS Max, Paint Shop Pro and stuff. And games of course!
A Mac generally comes with fairly powerful hardware, which is important for any development machine, and might make an observer think is OS is the good part. However, I remain a die-hard Linux junkie. MacOS probably isn't any better for web dev than any machine running any other OS. The power of the computer is in what you do with it. I start my journey into web development world using Windows and the popular XAMPP at the time. Years ago, as a beginner, I wonder why, why they do web development on Linux? Even my first job as a developer, when I got the laptop from the company, that’s running on Ubuntu 10.04. Most of the servers use Linux. As a developer you will probably have several programs and windows open at once: a web browser, a text editor, and the Xcode IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to name a few.
Fast-forward about 4-5 years…
I started becoming interested in Web Development…
Fast-forward another year…
I discovered Ubuntu, which looked interesting.. Probably because I just wanted to try something new.
It was a fun experience but I couldn’t really get used to though so I quickly went back to Windows (7, at the time).
Web development on Windows (7)
So, I’m back into Windows for another year or so and as I become more and more experienced in the art of web development, I gradually become aware of how inferior Windows is in comparison to GNU/Linux or Unix-based Operating Systems in general (Like Mac).
Sure, you can always customize it…
While still being a bit hesitant when it comes to using Ubuntu or any other Linux Distro for that matter, I became aware that most of the things you need is usually available, such as Git, Composer, and many others.
But it is without a doubt much better integrated on Unix based systems like Mac and Linux. Using Git required me to use an alternative Command-line Shell called “Git Bash”. It was ok. but When I decided to use Cygwin, for Linux tools and commands on Windows (I had grown to like them by now) I wasn’t able to use Git within it. I ended up installing Console2 which allowed me to run multiple command-line shells in a tabbed layout.
Mac Or Linux For Web Development Tool
It felt like duck tape.
But running 3 shells was cumbersome and down-right ugly! It felt like… duck tape.
Goodbye Windows. Hello Linux! (Again)
I decided I’d give Linux another go. First, by installing Ubuntu 13.04 x64.
My next Post will be about that Adventure, so until then… What do you think is the most suited operating system for web development? Take part in the poll below if you want to voice your opinion.
Cheers.