A lot has changed in the world of computing over the years. In the early days, computers were primarily used for work purposes. But today, they are used for a variety of activities, including gaming and entertainment. When it comes to choosing a platform for computing, developers have largely shifted their preference from Windows to Linux. Here’s why:
Reasons Why Developers Prefer Linux
Linux is a more versatile platform than Windows.
Linux is designed to be run on a wide variety of hardware, from high-end servers to low-power devices like the Raspberry Pi. Windows, on the other hand, is designed specifically for use on personal computers. Finally, Linux offers a richer selection of software than Windows. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of free and open source applications available for Linux, many commercial applications are also available in Linux versions. This makes Linux an attractive choice for businesses and organizations that want to avoid the high costs of licensing commercial software. In conclusion, Linux is a more versatile platform than Windows because it is open source, runs on a variety of hardware, and offers a greater selection of software.
Linux can be customized to a greater extent than Windows.
For many users, the main appeal of Linux is its flexibility. Unlike Windows, which is designed for general use, Linux can be customized to meet the specific needs of different users. For example, it is possible to create a lightweight version of Linux that can be used on older computers, or a version that is optimized for gaming. In addition, Linux users can choose from a wide range of graphical user interfaces, or “desktops,” each of which has its own unique features and appearance. As a result, Linux offers a level of customization that is simply not possible with Windows. In addition, because Linux is open-source software, it is possible to modify the underlying code to suit one’s own needs. For many users, this flexibility is the key advantage of Linux over Windows.
Linux is less resource-intensive than Windows.
One of the most common complaints about Windows is that it is a resource hog. Over the years, Microsoft has made strides in optimizing the operating system, but it still requires more memory and processing power than its Linux counterpart. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, Windows comes with a lot of built-in features that many users never bother to disable or uninstall. Secondly, the Windows UI is more complex and demanding than most Linux UIs. As a result, it uses up more resources just to render the interface.
Finally, Windows apps tend to be larger and more resource-intensive than their Linux counterparts. For example, a typical Linux text editor might be a few hundred kilobytes in size, while a similar program for Windows can easily be several megabytes. All of these factors contribute to the perception that Linux is a leaner, meaner operating system than Windows.
Linux is more stable and reliable than Windows.
Unlike proprietary operating systems, Linux is developed by a community of volunteers who work together to improve the software. As a result, Linux is more stable and reliable than many commercial operating systems. Furthermore, it is supported by numerous developers who are constantly working to fix bugs and add new features. While Linux can be used for desktop computers and servers, it is also popular with embedded devices such as routers and TV set-top boxes. Thanks to its flexibility and reliability, Linux has become the preferred choice for many users who need an operating system that they can trust.
Linux provides better security features than Windows.
For one thing, Linux is open source, meaning that there is a large community of developers constantly working to improve the system. In contrast, Windows is developed by a single company, making it much more difficult to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, Linux uses a concept called “security by design,” which means that security is built into the very core of the system. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Finally, Linux provides users with a high level of control over their security settings. This allows users to tailor their security to their individual needs. As a result, Linux offers superior security features compared to Windows.
Linux offers a wide range of open-source software applications.
Linux offers a wide range of open-source software applications that can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, there are open source office applications such as LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice that can be used for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Alternatively, there are open-source graphics applications such as GIMP and Inkscape that can be used for photo editing and vector illustrations. Furthermore, there are open sources development tools such as Eclipse and NetBeans that can be used for coding and web development. Overall, Linux provides users with a wide range of open-source software options, making it a great choice for those who want to use or develop free software.
Top comments (96)
I think the "original" reason was probably just that the Windows command line is a tragedy, while Bash is wonderful. Nowadays, Windows itself is a tragedy.
That said, I actually use Windows because I need to scan things. This is itself a blast from the past, since the reason to use Windows back in the 90s was that there were a lot of problems with PCI 56k modems on Linux.
It wasn't just the command line. There were problems with Windows that made some things nigh on impossible; especially in relation to node: IIRC there were limitations to path lengths and deeply nested dependency trees that broke things badly. There was also the infamous node-gyp problem: github.com/nodejs/node-gyp/issues/629
I moved to Linux exactly because of these issues...
Huh? Scanners work just fine with Linux. I use mine all the time. I just plugged it in - worked immediately
I would like to know the scanners name
Canon PIXMA MP240 - combined printer/scanner
I use an Epson printer/scanner, network connected, and it works just fine.
Also Epson ships Linux drivers.
HP has very good Linux support with it's HPLIP driver suite. Never ran into issues.
I also use HP both pc and laptop, with Parrot OS
you have have a linux subsystem on Windows, and it runs anything you want, so a POSIC terminal is no longer a problem on Windows.
A sane command line is now the least of Windows' issues. After all, we now have a Windows that forces you to update, forces you to associate it with a Microsoft account, and actively surveils you. On top of having an increasingly absurd configuration system.
I know there are workarounds for these things, with varying effectiveness, but you shouldn't have to work around an operating system so heavily.
Absolutely agree with you.
While windows is usable, it still tells you actually you don't own your system, on every opportunity they have.
Also Linux is a great option for developers as it provides a native support for developer related software. Technologies like docker, shell, packages, are designed and tested for Linux making it a reliable and developer friendly option.
Linux supports the FOSS principle, thereby giving the freedom to the user regarding the usage and creation of the programs.
Thanks my linuxmate..
I work in finance but I do side jobs in my free time using Ruby on Rails.
Windows was very problematic and since I moved to Linux my life has been easier
Never have i ever touched Ruby on rails
You can try it, it's fun working with Rails 🤣
No problem Djangomate ;)
After 4 years on a company issued MacBook I was happy to return to Linux as my daily driver for one simple reason: I am in control.
I feel like both major OSs are being dumbed and locked down, taking heavy inspiration from iOS and Android. At least Windows keeps some user's agency, mostly for legacy reasons, and WSL with new terminal make it a decent working environment. But macOS, with its constant "call home" due to app notarization and other anti-user "features" insults me.
Also, window management both on Windows and macOS is inferior compared to most Linux desktop environments.
Working with hp, i heard macOS are cool, but from your knowledge it seems Linux is better than all of them
It is cool alright, for some definitions of cool. 😉
The more correct title is "Why do developers prefer Linux over Windows?". I wouldn't make the same claim over Mac, as I see it as the preferred platform for many (most? how does one know?).
Let's see what the numbers are on the latest Stack Overflow survey. According to survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#sect...
62% use Windows personally
49% use Windows professionally
40% use Linux personally
40% use Linux professionally
31% use Macs personally
33% use Macs professionally
Perhaps the best title for your article should be "Why I prefer Linux over Windows"
Surprising results considering the number of companies forcing you to use Macs.
Got you, Thanks for the source
Good point. But I think a good number of older developers rarely participate in this survey. I think mostly newbies do participate in it.
NB
This is just my observation.
Sure, it will be good if they bring part of their side
Linux is incredible faster compared to Windows and also security it suited in most workspace. Linux uses less resources, dont have much bloatware, Open Source, Free of costs and Fully customizable but in terms of Gaming thats another story.
Window is heavier because of many application i guess..
not just the application itself the Operating System. The idle in windows 10 is about 1.6GB and in windows 11 more than 2GB. But in linux particularly in Linux Mint the idle was just 800MB of RAM.
Sure, Windows 11 failed to run on my 8GB RAM machine, I had to use backdoor.😂😂
It able to run perfectly on my lowned machine tho but i cant just use an OS that consumed half of my ram which is just 4GB. so i instead uses linux for workspace and normal usage and windows 11 specifically only for gaming hahahhaha
I guess just working on Linux is friendlier than Windows?
I tried Linux a long time ago and loved it. Everything was just running smoothly.
I'm still using Windows OS for development though. I think I'll probably stick to that for the time-being.
No prob, i actually use both linux and windows..But for dev I prefer Linux..
Linux is like a lightsaber in star wars trilogy and open source is the force
😂😂😂lightsaber in star wars🙌🙌
I mainly use Windows for development, mostly so I don't have to reboot to play games, and because it's generally very easy to make JavaScript applications that work fine on any major OS.
But Linux wins hands-down for actually deploying code because:
Number 1 is the main one. Windows Server is okay, but having to buy licenses puts it way behind Linux in terms of deploying code.
Sure, i migrated to linux because of deployment reasons
For me, it isn't Linux per se, it's any Unix-like system.
Linux? Great!
AT&T Unix? Great!
SCO Unix? Great!
DEC TRU64 Unix? Great!
FreeBSD Unix? Great!
macOS Unix? Great!
Cygwin on Windows? Close enough!
I'm aware of — and use — MinGW, WSL, and Git BASH (Git for Windows). But I have a fondness for Cygwin.
The Linux distributions I've used a lot have been: Yellow Dog, SuSE, Red Hat, Mandrake, Slackware, and Raspbian. I'm still using Raspbian. I'm seriously considering the Dell XPS 13 Plus developer edition that has Ubuntu LTS preinstalled.
So you are roaming trying to use all the OS😂😂I like your exploration.
I try to make the switch to Linux at least once a year, trying with different distro's but ultimately I always go back to Windows after quite some time, just because it works for me. I don't know if my hardware isn't super compatible with Linux but it always ends for me with everything not working, my taskbar missing and I cannot install any app because of some package manager errors which you have to manually clear for a few hours.
I love Linux, it's customization and I really would like to use something private, I try the UNIX but in the end it just stops working for me at some point. The longest working distros for me were Pop OS and Mint and were using both of them for around 10 months but then... I don't know, maybe it's just not for me.
My reason: Docker just works.
Haven't tried this
Interesting explanation why developers prefer linux. If you only compare Windows and Linux, I tend to agree with the points but the comparison with macos is missing. Sure you could argue that macos is close to Linux.
I will look into this
Also you can make your own Linux distrib with only software you need (core stack is constant)
Never tried this, I think I will give i a shot
Here is how linuxfromscratch.org/
Thanks G
When you use Linux, people also think you are some hacker man, which is always a nice thing to have.
You can do simple hacks though, like weak wifi
The most obvious reason, not really listed here, is you own your system when you use Linux, and that is not the case on Windows or OSX,
For example, I wanted to have my Windows machine on (for mining), and damned windows would restart it for updates every night, the only way to shut that off is to mess with the registry, but that change can break with an update.
I keep Windows for gaming (yes, I mine and game on the same PC), so what id I do to fix this? I bough a small SSD, installed linux on it and now it does what I told it to do, very simple.
Thanks for insight