Moving to Linux
Part 4: Conclusions
A few weeks ago, I decided to move from Windows to Linux as my primary development platform. These posts are about my experience.
- Part 1: Background and first impressions
- Part 2: My life in operating systems
- Part 3: Installation and day-to-day use
- Part 4: Conclusions
My experience
My experience moving my development from Windows to Linux has been almost entirely positive. Not once did I wonder if this was a good idea.
Comparison of Windows and Linux
Linux (and Ubuntu specifically) is now much more friendly than it used to be. Applications (other than Outlook) are available and easy to install and update. Also, applications like GIMP being freely available and easy to install often makes the application experience on Linux better than Windows.
Both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux are stable, professional, secure, and productive desktop operating systems. Windows still does better at high-DPI and multiple monitors, and Windows Hello is very nice. But it's U.I. and interaction model has become a bit too clunky for my tastes. Too often Windows 10 feels like using a mobile operating system on a desktop PC.
For example, here are the user interfaces for setting application defaults on Windows:.
And Ubuntu:
To me, the Ubuntu U.I. is much more suited to a desktop computer used with a mouse and keyboard. The Windows U.I. would be okay for a tablet or phone, but it's just clunky for a desktop computer.
Fundamentally, for me, Ubuntu feels like a real desktop computer operating system. It doesn't abstract too far from the metal, which is generally what I want as a programmer, while still making it easy to install and maintain my apps and environment.
Should you move too?
I am using Linux for day-to-day programming, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should. Windows, Mac, and Linux are all now very good development platforms for .NET/C# programmers.
I think it's fantastic that we now have three viable development platforms for programming in general, and for .NET specifically. Hopefully, the competition between them will drive further improvements across all three. It's an exciting time to be a .NET developer!
So, use whatever you are happy with. And be thankful things have come as far as they have!
Happy coding!