I've been a pretty heavy Linux user for over 15 years now. I have all the badges, Gentoo installs, Arch install, I have compiled my own kernel, used Debian, Redhat before Fedora existed, Slackware, SUSE, all the buntus, and on and on. I've participated directly with Fedora, Ubuntu-Mate and Archlabs Linux.
What I'm saying is, I've been around.And I love Linux. I enjoy installing distros. Tweaking config files is my game. And the keyboard, oh! give me some i3 and I can kiss the mouse goodbye. I love almost everything about Linux. So why would I leave?
Well, my arch-nemesis Windows has actually gotten sort of good. It's practically a pleasure to use. And have you heard of the 'Subsystem for Linux'? Yeah, the penguin now lives under the hood on Windows 10. I can be really productive on it. But is it enough?
By themselves, these things may not make it an absolute game-changer. But there is something else that happens when I am using Windows. I accomplish my work.
Yeah, I said it. I get things done on Windows. There isn't anything for me to really tweak, no new desktop to install, I don't change icons and themes. I have no distractions on Windows. This leaves me with one main thing to do. Get to work.
I have even tried to go back to Linux in the past couple weeks. But I'm just not content there. I inevitably end up tweaking and theming until the proverbial cows come home. Let alone the thousands of free apps to try.
On Windows I have my core apps, they are all high quality, some that are available on Linux also. But some that aren't. To the surprise to some, I'm sure, everything just works for me also, same as on Linux. The only drivers I installed were unnecessary. Mainly for updating SSD firmware and getting the latest and greatest from Intel. Mind you, I had no way to update my SSD firmware on Linux, that I knew of at least.
Now, remember, I'm not bashing Linux. Not in the slightest. I am acknowledging my ability to be distracted by the shiny. Like a dog who hears the word 'squirrel', I am instantly distracted. That is of no fault to Linux. But it does make the semi rigidness of Windows work well for me now that the 'Subsystem for Linux' now exists. I live in the best of both worlds.
So maybe give ole' Windows a shot again if you find yourself with the same issues I seem to have. Or, if your a bored Windows user, looking for more action, maybe go give Linux a try. Either way lets all just be as productive as we can be.
Cheers
Tim
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I also switched from Linux to Windows. However, windows is much more intuitive. More that this store has a really cheap license: royalcdkeys.com/products/microsoft...
Installing various Linux distros definitely loses its charm after a while. I lost interest in that 18 years ago after I gave Debian a try. After a few years I settled on the XFCE desktop, and have never looked back. When I need to use MSWindows I just install Cygwin and carry on as usual.
As a desktop Linux doesn't offer any advantage besides avoiding Windows UI churn. As an embedded system or server, or for automating system administration, there is no comparison.
Win8 and that horrible touchscreen UI did it for me. All Linux since then. 10 years before that i had dual boot and used both, but that day I uninstalled Win from all my machines. Yes, upgrades drove me nuts too. Was really busy, always running, postponing updates, end they hit me when Im late home for lunch or right in the morning when the first meeting starts. Laptop was off in the meantime.
Used Mint Cinnamon for years and I must say tweaking was not an issue... Maybe few days after every new release. It became home. Recently moved to Arch / Xmonad to get rid of the mouse as much as possible. Working really well but yes, tweaking is back.
But its fun. Tweaking windows was a pain. Recently, after years not even looking at Win, i installed it on the gaming PC for my kid. It was instant frustration with bloatware, Office/Skype/MSAccount jumping out of every other click. Dont like the UI either. Especially the mix of stuff from Win95 and Win10 :) Anyway, Win became so foreign for me that actually I find it now way more difficult to configure and use than Linux.
Also, programming productivity, for me it was allways a bit better on Linux, but not by much. Its more about not being frustrated. But I also manage 3 to 4 completely non-techical user's laptops for my familly and workers (all on Linux Mint Cinnamon now) and the amount of time I saved on that task, compared to time they used Win, is huge!
Basically, I'm home. Don't see a chance to move back any time soon.
Ok, so I must confess. It's November 21st and I wiped Windows and put Fedora on...lol.
Of course this doesn't belittle Windows at all. I just missed Linux I guess. Things still do seem to run smoother and look a little better.
Just wanted to let all the nay' sayers say "I told you so"...lol
Hi Tim,
This was an interesting read. Three weeks ago I finally had enough of Windows Updates and installed Linux on my main laptop.
Two points:
Thanks mate.
Yeah, no fault of Linux. Its more me and being distracted by shinys things, procrastinating, and chronic distro hopping.
You have a great surname for an ex-Linux-now-Windows user 😁
Thanks, not sure if its a curse or a blessing
Nice to read your self knowledge. At least I agree, that using Linux might needs kind of self discipline, because you can adjust anything on it.
But as you noticed, it's not a downside, but it might show you that you have a lack of self-discipline.
For me I finally got this self-discipline since some years now.
The changing Point for me was to see Linux as it is... an Operating System (OS). Nothing more, and nothing less.
The exact same thing like you have on windows now, was my result: I have full configured Linux, using my awesome working Applications for doing my daily work (App & Mobile-Development), and nothing more.
What really helps to archive this? I use a rolling Distribution (Manjaro), and I don't care about Eye-Candy or other stuff on Linux (btw: Manjaro/KDE is Eyecandy out of the Box). I think about, what at least is the benefit to spending time in this (Linux tweaking) or that (earning money by productivity). So the decision is easy.
So no need to waste time to change the OS. But hey, if it helps you out to focus again, and give a new starting Point for your productivity... it's fine.
Finally to say: What ever OS you use: Set your goals, and reach them.
Yes, my self control is awfully weak. And I’m easily distracted. I accept those weaknesses.
On the other hand Manjaro is great. I used their cinnamon spin for some time and played around with the i3 and flagship xfce. I really enjoyed it.
By the way, did I say I was a chronic distro hopper also.
Try to use "git status" command git-bash(or any shell you can run on Windows) shell on Windows in a mid large git repo and compare it with Linux one. (In one of my project it took just a glimpse in Linux and over 2 minutes on Windows.)
WSL is the best second thing after Visual Studio Code but it might not be enough in some cases.
Have you tried it in WSL2 , to be honest everything I work with is real small. Simple web pages and markdown files..right now at least. So anything I do with the repos is super fast.
Yes, I've tried. But the issue that I've mentioned is about Windows file system accesses. It can be tried with "git status" command to see Windows filesystem access methods are not as efficient as Linux's. WSL and WSL2 only provides system call optimizations.
( WSL is best second thing from Microsoft after VS Code, I appreciate MS. And thank you for a grate post)
Yeap, I've tried. The issue that I've mentioned is not about kernel calls which is improved in WSL2, it's about file system management of windows(When accessing files in Windows drives).
(WSL2 makes me think about switching back to Windows. At least when microsoft leaves all old things except working ones)
Nice post!
I’m feeling about the same, when in think back why I started using MacOS, a few years ago.
It’s still a *nix under the hood, but nothing to tweak and maintain, hence much more productive.
Cheers, Tom
I've been using Linux for a year now. I can't explain how many times I had to mess with a config file or do another sudo thing and restart just to get something working.
I like using Linux. But I also really hate how much time it eats up just to get the damn thing working.
All the complaints about windows? I probably have a problem once every few months. But with my Linux machine? It's almost every few days.
Where windows doesn't help is in web development and rolling out servers. Honestly, I'm starting to see the appeal of Macs just to have a coding machine.
But linux... While I'm still using it as my primary, I'm not convinced I can recommend it to most developers.
As far as web dev is concerned, wsl takes care of most things if you haven’t given it a go.
Oh that's very nice. Thank you!
Very weird say that Windows don't distract you. Maybe you're just sick of changing flavours. Probably I would understand if you prefered MacOS.
After about 7 years with Linux and MacOS I was "forced" to again work with Windows (10) for a project. I also set up a new Windows PC for my wife recently (she is used to Windows from work)
I found it a horrible experience. Every single step is a huge PITA.
From licensing to PowerShell which is quite limited and cumbersome for automating settings changes and also the Linux subsystem is quite limited.
Windows is also painfully slow if the hardware is not top-notch.
Also in my experience there was hardly any improvement since Windows XP except some inconsistent UI look and feel changes.
I got the impression MS has totally given up on Windows after the Vista debacle and only tries to make some more money before it dies.
The main changes since XP are IMHO that settings, previously found in the control panel, are spread among a dozen applications or menus and impossible to find and each one follows a different look and feel.
I think Windows is just a huge mess.
I'm sooo happy that there are good alternatives.
Tim,
I can see your point. I switched to try and get 1 more year or so out of my computer hardware. Windows has lots to be admired but it is a resource hog. By the time you run anti-virus/malware, skype, slack, etc.. you're lucky if your IDE can change pages at all.
There's a lot to like about Linux. The only thing I've missed about windows are things like Office (but I really like Libre Office), Variety of email clients, and one or two apps that don't have Linux versions (Trello do you hear me???)
But that's it. In a month or sow of Linux, not one single system hang up. There is a lot to be said for reliability. The fact that I use the command line makes working on web servers that much easier.
All that to say, the opposite is true as well. Linux makes me more productive. I'm less distracted by the ancillary stuff with Windows.
Oh, and welcome fellow Texan (shhh.. i'm really a migrant from Chicago, but been here about 14 years now.)
I have no issues so far as far as resources...but I have a pretty beefy laptop. I believe there is an electron wrapper of trello in existence..I have run it on Arch, it's in the AUR.
The funniest part of all this jorney is your name hahahaha
Yeah, Apple has been bad enough...then the whole Tump/Tim Cook thing made it worse. Half the internet thinks I'm joking when they see my name..lol
I sort of see what you're getting at re an OS which puts you into work mode, vs play mode.. I used to have that relationship with Windows, where Windows == work. But I now have that same relationship with macOS, and I find it's kind of the best of both worlds of a usable OS, and productive for dev with a *nix core, without being a any kind of distraction.
Someday I may give it a go.
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