> Cross-compiling Windows apps from Linux using Mingw has been a thing for a very long time. Mingw itself is 18 years old. There are also options for using LLVM

> Cross-compiling Windows apps from Linux using Mingw has been a thing for a very long time. Mingw itself is 18 years old. There are also options for using LLVM or compatibility layers like Midipix. So, no, Windows is not required and hasn't been for a long time. Sure, develop for Windows without using Windows. But why spend time developing for a platform that you don't use regularly? What about testing? How far can you go without Windows? > As far as Visual Studio, it's not required... VS or Windows is not required but the majority of developers develop using VS on Windows. You could cheap-out by avoiding these but you're being penny-wise and pound-foolish. > But for Apple, you have to own a mac But for Windows/Linux you still have to buy an Intel machine. You just don't want to buy another machine to develop iOS or OSX apps. Anyhow, I think Windows/Linux owners are complaining they have to spend more money to develop on a different platform. You never hear this from Mac owners who want to develop for Windows or Linux.[Edit: Not trying to start a flame war. I'm really trying to understand the outrage...]