6 ms·

That's cool as hell. I didn't know that Google runs Linux on the desktop. I always just assumed they used Macs.

by crispytx 9y ago

LeoPanthera 9y ago
As far as I know, engineers can choose whatever they want.
- gbugniot 9y ago
  Except Windows according to this article https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/google-to-employees-mac-or-linux-but-no-more-windows/ https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/google-to-employees-mac-...
  - LeoPanthera 9y ago
    From 2010. I wonder if that has changed.
    - chopin 9y ago
      With Windows 10? It made me switch away from Windows. I'd like to be the customer of an OS, not the product of its vendor.
      - pjmlp 9y ago
        So you also don’t use neither Android nor iDevices.
        herogreen 9y ago
        You can still use an Android phone without the Google Play store if you use a custom rom such as LineageOS. I do not not have a Google account set on my Motorola E LTE.
        chopin 9y ago
        Haha, good one. I have an Android device since last year (a dumb phone before then), so I am guilty of that one. I try to restrict use as much as possible (I have no Google account). I'll maybe try to install a Lineage OS on it, if that's possible (but afaik that's still Android so there's that). Privacy wise, I am not sure if an IDevice would be such a bad decision. But afaik they're phoning home still and I have to trust them...
      - tasubotadas 9y ago
        Windows 10 is the best OS in the family so far. The fact that you switched, is most likely just a hyped-overreaction to one of the things that they did that you didn't like.
        TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
        It's not necessarily a hyped overreaction if those things matter to the people switching. Some people actually care about those things that have changed enough to switch to a different OS that doesn't have those issues.
        AnIdiotOnTheNet 9y ago
        If you're talking about the kernel and subsystems underpinning Win 10, I'd agree, but the user experience is a severe downgrade from even Windows 8.
        chopin 9y ago
        It depends on your definition of "best". I agree with you from a technical point of view but this is not my sole decision criterion. I had setup an Active Directory server on a Raspberry Pi for serving my Windows 7 clients. I would have loved to continue using Windows as I think it is great technology. However I was switching because of some crucial decisions by Microsoft: 1. Shoving unwanted "features" along with security updates. As much as I understand Microsoft in wanting a more uniform landscape this is a no-go for me. The only reason I was not hit by the Windows 10 mandatory upgrade was the fact I had the machines in an AD domain (or at least I suspect so). 2. Phoning home without any recourse for me to even know what is collected. How long it is stored. Remember: innocent data today could bring me in trouble tomorrow. Collection can change any time without me even noticing.
        nerflad 9y ago
        A fresh installation of Windows 10 Professional has advertisements for Candy Crush in the start menu. I don't think anyone's overreacting.
    - akerro 9y ago
      Do you think Windows Vista or Win10 have less security problems and require less protection?
    - mondoshawan 9y ago
      If you have a valid business reason for it, it's no big deal. Ie: I work with electronics EDA tools and the ones we use only work on Windows, so I have a laptop with Win 10 on it, but my daily driver is a Thinkpad with Linux.
  - Momquist 9y ago
    According to an interview to zdnet in 2012: Googlers must ask to use Windows because “Windows is harder because it has 'special' security problems so it requires high-level permission before someone can use it.” In addition, “Windows tools tend to be heavy and inflexible.” http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-truth-about-goobuntu-googles-in-house-desktop-ubuntu-linux/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-truth-about-goobuntu-google...
- izacus 9y ago
  On laptops yes, but actual dev work is done on Linux machines.
- pebers 9y ago
  They can choose from a small set of laptops, but (nearly) all development work is done on Linux desktops.
  - igravious 9y ago
    Who is the desktop/workstation manufacturer?

That's cool as hell. I didn't know that Google runs Linux on the desktop. I always just assumed they used Macs.

LeoPanthera 9y ago

As far as I know, engineers can choose whatever they want.

gbugniot 9y ago
Except Windows according to this article https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/google-to-employees-mac-or-linux-but-no-more-windows/ https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/google-to-employees-mac-...
- LeoPanthera 9y ago
  From 2010. I wonder if that has changed.
  - chopin 9y ago
    With Windows 10? It made me switch away from Windows. I'd like to be the customer of an OS, not the product of its vendor.
    - pjmlp 9y ago
      So you also don’t use neither Android nor iDevices.
      - herogreen 9y ago
        You can still use an Android phone without the Google Play store if you use a custom rom such as LineageOS. I do not not have a Google account set on my Motorola E LTE.
      - chopin 9y ago
        Haha, good one. I have an Android device since last year (a dumb phone before then), so I am guilty of that one. I try to restrict use as much as possible (I have no Google account). I'll maybe try to install a Lineage OS on it, if that's possible (but afaik that's still Android so there's that). Privacy wise, I am not sure if an IDevice would be such a bad decision. But afaik they're phoning home still and I have to trust them...
    - tasubotadas 9y ago
      Windows 10 is the best OS in the family so far. The fact that you switched, is most likely just a hyped-overreaction to one of the things that they did that you didn't like.
      - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
        It's not necessarily a hyped overreaction if those things matter to the people switching. Some people actually care about those things that have changed enough to switch to a different OS that doesn't have those issues.
      - AnIdiotOnTheNet 9y ago
        If you're talking about the kernel and subsystems underpinning Win 10, I'd agree, but the user experience is a severe downgrade from even Windows 8.
      - chopin 9y ago
        It depends on your definition of "best". I agree with you from a technical point of view but this is not my sole decision criterion. I had setup an Active Directory server on a Raspberry Pi for serving my Windows 7 clients. I would have loved to continue using Windows as I think it is great technology. However I was switching because of some crucial decisions by Microsoft: 1. Shoving unwanted "features" along with security updates. As much as I understand Microsoft in wanting a more uniform landscape this is a no-go for me. The only reason I was not hit by the Windows 10 mandatory upgrade was the fact I had the machines in an AD domain (or at least I suspect so). 2. Phoning home without any recourse for me to even know what is collected. How long it is stored. Remember: innocent data today could bring me in trouble tomorrow. Collection can change any time without me even noticing.
      - nerflad 9y ago
        A fresh installation of Windows 10 Professional has advertisements for Candy Crush in the start menu. I don't think anyone's overreacting.
  - akerro 9y ago
    Do you think Windows Vista or Win10 have less security problems and require less protection?
  - mondoshawan 9y ago
    If you have a valid business reason for it, it's no big deal. Ie: I work with electronics EDA tools and the ones we use only work on Windows, so I have a laptop with Win 10 on it, but my daily driver is a Thinkpad with Linux.
- Momquist 9y ago
  According to an interview to zdnet in 2012: Googlers must ask to use Windows because “Windows is harder because it has 'special' security problems so it requires high-level permission before someone can use it.” In addition, “Windows tools tend to be heavy and inflexible.” http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-truth-about-goobuntu-googles-in-house-desktop-ubuntu-linux/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-truth-about-goobuntu-google...
izacus 9y ago
On laptops yes, but actual dev work is done on Linux machines.
pebers 9y ago
They can choose from a small set of laptops, but (nearly) all development work is done on Linux desktops.
- igravious 9y ago
  Who is the desktop/workstation manufacturer?