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I’m curious about what this would look like on Windows, especially for someone who’s been happily developing on Mac for nearly a decade. Is WSL or a VM required

I’m curious about what this would look like on Windows, especially for someone who’s been happily developing on Mac for nearly a decade. Is WSL or a VM required? I assume so, for many languages.

owenwil 7y ago
It’d be WSL, and about as few steps as the article describes–I’ve documented it here: https://char.gd/blog/2017/how-to-set-up-the-perfect-modern-dev-environment-on-windows https://char.gd/blog/2017/how-to-set-up-the-perfect-modern-d.... You’ll just be using Aptitude to install packages instead–or you could use the new automation tools to get a fully disposable, native development environment without messing about (I forget the name right now, but I’ll post if I find it). I’d argue that it’s getting easier to get a modern web dev environment going on a Windows box than much else these days, especially with WSL2 about to land. It’s fun that Microsoft is investing so heavily in the developer experience.
- sickcodebruh 7y ago
  This sounds like what I was expecting, I’m glad to hear it. I already do a fair amount of work in an Ubuntu Desktop VM and it’s fine, so I imagine WSL2 should be at least a bit better than that. I’m REALLY over Apple hardware and don’t think I can justify the investment again. If WSL2 is as promised, it’ll probably seal the deal.
opencl 7y ago
Most languages are fine on Windows without using WSL. You just download some installers and run them. Node, Ruby, Python, Go, Rust, Java at a minimum all have readily available Windows installers. The git installer comes with bash and busybox which you can use with whatever terminal emulator you want.
- sickcodebruh 7y ago
  I’ve always been under the impression that Ruby development in Windows is miserable, even with the installer. Something changed? Regardless, I (and I’d guess anyone coming from Mac) am so much more comfortable in bash, I’d really prefer WSL if performance is right.

I’m curious about what this would look like on Windows, especially for someone who’s been happily developing on Mac for nearly a decade. Is WSL or a VM required? I assume so, for many languages.

owenwil 7y ago

It’d be WSL, and about as few steps as the article describes–I’ve documented it here: https://char.gd/blog/2017/how-to-set-up-the-perfect-modern-dev-environment-on-windows https://char.gd/blog/2017/how-to-set-up-the-perfect-modern-d.... You’ll just be using Aptitude to install packages instead–or you could use the new automation tools to get a fully disposable, native development environment without messing about (I forget the name right now, but I’ll post if I find it). I’d argue that it’s getting easier to get a modern web dev environment going on a Windows box than much else these days, especially with WSL2 about to land. It’s fun that Microsoft is investing so heavily in the developer experience.

sickcodebruh 7y ago
This sounds like what I was expecting, I’m glad to hear it. I already do a fair amount of work in an Ubuntu Desktop VM and it’s fine, so I imagine WSL2 should be at least a bit better than that. I’m REALLY over Apple hardware and don’t think I can justify the investment again. If WSL2 is as promised, it’ll probably seal the deal.

opencl 7y ago

Most languages are fine on Windows without using WSL. You just download some installers and run them. Node, Ruby, Python, Go, Rust, Java at a minimum all have readily available Windows installers. The git installer comes with bash and busybox which you can use with whatever terminal emulator you want.

sickcodebruh 7y ago
I’ve always been under the impression that Ruby development in Windows is miserable, even with the installer. Something changed? Regardless, I (and I’d guess anyone coming from Mac) am so much more comfortable in bash, I’d really prefer WSL if performance is right.