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"The looming demise of macOS as a developer platform". There's some sentiment these days on HN about this but personally I think it's hogwash. No platform is p

by sgt 6y ago

"The looming demise of macOS as a developer platform". There's some sentiment these days on HN about this but personally I think it's hogwash. No platform is perfect, but macOS to me is as close as you can get to a developer's dream workstation / laptop. Remember all those years when we dreamed of a Unix with a proper UI? Well, it exists. Windows doesn't even come close. I'd rather go Linux before Windows as a developer and hacker. I know this varies based on industry and countries, but about 95% of developers I work with on a daily basis use Macs. These are everything from Go devs, JS devs to people working on ancient Java EE codebases. A disclaimer; I haven't actually tried Catalina yet, all my Macs are still on Mojave.

Nextgrid 6y ago
Catalina is a significant downgrade in quality but it's still better than the alternative so your point still stands. My worry is what this means for the future, whether it will keep going downhill.
Kronen 6y ago
Yep, it absolutely depends on industries and countries, because 100% of developers I work with use Windows.
- psychometry 6y ago
  Well, that's a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, if you ask me. I've never personally known of a developer who's switched from MacOS to Windows without immediately going back.
  - nailer 6y ago
    They definitely exist - just on any of the WSL2 threads on Twitter
nailer 6y ago
> Remember all those years when we dreamed of a Unix with a proper UI? Well, it exists. Windows doesn't even come close. You should reconsider Windows. A full Linux kernel and apt-get is way better than Homebrew will ever be.
- unix_fan 6y ago
  Personally, I find windows to be much more intrusive than macOS out of the box. sudo spctl --master-disable is usually enough for macOS to keep quiet.
tomhaines 6y ago
WSL2 on my Desktop is competing with my MacBook as my favorite development environment. Remote-WSL on VSCode works excellently and allows me to do all my development in a seamless Linux environment. For me, its the perfect balance between the power of Linux and the day-to-day usability of Windows
fckapple40 6y ago
The only way I see macOS surviving as a professional environment is if they make it available for PCs. Their walled garden style just doesn't work in the open-source world Microsoft is pushing.

by sgt 6y ago

Nextgrid 6y ago

Catalina is a significant downgrade in quality but it's still better than the alternative so your point still stands. My worry is what this means for the future, whether it will keep going downhill.

Kronen 6y ago

Yep, it absolutely depends on industries and countries, because 100% of developers I work with use Windows.

psychometry 6y ago
Well, that's a kind of Stockholm Syndrome, if you ask me. I've never personally known of a developer who's switched from MacOS to Windows without immediately going back.
- nailer 6y ago
  They definitely exist - just on any of the WSL2 threads on Twitter

nailer 6y ago

> Remember all those years when we dreamed of a Unix with a proper UI? Well, it exists. Windows doesn't even come close. You should reconsider Windows. A full Linux kernel and apt-get is way better than Homebrew will ever be.

unix_fan 6y ago
Personally, I find windows to be much more intrusive than macOS out of the box. sudo spctl --master-disable is usually enough for macOS to keep quiet.

tomhaines 6y ago

WSL2 on my Desktop is competing with my MacBook as my favorite development environment. Remote-WSL on VSCode works excellently and allows me to do all my development in a seamless Linux environment. For me, its the perfect balance between the power of Linux and the day-to-day usability of Windows

fckapple40 6y ago

The only way I see macOS surviving as a professional environment is if they make it available for PCs. Their walled garden style just doesn't work in the open-source world Microsoft is pushing.