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Powerful command-line environments are offered everywhere (wsl, Linux container on Chrome, Linux on Linux). MacOS is actually quite lacking in comparison (being

by akho 5y ago

Powerful command-line environments are offered everywhere (wsl, Linux container on Chrome, Linux on Linux). MacOS is actually quite lacking in comparison (being limited wrt licenses and lacking a package manager). So it’s just a GUI question, and I’m not sure there is a definite lead these days. Integration with their other hardware devices is the more important moat right now, as is hardware.

jolux 5y ago
There are plenty of third-party package managers for macOS that work fine. I would prefer it if Apple picked one to officially support, but installing Homebrew takes me ten minutes and then I never have to think about it again.
- akho 5y ago
  I had unpleasant issues with homebrew upgrades back when I used it. It’s not exactly state of the art. (Nix works the same everywhere, though — but there are some hoops you need to jump through on macs)
  - jolux 5y ago
    It’s definitely not the best. I have my issues with it. But I’ve been using it since I got a Mac in 2014 and it has improved a lot since then, it rarely blows up on me anymore. In fact I can’t remember when last it did. I’ve always wanted to use Nix and have tried to get started a few times. It has always ended up seeming more trouble than it’s worth.
    - vanpythonista 5y ago
      I've used it as my primary package manager on macOS for six months, but ended up dropping it. My main reasons - * Nix doesn't have support for GUI apps like homebrew cask does - which meant I couldn't drop homebrew anyway. * The nix ecosystem forums suggest using nix-shell for managing packages for other languages, eg. python, java - but it's been really difficult to convince team members to use nix instead of pyenv, conda, gradle etc
  - devilduck 5y ago
    What possible issue could you have with a package manager that just installs a program? It's the least problematic thing I work with every single day. PEBKAC
- smoldesu 5y ago
  Neither Macport or Homebrew work "fine", but please continue.
geerlingguy 5y ago
WSL includes a package manager now?
- akho 5y ago
  The distro you run in wsl certainly does.
JiNCMG 5y ago
If you want to throw in WSL then include Docker on any OS
- akho 5y ago
  Any OSes where Docker runs that I have not covered?
  - mirthflat83 5y ago
    The joke went over your head

by akho 5y ago

jolux 5y ago

There are plenty of third-party package managers for macOS that work fine. I would prefer it if Apple picked one to officially support, but installing Homebrew takes me ten minutes and then I never have to think about it again.

akho 5y ago
I had unpleasant issues with homebrew upgrades back when I used it. It’s not exactly state of the art. (Nix works the same everywhere, though — but there are some hoops you need to jump through on macs)
- jolux 5y ago
  It’s definitely not the best. I have my issues with it. But I’ve been using it since I got a Mac in 2014 and it has improved a lot since then, it rarely blows up on me anymore. In fact I can’t remember when last it did. I’ve always wanted to use Nix and have tried to get started a few times. It has always ended up seeming more trouble than it’s worth.
  - vanpythonista 5y ago
    I've used it as my primary package manager on macOS for six months, but ended up dropping it. My main reasons - * Nix doesn't have support for GUI apps like homebrew cask does - which meant I couldn't drop homebrew anyway. * The nix ecosystem forums suggest using nix-shell for managing packages for other languages, eg. python, java - but it's been really difficult to convince team members to use nix instead of pyenv, conda, gradle etc
- devilduck 5y ago
  What possible issue could you have with a package manager that just installs a program? It's the least problematic thing I work with every single day. PEBKAC
smoldesu 5y ago
Neither Macport or Homebrew work "fine", but please continue.

geerlingguy 5y ago

WSL includes a package manager now?

akho 5y ago
The distro you run in wsl certainly does.

JiNCMG 5y ago

If you want to throw in WSL then include Docker on any OS

akho 5y ago
Any OSes where Docker runs that I have not covered?
- mirthflat83 5y ago
  The joke went over your head