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I find your definitation of "creating things" narrow and shallow. There's a tremendous amount of creativity that goes into customizing an OS to meet every need

I find your definitation of "creating things" narrow and shallow. There's a tremendous amount of creativity that goes into customizing an OS to meet every need you have --- and ONLY those needs.

pnathan 15y ago
Sure. But unless you're deploying custom Linux builds, what does that get you, exactly? I have a number of packages on my computer I don't use, and I am not being hindered by their existence. I instead use my brain cycles for creating new software & systems, not retooling the existing one to no end. edit: Please understand that I'm not saying a fully customizable Linux doesn't have its place. It absolutely does. But when you're trying to crank stuff out, having to stop and tweak/fix your system simply gets in the way. Well, it gets in my way, at least. :-)
- filam 15y ago
  Just because a system gives you the freedom to customize your environment, it doesn't mean you required to "retool [it] to no end." I have used a simple Arch Linux installation for years and it has never interrupted my work flow.
- timdot 15y ago
  "But when you're trying to crank stuff out, having to stop and tweak/fix your system simply gets in the way." That's exactly the reason to customise it yourself rather than using a default "one-size-fits-all" OS like Windows/OSX/Ubuntu. You spend a weekend configuring your computer, then you automate everything you did and then you never have to do anything again. Or at least that's the goal. Still, it gives you control over your computer and that's enough for me. OSX telling me that I wasn't allowed to uninstall certain programs (has been a while since I got rid of my Mac but I think iTunes was one of them) - that bothers the hell out of me.
- babarock 15y ago
  Although I wouldn't word it so aggressively, I too feel compelled to react to your "creating thing" idea. Dismissing OS customization as something that "gets in the way" is a terrible misunderstanding of the role of an OS in "cranking stuff out". The truth is, good configuration of the OS can save you huge amounts of time in your creating "new software & system time". The truth is, the OS is not supposed to be a black box that lets you run your IDE on top. That leads to extremely redundant systems with multiple failure points. Idiotic as it may sound, proper manipulation of your OS will make you "one" with the machine, and simplify your thoughts greatly. I'll leave you with a quote found all over the Web: "Those who don't understand UNIX are doomed to reinvent it, poorly".
  - pm90 15y ago
    you make excellent points, but that still doesn't answer pnathan's problem. He just wants to get his work done, and he's getting just that with a Mac. Maybe he would not like to invest time in configuring his OS, that's a personal decision. Yes, OS customization may be an interesting/exhilarating experience for you, but maybe not for him; that's how its "getting in the way", for him
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]

I find your definitation of "creating things" narrow and shallow. There's a tremendous amount of creativity that goes into customizing an OS to meet every need you have --- and ONLY those needs.

pnathan 15y ago

Sure. But unless you're deploying custom Linux builds, what does that get you, exactly? I have a number of packages on my computer I don't use, and I am not being hindered by their existence. I instead use my brain cycles for creating new software & systems, not retooling the existing one to no end. edit: Please understand that I'm not saying a fully customizable Linux doesn't have its place. It absolutely does. But when you're trying to crank stuff out, having to stop and tweak/fix your system simply gets in the way. Well, it gets in my way, at least. :-)

filam 15y ago
Just because a system gives you the freedom to customize your environment, it doesn't mean you required to "retool [it] to no end." I have used a simple Arch Linux installation for years and it has never interrupted my work flow.
timdot 15y ago
"But when you're trying to crank stuff out, having to stop and tweak/fix your system simply gets in the way." That's exactly the reason to customise it yourself rather than using a default "one-size-fits-all" OS like Windows/OSX/Ubuntu. You spend a weekend configuring your computer, then you automate everything you did and then you never have to do anything again. Or at least that's the goal. Still, it gives you control over your computer and that's enough for me. OSX telling me that I wasn't allowed to uninstall certain programs (has been a while since I got rid of my Mac but I think iTunes was one of them) - that bothers the hell out of me.
babarock 15y ago
Although I wouldn't word it so aggressively, I too feel compelled to react to your "creating thing" idea. Dismissing OS customization as something that "gets in the way" is a terrible misunderstanding of the role of an OS in "cranking stuff out". The truth is, good configuration of the OS can save you huge amounts of time in your creating "new software & system time". The truth is, the OS is not supposed to be a black box that lets you run your IDE on top. That leads to extremely redundant systems with multiple failure points. Idiotic as it may sound, proper manipulation of your OS will make you "one" with the machine, and simplify your thoughts greatly. I'll leave you with a quote found all over the Web: "Those who don't understand UNIX are doomed to reinvent it, poorly".
- pm90 15y ago
  you make excellent points, but that still doesn't answer pnathan's problem. He just wants to get his work done, and he's getting just that with a Mac. Maybe he would not like to invest time in configuring his OS, that's a personal decision. Yes, OS customization may be an interesting/exhilarating experience for you, but maybe not for him; that's how its "getting in the way", for him
deleted 15y ago
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