4 ms·

There genuinely are some great things about Windows as a developer. Also, I like to play games and Linux isn't quite there yet.

by sky2224 10mo ago

GaryBluto 10mo ago
I'd say Linux is most of the way there considering the existence of the Steam Deck. Even then, why not use a Windows virtual machine?
- chris_wot 10mo ago
  Because a VM will still be running the AI components?
  - GaryBluto 10mo ago
    Why would you care?
    - chris_wot 10mo ago
      For all the same reasons you don’t want data leaking from a native OS running on bare metal? Not sure where you are going with this.
- malfist 10mo ago
  The VM won't have access to the GPU in a meaningful way unless you have multiple GPUs and can dedicate one to the VM.
- mossTechnician 10mo ago
  Windows virtual machines are much slower than bare hardware, especially for things GP mentioned like games. I have also found Linux lags behind in many areas that matter to me in functionality, performance (even compared to Windows 11) and general ease of use. Lots of people Linux or Chrome OS is sufficient for them, and that's great, but it's not enough for everybody. In response to your initial question, I believe everything must be criticized, especially things we like. Internal criticism, such as criticism of Windows, is just as important as external competitors, such as Linux.
  - gregoryl 10mo ago
    > Linux lags behind in many areas that matter to me in functionality, performance I'd be interested to know about the gaps you see? I miss desktop excel, but not a whole lot else.
- nlawalker 10mo ago
  To turn your first question around - if you care that much about games, why not just run Windows and remove the parts you don't like?
moorow 10mo ago
As someone in this exact position, I swapped to CachyOS this week and have been extremely impressed. I've yet to come across a game that didn't function extremely well (I have not tested bf6 yet, which I suspect the anti cheat may fail on).
- AgentK20 10mo ago
  Really that's the problem - Anticheat. Sure, at this point most games work on Linux. The problem is, most people don't play most games. Most people play a handful of games, and where the players go, the cheaters follow. In response, the game studios deploy more and more aggressive anticheat measures, ultimately breaking the tiny minority of people who would've otherwise been able to play the game on Linux/Proton. Take a look at https://areweanticheatyet.com https://areweanticheatyet.com at some of the biggest games on the planet, and how most of them don't support Linux or Proton.
bigstrat2003 10mo ago
I'm confused by your statement. I'm a serious gamer and I've been on Linux for years. It's there, and it's been there for a while. I feel you on liking things about Windows though. I'm a Windows guy by nature. I genuinely like the OS, and if Microsoft wasn't being so absurdly user-hostile I would switch back in a heartbeat.
- troad 10mo ago
  Not OP, but as I'm sure you already know, there is a small but significant minority of games that don't play nice on Linux. Generally these are triple-A games that either have very competitive MP scenes, and/or which are thinly disguised casinos (e.g. Madden). There's also more friction with gaming on Linux the moment you step off the beaten path (i.e. Steam). Yes, yes, Lutris etc, but you're still going to run into things that refuse to play ball from time to time. You can generally solve these, but it's friction you don't get on Windows, and that you might not be in the mood for when you want to play a game. I've been a gamer on Linux for years too. I'd say it's ~80% there. (95% if you don't play competitive triple-As and stick to Steam.) It drops dramatically though if you want to play oddball 90s and 00s games, or use modding tools, etc. Personally, I've been toying with the idea of putting Windows on my gaming PC again, after many years. It's not my daily driver, so I'm not too fussed what runs the actual games. My time is limited and valuable to me, and I do not want to spend it nailing down cryptic Proton incantations (admittedly rare, but not yet rare enough). I love tinkering, but that's not tinkering, that's a chore.
- halyconWays 10mo ago
  VR on Linux is buggy and worse than on Windows in some important ways.
- bloaf 10mo ago
  I have a computer running fedora with a 5080 GPU. The newer games all work fine (e.g. cyberpunk 2077, BG3). The really old games mostly work fine (e.g. system shock 2, original Deus Ex) . The in-between games... are really hit-or-miss (e.g. I can't get witcher 1/2 or Deus Ex Human Revolution to run).
m4ck_ 10mo ago
I'd be more (or at least as) worried about these sketchy 'debloat' scripts and the root kit's in your game's anti-cheat than Microsoft's AI.

There genuinely are some great things about Windows as a developer. Also, I like to play games and Linux isn't quite there yet.

by sky2224 10mo ago

There genuinely are some great things about Windows as a developer. Also, I like to play games and Linux isn't quite there yet.

GaryBluto 10mo ago

I'd say Linux is most of the way there considering the existence of the Steam Deck. Even then, why not use a Windows virtual machine?

chris_wot 10mo ago
Because a VM will still be running the AI components?
- GaryBluto 10mo ago
  Why would you care?
  - chris_wot 10mo ago
    For all the same reasons you don’t want data leaking from a native OS running on bare metal? Not sure where you are going with this.
malfist 10mo ago
The VM won't have access to the GPU in a meaningful way unless you have multiple GPUs and can dedicate one to the VM.
mossTechnician 10mo ago
Windows virtual machines are much slower than bare hardware, especially for things GP mentioned like games. I have also found Linux lags behind in many areas that matter to me in functionality, performance (even compared to Windows 11) and general ease of use. Lots of people Linux or Chrome OS is sufficient for them, and that's great, but it's not enough for everybody. In response to your initial question, I believe everything must be criticized, especially things we like. Internal criticism, such as criticism of Windows, is just as important as external competitors, such as Linux.
- gregoryl 10mo ago
  > Linux lags behind in many areas that matter to me in functionality, performance I'd be interested to know about the gaps you see? I miss desktop excel, but not a whole lot else.
nlawalker 10mo ago
To turn your first question around - if you care that much about games, why not just run Windows and remove the parts you don't like?

moorow 10mo ago

As someone in this exact position, I swapped to CachyOS this week and have been extremely impressed. I've yet to come across a game that didn't function extremely well (I have not tested bf6 yet, which I suspect the anti cheat may fail on).

AgentK20 10mo ago
Really that's the problem - Anticheat. Sure, at this point most games work on Linux. The problem is, most people don't play most games. Most people play a handful of games, and where the players go, the cheaters follow. In response, the game studios deploy more and more aggressive anticheat measures, ultimately breaking the tiny minority of people who would've otherwise been able to play the game on Linux/Proton. Take a look at https://areweanticheatyet.com https://areweanticheatyet.com at some of the biggest games on the planet, and how most of them don't support Linux or Proton.

bigstrat2003 10mo ago

I'm confused by your statement. I'm a serious gamer and I've been on Linux for years. It's there, and it's been there for a while. I feel you on liking things about Windows though. I'm a Windows guy by nature. I genuinely like the OS, and if Microsoft wasn't being so absurdly user-hostile I would switch back in a heartbeat.

troad 10mo ago
Not OP, but as I'm sure you already know, there is a small but significant minority of games that don't play nice on Linux. Generally these are triple-A games that either have very competitive MP scenes, and/or which are thinly disguised casinos (e.g. Madden). There's also more friction with gaming on Linux the moment you step off the beaten path (i.e. Steam). Yes, yes, Lutris etc, but you're still going to run into things that refuse to play ball from time to time. You can generally solve these, but it's friction you don't get on Windows, and that you might not be in the mood for when you want to play a game. I've been a gamer on Linux for years too. I'd say it's ~80% there. (95% if you don't play competitive triple-As and stick to Steam.) It drops dramatically though if you want to play oddball 90s and 00s games, or use modding tools, etc. Personally, I've been toying with the idea of putting Windows on my gaming PC again, after many years. It's not my daily driver, so I'm not too fussed what runs the actual games. My time is limited and valuable to me, and I do not want to spend it nailing down cryptic Proton incantations (admittedly rare, but not yet rare enough). I love tinkering, but that's not tinkering, that's a chore.
halyconWays 10mo ago
VR on Linux is buggy and worse than on Windows in some important ways.
bloaf 10mo ago
I have a computer running fedora with a 5080 GPU. The newer games all work fine (e.g. cyberpunk 2077, BG3). The really old games mostly work fine (e.g. system shock 2, original Deus Ex) . The in-between games... are really hit-or-miss (e.g. I can't get witcher 1/2 or Deus Ex Human Revolution to run).

m4ck_ 10mo ago

I'd be more (or at least as) worried about these sketchy 'debloat' scripts and the root kit's in your game's anti-cheat than Microsoft's AI.