3 ms·

What about the fact that they all are using Windows on the desktop? I'm a Linux person and I can't use anything else. I've been using Linux for 15 years. I ask

What about the fact that they all are using Windows on the desktop? I'm a Linux person and I can't use anything else. I've been using Linux for 15 years. I asked if they can let me install Linux on the computers, they said I have to use a VM. I'm fine with a VM but I also need my window manager of choice (i3-wm) and so on. Would it be okay if I install Arch Linux on VirtualBox and I fullscreen the VM? What about performance then? All the other developers are using Windows and putty shells and Sublime Text as their editor. I asked if I could bring my own laptop but they said I can't. Suggestions welcome.

eli 11y ago
Have you actually tried VirtualBox? Depending on the underlying hardware, the performance really might not be an issue.
- e12e 11y ago
  I'm not sure VirtualBox have an edge compared to "native" Hyper-V. If you're running windows 8.1 pro (which would be the sane choice, before 10 arrives) -- you have to change the boot options[1] if you want proper hw support for VirtualBox. Changing from Linux to Windows is indeed rather painful. As others have mentioned, depending on deployment/process etc -- you might still be better off trying to live on the windows side. I'm not a windows dev, but from what I've seen mentioned by others -- running php on windows w/IIS and SQL server works fine -- but you'll want to have a test/dev environment that matches prod -- or you'll just constantly run in to pain points -- especially if the team isn't on board/interested in investing in a full heterogeneous environment. For a small example with node, see eg: https://github.com/keithamus/npm-scripts-example/issues/5 https://github.com/keithamus/npm-scripts-example/issues/5 Hopefully your new team has some automation in place -- it's unlikely it'll work out of the box under linux if it's never been tested/linux has never been a requirement. On the bright side, vim works fine under windows, and with some mingw32/64[2], things aren't entirely painful. If you're used to script things with ruby, that should be even easier. Having to work with cmd.exe and it's nasty find.exe rather than grep, feels like running with one leg tied behind your back. Lack of proper tabbed/keyboard-friendly window manager is probably the biggest productivity drain -- thought there are some alternatives for that too[3]. [1] http://www.hanselman.com/blog/SwitchEasilyBetweenVirtualBoxAndHyperVWithABCDEditBootEntryInWindows81.aspx http://www.hanselman.com/blog/SwitchEasilyBetweenVirtualBoxA... [2] http://msys2.github.io/ http://msys2.github.io/ [3] https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n
  - mauricemir 11y ago
    You can migrate Virtual box vm's to hyperv which works very well.
ma2rten 11y ago
I think it's really strange that you can not install linux or bring your own laptop. Maybe you should have second thoughts if you'd like to work at that place. That said, I think you will be able to adjust if you want. Just use vim on Windows, or use sublime with vim keybindings. You can also use a VM fullscreen. Works fine, I've done it before.
mauricemir 11y ago
Whats the issue here if you are developing php properly you PC is just a way of running x windows so you can login to the sever. They are not developing on individual developers pcs are they. Is your objection to using win 8.1 for doing documentation in word and using outlook? Just use win8.1 and use hyperv to run your VM is one option

eli 11y ago

Have you actually tried VirtualBox? Depending on the underlying hardware, the performance really might not be an issue.

e12e 11y ago
I'm not sure VirtualBox have an edge compared to "native" Hyper-V. If you're running windows 8.1 pro (which would be the sane choice, before 10 arrives) -- you have to change the boot options[1] if you want proper hw support for VirtualBox. Changing from Linux to Windows is indeed rather painful. As others have mentioned, depending on deployment/process etc -- you might still be better off trying to live on the windows side. I'm not a windows dev, but from what I've seen mentioned by others -- running php on windows w/IIS and SQL server works fine -- but you'll want to have a test/dev environment that matches prod -- or you'll just constantly run in to pain points -- especially if the team isn't on board/interested in investing in a full heterogeneous environment. For a small example with node, see eg: https://github.com/keithamus/npm-scripts-example/issues/5 https://github.com/keithamus/npm-scripts-example/issues/5 Hopefully your new team has some automation in place -- it's unlikely it'll work out of the box under linux if it's never been tested/linux has never been a requirement. On the bright side, vim works fine under windows, and with some mingw32/64[2], things aren't entirely painful. If you're used to script things with ruby, that should be even easier. Having to work with cmd.exe and it's nasty find.exe rather than grep, feels like running with one leg tied behind your back. Lack of proper tabbed/keyboard-friendly window manager is probably the biggest productivity drain -- thought there are some alternatives for that too[3]. [1] http://www.hanselman.com/blog/SwitchEasilyBetweenVirtualBoxAndHyperVWithABCDEditBootEntryInWindows81.aspx http://www.hanselman.com/blog/SwitchEasilyBetweenVirtualBoxA... [2] http://msys2.github.io/ http://msys2.github.io/ [3] https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n
- mauricemir 11y ago
  You can migrate Virtual box vm's to hyperv which works very well.

ma2rten 11y ago

I think it's really strange that you can not install linux or bring your own laptop. Maybe you should have second thoughts if you'd like to work at that place. That said, I think you will be able to adjust if you want. Just use vim on Windows, or use sublime with vim keybindings. You can also use a VM fullscreen. Works fine, I've done it before.

mauricemir 11y ago

Whats the issue here if you are developing php properly you PC is just a way of running x windows so you can login to the sever. They are not developing on individual developers pcs are they. Is your objection to using win 8.1 for doing documentation in word and using outlook? Just use win8.1 and use hyperv to run your VM is one option