Why do people use linux over windows/mac

Posted by driedalbumen@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 22 comments

Hello, I bought a laptop to separate my school work and playing games away from my interest in computer science because I easily get distracted and also I want to mod this laptop, but since I am planning to do some modding I might as well change the OS to something like linux mint, but since I planned on doing that, It made me wonder why people use linux distros in general, can yall tell me why people prefer linux over windows/mac. Thanks for the help in advance!

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_Atomfinger_@reddit

I think you'll find that people prefer all kinds of OS'. You have die hard Windows and Apple fans as well.

Developers generally like Linux because:

It allows them to modify the system the exact way they like it.
It is open-source.
It is lightweight and can run on pretty much anything.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

what do you mean by modify the system the exact way they like it?

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_Atomfinger_@reddit

For example, on my home machine I run Manjaro, and I use I3VM, which I have loaded up with my own keybindings which defines how I use my computer.

A distro is mostly just a starting point which you tweak until you've found your flow.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

oh so you mean you can literally mess with the distro itself and change it to your liking?

That seems so fun thanks you!

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_Atomfinger_@reddit

Yup, find the one closest to your preference and then tweak it.

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Lumpy_Ad7002@reddit

It's cheap

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GeneralPITA@reddit

I wrote a long bitter rant about all the ways Windows pisses me off, but likely no-body wants to hear it. It's like religion, people argue (and die over it) and there's no real correct answer.

The short version is Windows is inconsistent and harder to work with given my work style. Mac at least gives me a good, usable command line utility and also does all the commercial stuff I need it to do. Linux might do all the commercial stuff too, I just haven't checked if I'll get my boss's emails on a Linux based email client (Outlook barely works on Windows for this)

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

so you use linux solely for work?

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GeneralPITA@reddit

No I use Windows solely for work. When I have the option I would use anything that isn't Windows.

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AshuraBaron@reddit

You trying to start a war or something? I can already hear them approaching.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

it was a genuine question lol

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AshuraBaron@reddit

I know haha. Just saying these discussions always get rabid after a while.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

I wasnt aware of how bad it can get 😭😭😭 my friends just told me about it

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flaumo@reddit

Because they develop software on a Linux based stack. Or they have a DevOps pipeline running on Linux. Or they shell script a lot.

Honestly, if you do not have a professional need, Mac might be a better choice. I switched after 10 year of desktop Linux, and the usability is so much better.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

interesting thanks for the help!

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964racer@reddit

If you can’t manage your game playing time without separating operating systems/machines, you have a different problem. Tackle that one first, then choose the best OS that meets your needs. You can write code on all of them.

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driedalbumen@reddit (OP)

i was just giving a background as to why i bought a laptop for modding, it was just that i was modding and felt like it would be fun to change the OS/learn a new operating system, and I dont really want to change anything in my main computer because I like the way it is. Also I would be at school/work most of the time so I dont really get to play games unless im at home bored.

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Ormek_II@reddit

Control here also means better understanding of what is going on under hood and control of Linux itself. So it is a better playground to learn about OS than Windows.

I believe Linux has a better structure than Windows. Linux follows best practices of OS design, whereas Microsoft reinvented the wheel to make things “better”. Indeed they made it somewhat easier for users and they provide an incredible backward compatibility.

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fuddlesworth@reddit

With the latest advancements to WSL2, there's really no need to use Linux for development unless you really don't like Windows.

Most people who prefer Linux over Windows/Mac will always go off on a freedom tangent.

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mak_0777@reddit

> Most people who prefer Linux over Windows/Mac will always go off on a freedom tangent.

Well that is the main incentive; more control over your system and more privacy. With the integration of AI into basically everything, and the introduction of 'Total Recall', the "freedom tangent" only gains more merit.

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inbetween-genders@reddit

I probably would still have gotten a suggestion to play candy crush if I used WSL2 vs having zero Windows on a machine.

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Electrical_Mode_2489@reddit

People use Linux distros over Windows or macOS for a variety of reasons, depending on their needs and preferences. Here are some common ones:

Freedom and Customization: Linux gives you full control over your system. You can customize everything, from the desktop environment to the core functionality, and tailor it to your needs.
Open Source: Unlike proprietary systems, Linux is open source. This means the code is publicly available, and you can tweak or modify it as you like
Performance on Older Hardware: Many Linux distros are lightweight and run smoothly on older or less powerful machines, unlike Windows or macOS.
Security and Privacy: Linux is generally more secure than Windows, with fewer viruses targeting it. It also doesn’t have invasive telemetry like Windows or macOS.
Developer-Friendly: If you're into computer science, Linux is a fantastic environment for coding, scripting, and experimenting. It has powerful tools like Bash, and access to a plethora of open-source software I personally use Linux because it helps me stay sharp with coding by working in the terminal, and it keeps me from getting rusty. I also have Windows installed on another drive for VR gaming, regular games, and some programs that are either incompatible with Linux or don't have a Linux equivalent.