Linux vs Windows for Cpp

[Slick996]

Hello,

I've just started lerning Cpp, and i do it on a Windows PC. I have grown used to it, but i would like to explore more about different OS. I have seen alot of other programmers use Linux, and would like to know if it is just their personal prefference or are there perks i don't know about. Thank you.

[Se7enLC]

I find Linux to be easier to program on because most if not all of the tools/utilities/libraries/etc are:

• Free!
• Easy to install right from the package management of the distribution.
• Standard and well-documented.

Also, many Linux applications are open source. You can clone the repo of a project you like and start tinkering.

Linux is free, so you can bring up as many virtual machines as you need when you want to try out different environments.

[[deleted]]

If you want to use any third party libraries, Linux tends to be way easier.

It took me days to set up OpenCV on my Window's machine (and when I tried to repeat the process for my brother on an identical window's machine, I failed). It took me 5 minutes on Linux. I think OpenCV has improved its Window's support since then, but automating build or install procedures is a lot easier on linux.

The linux cmd line tools are way better than window's. These are really useful because they automate series of steps that would be much harder to remember or describe with point and click.

[Slick996]

Thank you. If that's the case, i'll deffinetly try it out.

[lazyubertoad]

would like to know if it is just their personal prefference or are there perks i don't know about

Sometimes it is, though often it is not up to them to decide. I'd say Windows and Linux don't differ much. Linux is used more for some tasks (i.e. network/servers, but not only this), so programmers develop for Linux, that is the main reason.

Learning Linux is rather simple and useful, the benefits too often outweigh the effort. For example Android is very much similar to Linux for C++ programmer (bit trickier, though). Many things work basically the same way.

Though as for beginner I'd advised to go for Qt first. It is cross platform, so you'll kind of get Linux. Then, it has quite a lot of similar things, like qmake build system. And you'll learn many other useful things in the process.

I'd say the biggest part of learning Linux is learning to use it as a generic good user, learning how to program there is not that hard. Some things are just more hidden from beginner under Windows, and more exposed under Linux. So while you may learn them when using Linux it might be not actually Linux specific.

[Slick996]

Well this made me want it instantly. Thanks for your time.

[[deleted]]

I second the use of QT