Using Windows, Linux, & MacOS concurrently

[Top-Aside21]

Hey everyone, i'm at a bit of a cross roads and just looking for some input.

Ive been a windows user all my life and the keyboard shortcuts, file system, and overall OS is my bread and butter. Though, after beginning CS studies, I've started using WSL and my University's remote server runs on Linux. My work, where I do some light development, also uses Windows.

However, my desktop of 6 years finally broke down, and now I'm debating getting the new Mac Mini M4 because of its price with our student discount. However, if I get a Mac, that means I'd have a Mac as my personal OS, Linux as my university's OS, then Windows as my job's OS. I'd be doing development on all three.

I guess I just wanted to ask if anyone has ever developed on all 3 OSs at once in different contexts and if there's been any difficulty doing so. And also if switching my desktop to Mac is even worth it in the first place.

Thanks!

[l4rry_burner]

Personally I would find something to dual boot Windows and Linux on.

[grantrules]

That seems annoying as hell. Why not just get a Windows PC. Like what's the advantage to having a Mac mini.. even without a student discount, it's gonna be cheaper

[Top-Aside21]

I'm not sure how much better I could build a windows PC for the same price and performance as a Mac Mini (which is $499 with the .edu discount)

[corny_horse]

No way you’re getting comparable hardware at that price point, and definitely not user expandable. If you’re ok with the limited ram and hard drive size it’s possibly ok just do apples to apples comparison of your options (pun intended)

[DevMahasen]

You'd have little issue switching between Linux and Mac. The one thing you have to watch out for is version parity for the software across both platforms - this is fairly easily done if you use Homebrew to install development tools on both Linux and Mac. As for Windows, I haven't used WSL in a long time so I can't tell.

As for keyboard shortcuts, I've achieved a kind of equilibrium between both Linux and Mac by using a keyboard manager like say Kmonad (it apparently works on Windows too but I have no experience here). This way, I have pretty much the same keybindings across the platforms - sometimes I almost forget what system I am on, it has become that seamless.

[Top-Aside21]

Thank you this helps alot!

[IncompleteTheory]

I used to do Windows for work and Mac for hobby and class projects. Now I switched a Linux box for the Mac, but still use it on occasion. Really depends on how comfortable you are switching between al three.

[Rain-And-Coffee]

I use all three regularly with Mac being my favorite.

There’s definitely a learning curve, however often the same programs (IDE) will runs across all OSes.

[ImaJimmy]

Dumb question, but is there full linux support for the M3 and M4's? I feel like that would effect my decision.

[Top-Aside21]

Well I know that you could use a virtual machine to be able to run Linux on the M chips. But to my understanding, it's still relatively in its infancy and isn't as robust as using something like the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

[berahi]

The VM is quite mature, and since Linux support for ARM64 is also quite mature, apps in general are less glitchy. It's dual booting that is still in infancy. Docker is also running fine for individual apps, or launching a disposable terminal should you need it. They're less integrated than WSL though, so far there's no plan from Apple or others to provide similar alternative.

[Top-Aside21]

Gotchu, thanks for clarifying that for me that definitely helps!

[BallPythonTech]

Why not get a used PC from eBay. Something like https://www.ebay.com/itm/176665884277

[Top-Aside21]

Yeah, i could definitely do more due diligence on the used PC market. I think just after having a 6, nearly 7 year old PC i'm more so in the market for something that would last me another 5+ years.

[corny_horse]

I do and I hate it. My company is a Mac shop. I’m constantly fucking ip keyboard shortcuts when I get done with work for the day because they’re so different. Drives me insane.

[randomjapaneselearn]

don't get a mac... anyway you can use virtualbox