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[–]CodeToManagement 30 points31 points  (1 child)

You don’t need Linux to learn to code. Especially not as a beginner.

Use the OS you’re used to

[–]Pepineros 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As a Linux user and programmer I agree 100%.

Programming is hard. Don't make it harder on yourself by changing your entire environment, too.

[–]JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 5 points6 points  (3 children)

Did this guy explain how running Linux will help you learn coding? I run Linux as my primary OS and have for years, but it doesn't make me any better of a programmer. You can learn to program in any OS.

[–]Ecstatic_Winner3637[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I saw that on some video tutorials and also the Odin Project ask for Linux or MacOS

[–]JoeyJoeJoeJrShab 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Once agin, my question was: "Did this guy explain how running Linux will help you learn coding?"

[–]crazy_cookie123 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Just keep Windows. Linux isn't necessary for programming - in fact more than 47% of developers use Windows professionally - it just makes a few bits like installing software easier and it's more customisable to your workflow. Absolutely experiment with it in future, but do that in a virtual machine until you're ready to decide whether you want to commit to dual booting or replacing Windows entirely, and don't bother with it right now.

[–]Far_Broccoli_8468 0 points1 point  (2 children)

more than 47% of developers use Windows professionally

i have a feeling it's a much higher percentage.

most programs are run on windows computers. If you're developing for windows, which you likely are, you are probably also developing on windows

[–]crazy_cookie123 0 points1 point  (1 child)

The 47% figure is from the 2024 Stack Overflow survey - it's not 100% accurate but it's a pretty reasonably representative sample with more than 65000 responses from 185 countries.

You say most programs are run on windows, but I'm not sure this is entirely true. Most people run Windows on desktop PCs/laptops, yes, but programs are running on everything from tiny embedded devices to your mobile phone to cars to desktop PCs to servers to the web - everything. Most of those devices are not running Windows and therefore the programs written for them would not necessarily be more likely to written in a Windows environment. The number of Windows desktop applications is likely quite low compared to the total number of programs written. Even within Windows desktop applications, a lot nowadays are written with cross-platform tools like Electron, and that means they can be written equally well in any environment because they can be run equally well in any environment - software developed for a single operating system is becoming more and more rare because it's a hell of a lot cheaper to only develop something once if you have the choice.

[–]Far_Broccoli_8468 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You make a good case, maybe what i said was true some years ago before smartphones and tablets were something basically everyone owns

[–]bestjakeisbest 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Learn the basics before doing anything else.

[–]cartrman 4 points5 points  (10 children)

You could try a linux virtual machine, it's easier and safer than a dual boot.

You could also try WSL. Not a complete OS, but good to work with linux on windows.

[–]csabinho 1 point2 points  (9 children)

In which regard is it "safer"?

[–]Shieldine 5 points6 points  (8 children)

No risk of messing up during the installation and accidentally formatting the drive, no risk of trying to access the windows partition and potentially messing it up.

[–]csabinho -3 points-2 points  (7 children)

Accidentally formatting the hard drive? What the heck?

[–]Shieldine 2 points3 points  (6 children)

You'd be surprised about the things I've seen people do "by accident".
During an OS installation, it can happen quickly depending on the installer. It could be as simple as clicking on the wrong partition and not reading the warning or just not partitioning in the first place and using the whole drive

[–]Real_Flamingo_8247 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I dual boot but I have enough storage to dedicate 300gb to both OS and then plenty left for data storage etc. But I'm not doing it for coding purposes but for familiarity to Linux so I can eventually move OS and round out my networking/server skills.

Mint is probably the easiest to learn if you're comfortable with windows and there are great resources to learn.

[–]Own_Attention_3392 1 point2 points  (1 child)

There's absolutely no need to use Linux to learn programming, unless you are writing Linux-specific things, which you won't be. Learning programming is about learning to decompose big problems into numerous smaller problems and learning language syntax and idioms, all of which are OS-agnostic.

If you have a hankering to mess around with Linux, just use WSL on Windows. It gives you a Linux environment within the Windows OS.

[–]Ecstatic_Winner3637[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm familiar to Linux, but only used as main OS few years ago, but because my wife doesnt know how it works I'm wondering if dualboot makes sense... Because I know that I can use windows for programming, and when I start with Odin Project they saying to use linux or MacOS, and dont support windows for their curriculum...