[mszcz]

Years ago I did some C++ development using Borland C++ Builder on Windows and couldn't find any problems or annoyances. I've been doing web dev (both front and backend) for a decade or so and can't really complain about anything really.

Developing in JavaScript and dealing with node_modules/node_modules/node_... is platform agnostic problem I think ;)

EDIT: What I like about developing on Windows is it's stability (update restarts notwithstanding). I've had Linux desktops fuck themselves up on more than one occasion. Not that I don't like Linux but...

[marcosdumay]

Yes, once there was a time when C++ was an IDE-oriented language.

I don't know if it was because the good IDE sellers went bankrupt or if it's the change that caused their failure, but it isn't anymore.

About the dependency tracking, Windows isn't good for dealing with lots of files. It's performance isn't great (but improved a lot recently), it has locking and time based inconsistencies, and it brings a load of helper tools (like anti-virus) that will assist you in destroying your file hierarchy. The same applies for holding a VCS repository.

About stability, you are the first person ever that I see claiming to prefer Windows instead of Linux for it. It's such an alien idea that I wonder what non-usual stuff you do with your computers.

[mszcz]

I actually do pretty mundane, boring stuff with computers - web dev, some finance & trading, lots of backend. It isn't all that exciting to an average person but I'm fine with it, it gives me pleasure to do it and I don't care what anybody says about it ;)

Again, genuine question, what instability do you imply there is in the Windows environment? Since Win 10 I don't recall ever being fucked by updates (again, not including mandatory restarts).

What I don't like about Windows is the configuration. On Linux I can just copy over the configs and scripts from another system and that's usually that. On Windows, out of necessity, I've made a lengthy checklist of things I need to do on a new Windows machine in order to set it up to my needs. It's a pain, but once that's done I rarely have to fidget with it.

I think that my preferences have to do with getting older. When I started I happily spent days configuring Linux Desktop, compiling Gentoo with just the right flags and didn't get so upset when apt-get dist-upgrade fucked up my system. Now, I just don't care that much. I just want things to work so I can do work I want.

Just one thing to be extra clear about - I use Windows as a daily driver desktop. I'd never ever use Windows as a server, ever. I've had that experience once, in college, and I'll never ever make that mistake again ;)

[marcosdumay]

My W10 computer at work already had the OS reinstalled 2 times in the less than 2 years I've had it. Since the beginning of the pandemic I've kept a W10 VM at home for work, it has much less small problems, but I've already had to delete it and reinstall once.

On my experience, Windows 10 is even a regression over 7. There have been too many updates that fucked up computers at random (looks like MS is rolling updates slowly nowadays, so not everybody gets the broken ones), and the system likes to break at random by itself.

In comparison, the last time I remember reinstalling Linux due to a software mess-up is about a decade ago, when a dual-booting computer got a Windows virus that messed with the entire disk. I have many more Linux computers than Windows, and yet, those only need any attention when some hardware breaks.

[mszcz]

Ha! I had the exact opposite experience. With Win10 Desktop I had no problems, everything works mostly as expected. I'm not on the beta channel or whatever so I guess that contributes to the stability.

Now, onto Linux, most recent example. I had a throwaway Thinkpad with Ubuntu on it. Had to go through an unusual setup because I wanted RAID and FDE so had to do a server install and then install Gnome. This might have contributed to the problems but still. The networking didn't work because Gnome used one thing and the server install used another. Then the desktop stopped (!) working after some time, randomly. What I mean is icons still showed up but couldn't be clicked or altered from the desktop. Kinda bizzare.

Again, can't stress this enough - my gripes are with Linux Desktop. On the server it's been rock solid ever since I started using it more than a decade ago and it's been a very pleasant experience. And I do understand that Windows Updates can fuck up a server setup, sure.

Anyhow, this has been a pleasant chat, man!