Most web developers use mac. Only the most hardcore ones use linux. For gaming developers are pretty much majority windows developers.
Developers go with what works. Linux works for web servers, so it's an option. It also works for desktop, but why aren't developers all using PCs with Linux installed? Same reason why ordinary people don't use linux. They want the premium feel. They don't like the jankiness that comes with linux.
>which is what ultimately matters.
This isn't true. What developers like is not what ultimately matters. We are a small portion of the overall population. It is the population of people that dictates what matters and if a developer wants to change the world they have to target the population. Why is javascript popular? Because most of the population uses javascript in their browsers. It had nothing to do with developers loving javascript. In fact, javascript is a pretty poorly designed language.
You don't get out much do you? macOS is the overwhelming choice for web development, both front end and backend. Linux is a huge minority.
I know your type. You're the type of guy who likes to characterize himself as an ultra rational automaton. And you carry yourself that way pretending why you don't understand why people would irrationally use anything other that linux for web development. Do you exclusively use vim too? No need for graphics or a gui or a mouse, all you need is letters? Yeah I can see it.
I think the reality of it all is that you're just trying to be different, trying to act like you're better. But deep down you totally get why someone who's not a graphic designer would use a mac.
I think there's one thing you don't know anymore though. The whole macs are only for "graphic designers" is a two decade old thing of the past. Macs are mainstream now. You go anywhere in silicon valley they will more likely be using a mac then they will windows or linux this goes for both developers and office workers. "Graphic design" isn't even a term that's used anymore, they call themselves UI/UX designers.
Leaving all your creative fiction aside, that's not the reason I use Linux.
macOS is the overwhelming choice for those who do not want to know how things work, and are OK with being prevented from seeing how things work.
macOS is the overwhelming choice for those who are OK with planned obsolescence, being denied their right to repair, and not having control over their property.
macOS is the overwhelming choice for those that got into this for the money, not because of passion. The reason you need a supercomputer to run eyecandy versions of the same software you ran on a Pentium 100 MHz with 16 MB in RAM in the 90s.
If you want to become a software engineer, and you don't want to know how things work: you are a commodity and generative AI will get your job in the next 3 years. If AI doesn't do it, then one of the millions of people learning how to code on YouTube will.
Everything that you see as special about your code, will be offered for a fraction of a cent per token by an actual automaton.
Most of the macOS users in Silicon valley (and elsewhere) run Linux on Docker, which will run slower on macOS than on Linux. As a macOS user, that performance tax will apply to everything you try to do as a developer.
They also run Linux on all their production environments. So they're just making their life harder for no reason while thinking they're doing the opposite. If your production environment is Linux, you will still need to learn how Linux works, and on top of that you will have to learn how macOS works. Did you really simplify your life doing that?
None of it was fiction. Is vim your editor of choice? Or emacs? If so, then take a deep look at yourself. You're a walking cliche.
There are negatives for using macOS there's no denying that. Everything you said was true and obvious. Everyone knows about it. The problem here isn't about that. The problem is you.
You don't understand why people use macOS despite being 100% aware of all the negatives you mentioned. Instead you have to view through the lens of superiority. You think you're better. This is not a fiction. You actually do think you're better, just read what you wrote.
The cold reality is, there are developers who use macs, who joined the field for the money, who are more effective, more skilled, more knowledgeable and done greater things than you/I ever have and ever will do. That's just reality. There's no point in attacking everyone who doesn't follow your stringent philosophy and wishing you're superior. Everyone has their own reason for doing software it's not invalid if someone joined for money.
You like mentioning vim and emacs for some reason. I wonder why that's important to you? Many macOS users nowadays use VSCode or a JetBrains IDE, which are also available on Linux. And, others use editors like vim and emacs.
If you work with remote development environments at some point you'll have to use a terminal-based editor, and even if your primary editor choice is not vim or emacs you might yourself using them, because they come either preinstalled or packaged on many systems.
Well, what can be said about the rest? The most skilled, knowledgeable developers who have done "greater" things than most, and make more money than most, rarely fall into the description of "web developers". And if what you seek is money, there are more efficient ways to become wealthy than web development.
Developers go with what works. Linux works for web servers, so it's an option. It also works for desktop, but why aren't developers all using PCs with Linux installed? Same reason why ordinary people don't use linux. They want the premium feel. They don't like the jankiness that comes with linux.
>which is what ultimately matters.
This isn't true. What developers like is not what ultimately matters. We are a small portion of the overall population. It is the population of people that dictates what matters and if a developer wants to change the world they have to target the population. Why is javascript popular? Because most of the population uses javascript in their browsers. It had nothing to do with developers loving javascript. In fact, javascript is a pretty poorly designed language.