Oct 28, 2017 In this video we will go through the main 3 choices of operating systems for software developers and see that these days the choice is not as easy as it used to be just a few years ago.
As a developer, one of the primary decisions to make is which operating system (OS) to use. Just a few years ago, there were a mere handful. Today, with the onset of the digital age, operating systems abound. And the list is growing. Let’s look at three major operating systems – the pros, the cons and what to consider when choosing which OS to use as a dev.
What Is an Operating System (OS)?
According to technopedia, an operating system is “a software that allows a user to run other applications on a computing device…the vast majority of applications are written for an OS, which allows them to take advantage of common libraries and not worry about specific hardware details.”
In layman’s terms, an OS is the means by which users of computing devices like desktops, tablets and smartphones can “communicate” with that device, without necessarily knowing how to “speak” the device’s language. Without an OS, processing anything using a computing device would look like something out of The Matrix, with endless lines of code – it would only make sense to programmers.
Think Microsoft Windows (Windows 10, Windows XP for example), macOS (Apple) and Android. These are just three examples of an operating system.
Which Operating Systems are the World’s Developers Using?
The 2018 Stack Overflow Developer Survey asked 100 000 developers from over 150 countries to complete a 30-minute survey.
One of these questions was what time developers wake up in the morning. The result? Most devs wake up between 07H00 and 08H00, which negates the stereotype of the caffeine-addicted, nocturnal vampire-esque dev. Although we’re sure those exist too.
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Another key question the survey asked was which operating system developers are using for desktop development. Windows led the way, followed by macOS and then Linux, demonstrating that just as in recent years, Microsoft is still leading the pack. Apple, Microsoft and Linux seem locked in an eternal battle of wills, but the defining gap between them, is slowly closing.
Source: 2018 Stack Overflow Developer Survey
Why Some Developers Prefer macOS:
According to Macworld, for the last 15 years, the Apple OS has been built on top of Unix, which, according to Jessica Su, a CS PHD Stanford student, was a significant development for programmers. Why? Because according to Su, “It lets you run programs in almost any language without using a specialised IDE.” Most tech companies require their employees to work on Unix-based systems, so working with macOS, may increase the career prospects of developers.
Software developer, Christopher Miles, argues that programmers and coders love macOS because of the build quality of Apple machines. According to Macworld, a big plus for macOS is its cross-platform compatibility. Running macOS on a Windows PC is a near impossibility for most, but on Mac, you can easily install Windows or Linux. This means that “if you have a Mac, you can create and test software for Windows and Linux from inside it.”
Why Some Developers Prefer Windows:
According to RJ Systems, there are a number of advantages of using Windows as a developer. One of these advantages includes ease of use – everyone grew up using Windows and the interfaces that we worked with back in the day, are still recognisable today.
Evidently, Windows is doing everything it can to retain its loyal base of developers. Developer Mode in Windows 10 allows programmers to test apps, change settings and navigate some advanced features that aren’t accessible to everyday users. Essentially, Windows Developer Mode is an OS extension or value-add function that brings a unique user experience element to Windows for developers. Finally, a developer interface that makes sense in terms of functionality and in terms of its aesthetics. A wide range of support is provided for developers, which is a big pro, and one of the main selling points that attracts devs to the Windows OS.
Linux: A Worthy Alternative?
Ofir Chakon, data hacker, entrepreneur and engineer, dedicated an entire blog post to his experience of switching from Windows to Linux. His conclusion? Linux is his OS of choice as a developer, for a number of reasons. Referring to the Linux distribution, Ubuntu, Chakon suggests that:
Where To Next?
There is no easy answer to the question: which OS should developers use? As with most things related to programming, it’s all relative. Which OS developers choose to use will depend on their choice of occupation, the functionality requirements of the platform they are building, and their level of experience.
Speak to an expert at HyperionDev if you want to upskill yourself as a developer and learn more about the pros and cons of different operating systems.
More than 2,500 Native Applications Accelerate Transition to Mac OS X
MACWORLD EXPO, SAN FRANCISCO—January 7, 2002—Apple® today announced that developers have now delivered more than 2,500 native Mac® OS X applications and support for the most popular digital devices sooner than expected, enabling the Mac® community to accelerate its transition to Mac OS X.
'Adobe has five great Mac OS X applications shipping today,' said Bruce Chizen, president and CEO of Adobe. 'With the next version of Photoshop coming this Spring, our customers are seeing more and more value in switching to Mac OS X. Apple has quickly made Mac OS X their best operating system yet for users and developers, and Adobe is dedicated to being the premier developer of Mac OS X applications this year.'
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“By tightly integrating the power of Office with Mac OS X, we’ve been able to create an incredibly compelling upgrade for our Mac customers,” said Kevin Browne, general manager of the Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft Corp. “Office v. X is getting rave reviews from press, and amazing response from customers. Macintosh users who buy Office v. X will love being able to work in the Mac OS X environment all the time.”
“Kodak’s EasyShare camera and dock is defining ease of use in consumer digital photography,” said Willy Shih, president of Digital and Applied Imaging, Eastman Kodak. “Mac OS X’s plug-and-play architecture makes importing your digital photos from a Kodak EasyShare camera a breeze, and we will continue to work with Apple to help consumers get even more enjoyment out of their treasured photo memories.”
“Administrative, content management and asset management systems need an enterprise-class database solution and Mac OS X provides an excellent opportunity,” said Dr. Raj Nathan, senior vice president and general manager, Sybase Enterprise Solutions Division. “We are currently working to make Sybase OpenClient SDK available on Mac OS X later this spring and will follow with our enterprise database server (ASE) later in the year. With Apple’s strengths in the education and creative professional markets, it is simply smart business for us to bring Sybase to the Mac.”
“Mac OS X is the ideal operating system for Mathematica. It combines the two roots from which Mathematica grew: Unix and Macintosh,” said Theodore Gray, co-founder of Wolfram. “The stability and power of Mac OS X provides the ultimate environment for data analysis, symbolic computation, number crunching and plotting in the most comprehensive collection of functions available anywhere.”
“Corel and procreate Macintosh customers can adopt Mac OS X version 10.1 knowing the platform is rock solid and our creative applications run natively. Our aggressive support of Apple’s next-generation operating system is a testament to our commitment to our customers and is one of the best business decisions we could have made,” said Derek Burney, president and CEO of Corel Corporation. “Corel has delivered more premier graphics applications to this outstanding operating system than any other major vendor. In fact, Mac OS X was an inspiration when we introduced procreate, a new line of software specifically designed for creative professionals. We see the demand with our customers and are steadfast in our commitment to developing more native applications moving forward.”
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“Mac OS X version 10.1 and Nikon Coolpix digital cameras work together to provide the end user with high-quality, easy-to-access images,” said Jerry Grossman, vice president of marketing for Nikon Inc. “Mac OS X supports the complete line of Nikon Coolpix digital cameras right out of the box, making it easy for consumers to transfer, edit, store and share images on their Mac.”
Os X Is The Best Operating System For Developers Pc
“With Mac OS X version 10.1, Apple has made an already impressive operating system even better,” stated Richard Zulch, chief technical officer at Dantz Development Corporation. “The features, performance, and stability of Mac OS X v10.1 have paved the way for us to complete Retrospect, and we will soon give customers a world-class backup application for Apple’s elegant and powerful new operating system.”
“As a leading provider of Mac-connect peripherals, HP is proud to offer a full range of Mac OS X native solutions,” said Hugh Amick, program manager, HP Mac-connect. “HP deskjet and HP laserjet printer drivers are built into Mac OS X, which gives customers true 'plug and print' simplicity without installing any additional software. By providing Mac OS X native solutions for our photo printers, digital cameras and all-in-one products, we are enabling our customers to take full advantage of the power, elegance and simplicity of Mac OS X.”
“Palm takes full advantage of Mac OS X version 10.1 to provide improved stability, accelerated launch time and Mac-only features including control capabilities within the Dock to our customers,” said Todd Bradley, COO, Palm, Inc. “We see the Mac as a strategic platform for Palm because we share a common vision of the digital lifestyle by focusing on mobility and ease of use.”
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac and Mac OS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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