Convincing Reasons to Use Linux for Programming
According to the 2020 StackOverflow survey, 55% of developers chose Linux as their preferred platform, with Windows coming in second at 53.1%. This gives you a sense of how popular this is becoming for programmers. When compared to the 2015 StackOverflow survey, which revealed that only 20.5% of devs use Linux, this statistic
has a position in the programming community, despite Windows and macOS having a much larger operating system market share for desktop users (source). If the nature of the development jobs you presently perform on Windows or macOS permits it, you might think about switching to Linux.
Follow 5 Convincing Reasons to Use Linux for Programming
1) Linux is an open-source operating system
Open source software is created and made available for free for you to use, read, and alter the source code if you so choose. The so-called open-source community often oversees these apps. This community is made up of developers like you and me who offer their time to contribute to projects driven by the users.
An open-source operating system is Linux. To run on Linux-based platforms, countless open-source apps have also been created. Because Linux is open-source, you have complete control over your software, which is a benefit. You have the option to adapt the source code to suit your demands because it is made available to the public. Or, if a bug is discovered while using the program, you can report it to the group in charge of maintaining it.
2) Linux allows for a lot of customization
The most popular operating system, Windows, comes in a single kind with a distinctive style and a well-known set of applications. Linux, on the other hand, is incredibly configurable. You are not given the choice to pick the pre-installed applications on the system level. Because there isn’t much room for personalization in the desktop environment, Windows frequently has a uniform appearance and feel for all users. Windows is often extremely inflexible and offers few opportunities for customization.
Linux comes out on top when it comes to giving users the option to personalize their system. Since Linux and other open source software are freely available, many individuals have packaged them to create operating systems. This has resulted in a huge number of operating systems, also known as “distributions” or “distros” for short.
Each distro packages desktop environments, tools, and programs to give each one the ability to appeal to different user groups. In terms of selection, we are spoiled for choice. There are distributions designed for novices, like Ubuntu. lightweight distributions like Linux Lite for running on outdated hardware You might even choose a distribution that only has a command-line interface if you’re bold enough.
3) A well-organized file system
Linux utilizes a file system structure that resembles a tree. The root is the name of the top-level folder and is denoted by a single forward slash “/”. All folders and files descend from this top-level folder. Similar files frequently reside in the same directory in this file system.
Files are organized in Windows under drives with lettered designations, such as “C\:” or “D\:” This indicates that Windows does not have a single dedicated root. On Windows, there is less of a standard when it comes to where files and devices can be found.
4) Ample tools, packages, and support for programming languages
Given that the majority of us start with Windows, you might be concerned about Linux’s ability to meet your demands for development. Fortunately, Linux supports the vast majority of programming languages, so there’s no need to fret. Additionally, GCC compilers and Python interpreters are pre-installed on the majority of Linux distributions. Installing the required packages will easily provide native support if it isn’t already there.
I’ll make an exception for platform-specific programming languages, like those that use the.NET framework from Microsoft. Cross-platform frameworks can be used to create some.NET apps, though. In other words, just about any language, you can imagine has been created on Linux in some way.
5) Exceptionally potent shell and scripting abilities
One of my top reasons for preferring Linux and what initially hooked me to it is its extremely robust shell and scripting features. The entire system can be controlled by typing instructions into the command line interface provided by the Linux shell.
That is renowned for having a robust shell with commands available to carry out any operations or sequences made possible by the graphical user interface, among other things. Scripting is the process of combining several commands into a single file to carry out a series of commands. The most popular command line scripting language on Linux with a minimal learning curve is undoubtedly bashed.
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In conclusion
Linux-based platforms give you as a programmer everything you need to feel at ease in your surroundings and with the tools you need to create software. More programmers are becoming aware of the significant benefits of selecting Linux as their preferred development environment. Linux is widely used because it offers control and flexibility, two things that programmers adore. With good reason, it will probably keep gaining ground as programmers’ preferred platform.
