Best OS and Software for Software Engineer

[Ryou-kun]

I am currently a college student, technically a community college student, and I was wondering what is the best OS and Software for Software Engineer student, and what are the differences between Linux, OS X and Windows like what are the pros and cons and possibly benefits for using that specific OS.

Yeah, don't forget to include the Software the most Software Engineer used on those OS.

[thekeemo]

what language / target

[LemonSpice]

I am currently a college student, technically a community college student, and I was wondering what is the best OS and Software for Software Engineer student, and what are the differences between Linux, OS X and Windows like what are the pros and cons and possibly benefits for using that specific OS.

Yeah, don't forget to include the Software the most Software Engineer used on those OS.

i would go ubuntu 14.04 lts

[Ryou-kun]

what language / target

Hmm, I don't really know.

Mind giving me an example?

[Xaring]

Linux - Free. Has about everything you will need. -ves, you need to learn how to move around on the console/terminal, but that should be a must in your degree anyways.

 

 

OS X - Xcode rules. Its Apple's developer tool which can also accept a number of different languages. It is my personal favourite tool for coding. It does  not support EVERYTHING, but its really the best at its supported stuff.

 

Obj-C my favourite language, its complex and very complete, once you get used to it, going back to java is a pain in the ass. It is used to program for OSX and iOS, but you can also compile most of it into C if you research.

 

Windows - Most used, tons of crapware/shareware for many different purposes. My least favourite of all. The developer module is VisualStudio (visual basic, .net, c...) 

 

NetBeans>Eclipse - remember that community driven freeware =/= best software.

[thekeemo]

Hmm, I don't really know.

Mind giving me an example?

for example if your coding in C# you would use visual studio and a windows because it makes testing easier

[ShadowCaptain]

Personally I would get a macbook, and triple boot OSX, Windows and Linux

 

Then no matter what you need, you have available (plus a powerful well built laptop with awesome battery life)

 

OSX is a really great platform for programming in my experience ( and my friend that studied it/computer science at uni)

[Jack.EXE]

Fedora 20 / RHEL 7

 

You get the backing of an enterprise software company (Red Hat) and the community of linux.

 

@Xaring explained it perfectly, so I wont bother explaining the differenced between them, but I will give my opinion on the best distro for the job.

[Ryou-kun]

Personally I would get a macbook, and triple boot OSX, Windows and Linux

 

Then no matter what you need, you have available (plus a powerful well built laptop with awesome battery life)

 

OSX is a really great platform for programming in my experience ( and my friend that studied it/computer science at uni)

Will MacBook Air be powerful enough despite the fact that it has dual core on both i5 and i7 and uses ULV CPU?

I don't own any MacBook products, so I am curious.

[Ryou-kun]

for example if your coding in C# you would use visual studio and a windows because it makes testing easier

Ah, I see. I haven't decided yet.

Right now, I am taking a Programming Fundamental I that my teacher is teaching C++ 2012 Express, and I am trying to get the basic down.

I probably won't stay on Windows if OS X or Linux OS manage to persuade me over

[ShadowCaptain]

Will MacBook Air be powerful enough despite the fact that it has dual core on both i5 and i7 and uses ULV CPU?

I don't own any MacBook products, so I am curious.

 

As long as you not programming like Cry Engine then yes

 

They are perfectly suited for programming work, the modern ULV processors are pretty damn quick, and the PCI SSD is blazing quick

 

IF you can afford it, I would stump for the 13" retina pro, but that is your choice

[thekeemo]

Ah, I see. I haven't decided yet.

Right now, I am taking a Programming Fundamental I that my teacher is teaching C++ 2012 Express, and I am trying to get the basic down.

I probably won't stay on Windows if OS X or Linux OS manage to persuade me over

for C++ I would recommend windows because easier testing and thats probably the system the client is going to be using

[Ryou-kun]

As long as you not programming like Cry Engine then yes

They are perfectly suited for programming work, the modern ULV processors are pretty damn quick, and the PCI SSD is blazing quick

IF you can afford it, I would stump for the 13" retina pro, but that is your choice

It is just that I already have a gaming laptop (Lenovo IdeaPad Y580 w/ 720p model) and having another laptop like MacBook Pro w/ Retina rather MacBook Air that is like an ultrabook. It feels a bit of a hassle owning two laptop IMO.

Bah, I will wait and see.

Sadly, I don't own any products that use OS X, so I can't really test it to see how I am comfortable with due to the pricing.

[Ryou-kun]

Linux - Free. Has about everything you will need. -ves, you need to learn how to move around on the console/terminal, but that should be a must in your degree anyways.

 

 

OS X - Xcode rules. Its Apple's developer tool which can also accept a number of different languages. It is my personal favourite tool for coding. It does  not support EVERYTHING, but its really the best at its supported stuff.

 

Obj-C my favourite language, its complex and very complete, once you get used to it, going back to java is a pain in the ass. It is used to program for OSX and iOS, but you can also compile most of it into C if you research.

 

Windows - Most used, tons of crapware/shareware for many different purposes. My least favourite of all. The developer module is VisualStudio (visual basic, .net, c...) 

 

NetBeans>Eclipse - remember that community driven freeware =/= best software.

I see.

Hmm, I need to test both Linux OS and OS X to see if I am comfortable with it. I know I can install Linux OS on any computer except the OS X which it required buying their products or Macintosh.

Hmm, what part of Linux OS? I believe there are ton of Linux OS.

[ShadowCaptain]

It is just that I already have a gaming laptop (Lenovo IdeaPad Y580 w/ 720p model) and having another laptop like MacBook Pro w/ Retina rather MacBook Air that is like an ultrabook.

Bah, I will wait and see.

Sadly, I don't own any products that use OS X, so I can't really test it to see how I am comfortable with due to the pricing.

 

Sell the Lenovo, get the 15" retina pro, it is only as thick as the air at its thickest point, (just doesnt taper down) and is very light

 

Also has a 750m so can double duty as a 720p gaming laptop (should be as good as the 660m in the y580)

[Xaring]

I see.

Hmm, I need to test both Linux OS and OS X to see if I am comfortable with it. I know I can install Linux OS on any computer except the OS X which it required buying their products or Macintosh.

Hmm, what part of Linux OS? I believe there are ton of Linux OS.

 

Hackintosh is always an option. Chech youtube and that way you can try on your desktop how OSX works, then buy a macbook if you like the experience.

[Ryou-kun]

Sell the Lenovo, get the 15" retina pro, it is only as thick as the air at its thickest point, (just doesnt taper down) and is very light

 

Also has a 750m so can double duty as a 720p gaming laptop (should be as good as the 660m in the y580)

I would if it weren't for Lenovo awesome keyboard, lol.

It is the only thing that I really like and also numpad which both MacBook Air and Pro doesn't have which it is a downer.

Let see if the new MacBook Air or Pro will have it.

[ShadowCaptain]

I would if it weren't for Lenovo awesome keyboard, lol.

It is the only thing that I really like and also numpad which both MacBook Air and Pro doesn't have which it is a downer.

Let see if the new MacBook Air or Pro will have it.

 

Nar i doubt they will ever have a numpad, the keyboards are really nicely spaced out, and there is parity as every keyboard is the same between the imac, 11" air, 13" air, 13" pro and 15" pro,

 

(sexy as fuck trackpads though), I actually really like the keyboard, the lenovo ones are arguably slightly better but the apple one is still really nice

[Ryou-kun]

Hackintosh is always an option. Chech youtube and that way you can try on your desktop how OSX works, then buy a macbook if you like the experience.

I know there are a lot of Linux OS that has been branch out, so I am curious which one I should look forward to?

[Satlen]

Personally I would get a macbook, and triple boot OSX, Windows and Linux

 

Then no matter what you need, you have available (plus a powerful well built laptop with awesome battery life)

 

OSX is a really great platform for programming in my experience ( and my friend that studied it/computer science at uni)

 

This is what I do and it works great. I have the air and it works flawlessly, the only thing I would say if you do decide to get one it to get the upgraded storage size. I have the 2013 13in Air with the i5 and 4gb of ram and those specs are good enough to run windows in a virtualbox and program in it. Same goes for linux distros.

[IdeaStormer]

If you want to make money like no ones bizniz, Windows, you have to be good and know all of it inside out though. Second would be Linux but its still a niche market so you'll have to do some digging to get a good job (as in pays well), then finally MacOS (good luck with that, I've never seen a job for that, that pays well). Software, well the IDE for that OS and of course C, they all use C whether you like it nor not at some point in the Dev. phase. Source control software like GIT is a must, no excuses for not knowing GIT or at least SVN, the Microsoft thing was very sucky when I used it, all Windows Dev.'s still used SVN instead.

 

A true Software Engineer learns/uses what is needed for the job, not the other way around, be flexible and learn to program for all the OS's you can fit in your tiny brain, the more the more you'll make.

[rockking1379]

for C++ I would recommend windows because easier testing and thats probably the system the client is going to be using

No no no. Don't follow along the windows C++. If your gonna learn that language do so with the standard version. Visual C++ from Microsoft has several proprietary changes that won't compile outside of visual studio. Learn to write good solid cross platform compiliable code. Java is pretty good for that. I say pretty good because it carries a fair bit of weight in terms of system overhead

[thekeemo]

No no no. Don't follow along the windows C++. If your gonna learn that language do so with the standard version. Visual C++ from Microsoft has several proprietary changes that won't compile outside of visual studio. Learn to write good solid cross platform compiliable code. Java is pretty good for that. I say pretty good because it carries a fair bit of weight in terms of system overhead

its the one he's going to be learning in :\ I personally don't like c++

[Ryou-kun]

its the one he's going to be learning in :\ I personally don't like c++

Well, for right now.

I am in community college, so the credits in that course won't matter just the time and knowledge if I transfer to a University.

I am just getting a basic down, but I am free to learn other Software for Software Engineer in a different OS to get myself prepared.

[Ryou-kun]

No no no. Don't follow along the windows C++. If your gonna learn that language do so with the standard version. Visual C++ from Microsoft has several proprietary changes that won't compile outside of visual studio. Learn to write good solid cross platform compiliable code. Java is pretty good for that. I say pretty good because it carries a fair bit of weight in terms of system overhead

What do you think about Python?

Hmm, is Java free though?