I am here to quickly dispel the myth that there is an objective “best” operating system.

If there were “an ideal” operating system, everyone would be using Arch Linux, obviously. Sadly we are far from that reality…

Here’s my theory of operating system usage:

People use an OS that best fits their profession, practice, or preferences. That’s right, I’m an operating system relativist!

For the last few months, I have been using a linux machine as my daily driver, and due to some unfortunate circumstances I was forced to write code on gags Windows..

However, some time after failing the task I had undertaken (it was the development environment I swear), I found myself watching some Jonathan Blow stream highlights on youtube.com. Suddenly, my enjoyment of his father-like knowledge and technical hot takes was ruined as I realized that Jonathan Blow was using Windows! How could any serious developer use Windows! Building a customized development environment is a right of passage for any developer. How could code without access to the unix-like terminal and it’s wonderful utilities? But Jonathan Blow is no slouch. He’s a prolific programmer of proposterous proportions, a real smart guy. So why did he use Windows? Then it hit me, he’s a game developer! Since Windows is the go to OS for gaming, J. Blow would want to test his code in the same environment of his end user. Huh.

At this point I will note that I am writing from the perspective of a “hacker” type, but I think something similar applies to other trades. A music producer needs Windows for FL Studio and a video Editor needs Windows for DaVinci Resolve. I guess Windows isn’t the ultimate evil.

The Unix Like OS’s

Now I know why anyone would develop software in a Windows environment, but what about Linux vs Mac? Why use one over the other.

I have noticed that all my friends with fancy software jobs all get Mac’s for work machines. Why is this? Why not just put some user friendly Linux distribution on a juiced up ThinkPad and call it a day?

I really don’t have an answer, but my tinfoil hat theory is that Big Javascript and Big RAM have manipulated web developers into writing websites that work locally on their $3000 Macbooks but not on the average Joe’s 5 year old HP laptop. This of course achieves the desired result of Javascript propagation and more RAM sales.

The other reason could be that Apple does have a pretty nice integrated ecosystem and their machines are just reliable. But who knows, right?

Now we get to the good part, the Linux user.

I’m not like the other operating systems!

He (or they/them) stands on top of a mountain. He looks to the east and sees skyscrapers reaching into the grey, smog filled sky. The citizens in the streets below hurry to and fro with an apathy to the colorless vortex they’ve been insidiously sucked into. A frown comes to the man’s face. He looks to the west and sees a vast desert. No water, no settlements, just dunes dancing with the sand. But he’s heard stories. The ramblings of a homeless man who’s lost his mind, or maybe it was a rumor he heard from his cousin. Somewhere in the desert there was a utopia. An oasis filled with green trees and structures built from true artisans, painted with the hidden minerals of the desert.

Somewhere out in the distance he sees a shimmer, could that be it? Or just another far fetched dream? He always knew there was something outside that insipid city. But maybe it didn’t matter if it was real or not. Maybe reaching for something else was worth it in itself. He takes a step down the mountain, headed towards the setting sun.

Thanks for reading. See you on the internet, zoomers!