Is it worth switching to Linux? I am new to Linux and have begun to explore it as I delve into programming more seriously. I hear about Linux frequently, but I have never encountered it before.

However, I have found that all my favorite IDEs and the programs I personally need are available on Linux. From your experience, what do you recommend?

Switching to Linux can be a good choice, especially for programming. Linux is known for its stability, security, and flexibility, making it a popular choice among developers. It also has a vast ecosystem with a wide range of tools and IDEs available, many of which are open-source and free.

By exploring Linux, you can gain a deeper understanding of how operating systems work, as well as have more control over your system. Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian are beginner-friendly and offer user-friendly interfaces.

However, it's important to consider a few aspects before making the switch. Linux may have a learning curve, especially if you're new to it, and there may be some software or games that aren't natively supported on Linux. Additionally, if you rely heavily on specific software that is only available on Windows or macOS, you may want to check if there are suitable alternatives on Linux or if you can run that software through virtual machines or compatibility layers.

Here are a few more aspects to consider when deciding whether to switch to Linux:

1. Customizability: Linux offers a high level of customizability, allowing you to tailor your system to your liking. You can choose from various desktop environments and window managers, customize the appearance and behavior, and have more control over system settings.

2. Community and Support: Linux has a vast and active community of users and developers who are often willing to help with any questions or issues you may encounter. Online forums, documentation, and communities like Stack Overflow are valuable resources for troubleshooting and learning.

3. Privacy and Security: Linux is generally considered to be more secure than other operating systems. With the open-source nature of Linux distributions, vulnerabilities can be quickly identified and patched by the community. Linux also offers granular control over system permissions, reducing the risk of malware or unauthorized access.

4. Compatibility: While Linux has come a long way in terms of compatibility, it's important to check if the hardware devices you use (such as printers, scanners, and peripherals) have Linux drivers available. Additionally, if you work in a collaborative environment, ensure that your preferred file formats are compatible with the software commonly used by your colleagues or clients.

5. Learning Opportunity: Switching to Linux can be a great learning opportunity, especially if you're interested in understanding the inner workings of an operating system and working with command-line tools. Linux encourages a more hands-on approach to computing, which can deepen your knowledge and skills as a programmer.


Linux offers a wide range of IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) and programs for programmers. Here are some popular ones:

1. Visual Studio Code: A highly customizable code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports a wide range of programming languages, has excellent extension support, and provides features like debugging, Git integration, and IntelliSense.

2. Eclipse: A powerful IDE with extensive language support, primarily used for Java development. It also supports other languages through plugins and offers features like code refactoring, debugging, and version control integration.

3. JetBrains IDEs: Linux users can enjoy a variety of IDEs from JetBrains, including IntelliJ IDEA for Java, PyCharm for Python, PHPStorm for PHP, and more. These IDEs offer advanced features, intelligent code assistance, and excellent integration with relevant frameworks.

4. Atom: A hackable text editor that is open-source, customizable, and designed for ease of use. Atom supports various programming languages and offers features like smart autocompletion, powerful search and replace functionality, and extensive package support.

5. Sublime Text: A lightweight and fast code editor known for its speed and responsiveness. Sublime Text has extensive customization options, supports multiple programming languages, and offers features like multiple cursors, split editing, and project management.

6. Vim and Emacs: These are highly customizable, text-based editors that have been popular among programmers for decades. They offer powerful features, extensive keyboard shortcuts, and support for various programming languages.

Apart from IDEs, Linux also provides a vast selection of other tools and programs commonly used by programmers, such as compilers, debuggers, version control systems (like Git), package managers (such as apt or yum), terminal emulators (e.g., GNOME Terminal or Konsole), and a wide variety of command-line utilities.


Here are a few more tools and programs commonly used by programmers on Linux:

1. GCC (GNU Compiler Collection): A collection of compilers for various programming languages, including C, C++, and Fortran. It is widely used and known for its performance and adherence to standards.

2. GDB (GNU Debugger): A powerful debugger used for debugging programs written in various languages, including C, C++, and assembly. It allows you to inspect variables, stack traces, set breakpoints, and step through code.

3. Git: A distributed version control system that helps programmers track changes to their codebase, collaborate with others, and manage different branches of development. There are several graphical interfaces available for Git on Linux, such as GitKraken and Gitg.

4. Docker: A popular tool for containerization, allowing developers to package applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers. This enables consistent deployment across different environments and simplifies software distribution.

5. Terminal-based Tools: Linux offers a wide range of powerful command-line utilities for text processing, file manipulation, networking, and more. Examples include grep, sed, awk, rsync, curl, and ssh, among others. These tools can be combined and scripted to automate tasks and enhance productivity.

6. Jupyter Notebook: An interactive computing environment that allows you to create and share documents containing live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text. It supports various programming languages, including Python, R, and Julia.

7. PostgreSQL and MySQL: Popular open-source relational database management systems used for storing and managing large volumes of structured data. Both databases offer robust features, reliability, and scalability.

8. VirtualBox: A virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single machine. It can be useful for testing software on different platforms or creating isolated development environments.

Should you switch? - Absolutely.
The initial discomfort depends on the distribution. For beginners, I would recommend Linux Mint. I personally used it for two years before switching out of curiosity.

Are there games available? - Yes, there have been a lot of games released in the past two years. However, you may need to purchase them.

Are all the common programs available? - Most common programs have Linux versions or powerful free alternatives. Highly specialized software might not be available, but there are workarounds.

What about Photoshop? - There are three options: using a virtual machine (simple), running Wine (more complicated), or using GIMP, a free and powerful image editor that requires some retraining.

Can you  run multiple systems in parallel? - Yes, you can have at least ten systems on different disks, but it's recommended to install Linux last to configure the operating system manager correctly. However, it's easier to install Linux as the main system and run Windows as a virtual machine.

Is the interface unusual? - Not at all. It is quite similar to what you are used to, but installing programs is a hundred times easier.

What about office applications? - LibreOffice is slightly different from MS Office, but it's easy to get used to. I even wrote my diploma using it.

Can you  find music, videos, and browsers on Linux? - Everything you can find on Windows is also available on Linux, and sometimes even better.

Which distribution should I choose? - I would recommend Linux Mint, it is based on Ubuntu but easier to understand and more stable, especially for beginners.

And what about the console? - Graphical user interfaces have been around for a long time, but using the console can be easier and more convenient (it surprised me too!). You will get used to it over time.

Can you  play games like CS/Dota/Minecraft/Team Fortress with friends online? - Yes, you can play these games with your friends.

Can you  do programming on Linux? - Absolutely, there are even more possibilities for programming in a Linux environment.

Using Linux (Ubuntu) for over three years, I have been engaging in Java EE and Android development on the platform. There are several advantages to using Linux:
- The ease of installing and updating software through repositories, software-center, and apt-get.
- The availability of a console out of the box, along with essential programs like ssh, dig, nmap, and netstat.
- Compatibility with popular IDEs such as IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans, Eclipse, Geany, and Sublime Text.
- Support for various development tools including the GCC compiler, Java OpenJDK or Oracle JDK, Python, PHP, and more.
- Integration with VCS systems like Git and SVN.
- Automatic distribution updates without the need for reinstallation.
- A standardized system operation logic and access rights management.
- Community support through forums, online services, and so on.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider:
- Minor issues may arise when running new versions on laptops, such as problems with Wi-Fi connectivity or standby mode. I recommend using Ubuntu LTS 12.04 or waiting for the more stable LTS 14.04.1 release.

In my opinion, Linux offers a robust and versatile platform for software development, with a rich ecosystem of tools and an active community. It provides great flexibility and control over the development environment, making it an appealing choice for developers.