6 Reasons Why I Switched from Windows to Linux

I switched to Linux for game development... and I love it! Here are 6 reasons why (contents below)

The 6 reasons:

01:32 1. Linux is fast
04:38 2. Linux is modular
07:51 3. The command line is tightly integrated
09:41 4. Install and maintenance is efficient
12:59 5. It evolves with your skills
14:55 6. It's secure and you control your data

[zellfaze]

Welcome to the world of Linux! We are happy to have you!

[johnhorton]

I dual booted for several years then realised I hardly ever went into Windows, I've been 100% Linux now for 7 years and have had almost no problems. Love Linux!

[ccandrew]

Windows: need a phd in computer science to delete cortana

Linux: you actually have full control

[clive]

It's refreshing to see someone waxing-lyrical about the positives of Linux rather than just griping about the negatives of other OS's as a reason to switch.

[Gdquest]

If you want to learn to make games from zero, we're on Kickstarter right now to fund the course I wish I had back when I got started.
With absolutely no previous experience required, it'll teach you how to code with fun toy projects and games.

If you switched from Mac or Windows to Linux, what got you to do so? There are more reasons for me, like how easy it is to compile programs, to control your computer, to develop software, how a lot of Free Software is made on Linux...
By the way, I'm not active on social networks anymore. If you think this video is worth watching, if you could share in your favorite Linux group or forum, it'd help us a lot!
Also, are there Linux and gamedev with Linux-related topics would you like us to cover moving forward? 🙂

[popularunity]

My main reasons to switch: Windows Updates, privacy and waste of resources.

[joringedamke]

I got tired of Microsoft pushing updates, forcing me to use Windows 10 and generally treating me like dirt. One day I just up and decided, "I've had it; going to try Ubuntu now."

[PseudoPseudoDionysius]

Windows: *forces a huge update on you that will take over an hour, won't tell you why or how long it will take, will make your computer unusably slow, and also it will start 3 minutes before you have to give the most important presentation of your life*

Linux: "oh sweet, I see a new update is out"/"oh I should probably check for updates"

"sudo apt-get upgrade"
*5 minutes later, watching everything that's happening in minute detail in real time*
"sudo apt-get clean"
*your computer has just become even faster, has implemented a feature request you made last week, and has just made you a cup of tea*

[mryup]

windows: You are restricted
linux: You're the admin 💪

[altaccount]

Ahhh that moment you first use Linux and wonder why you been suffering with Windows your whole life.

[bluestack]

Best thing about Linux is you can use all your RAM ;)

[unfa]

The reason why programs developed mainly for Linux (like Krita) start up much faster on Linux than on Windows could be due to the fact, that on Linux they can use shared libraries (GTK, Qt etc.), which can be already loaded into your system's memory, while on Windows you need to load them along with the program itself - that's why many Linux-first programs have much bigger download sizes for Windows - they need to bundle the stuff that comes separately to any Linux distribution.

BTW - I still think it's easier to manage bloat on Linux and clean up your system from unwanted programs, than it is on Windows - thought I'm a long-time Linux user, never looking back.

Glad to have you here :)

[JuliaFliess]

I switched from windows to linux at the beggining of 2018 because windows was too heavy for my laptop
An unexpected bonus was that my wacom works much better now

[DuendeBrek]

*Games* - The only reason why im not using Linux, but hope it will change soon™

[davidemolin]

As a developer (and gamer for the first part of my life), I've been a Windows/Linux/MacOSX user for a long time. I started with Windows in the early nineties (Windows 3.11, to be precise) and Unix for work (it was SCO OpenServer 5 at that time, along With Linux Slackware even before version 1). I used Unix mostly professionally and Windows at home at least until the early 2000. Then in 2007 I decided to switch to Mac as my main driver (since OSX was essentially a Unix OS with a nice UI).
I had a good time with it, especially since I transitioned to Front-End development. But, at the same time, I started to get pissed when Apple introduced "planned obsolescense" and my Apple computers started becoming less and less stable and affordable. Most of all, I've never liked the way Apple takes a lot of decisions "for you" and leave little to no space for customization.
As a long term Linux user at heart, I've always loved the freedom Linux gives you when it comes to customizing your PC and deciding exactly the way it should behave.
When my last Macbook started to exhibit heating issues, in 2015, and since my work was mostly focused on coding and less on dealing with Photoshop or Sketch files, I decide to pull the plug and go back to Linux as my main driver. I bought myself a Lenovo Thinkpad (oh god, the best keyboard action in the whole world!) and put on Linux.

I've been a happy Linux user since then. After spending some time hopping through different distros (Ubuntu based, Mint etc), I now run on Manjaro (Arch derivative) since 2016, and I always brag about how cool Arch is compared to Ubuntu based distros. Moreover, a rolling distro is a life saver. No more installing the new version of the OS and having to reapply my settings/customizations. My system is super stable (I use LTS kernel, not the bleeding edge one) and my software is always updated. And Pacman+Pamac is the best software manager around. If you feel curious, try out Manjaro and its software manager in a VM.. you might like it ;)

[kllcmd]

I’ve gotta be honest, you’ve convinced me.

[_gamma.]

I've been using Elementary OS for half a year now and haven't looked back at all, by far my favorite flavor of linux I've tried

[TasosAlvas]

Nathan, you're the first person I know who was using emacs before switching to linux... welcome mate.

[lzmc]

I switched from Windows to Ubuntu quite recently, and I've noticed certain benefits:


1. I can download things 3x faster than Windows
2. Animations and looks are super good-looking
3. I don't have to look all over the web for apps
4. I generally face less problems in Ubuntu
5. Ubuntu isn't a spy (you heard me right)
6. Permissions are no problem in Ubuntu
7. Updates don't restart my laptop
8. Updates are usually optional
9. Repositories are easy to use
10. Almost no viruses exist
11. Ubuntu is fast


Generally, it's just better. Try Ubuntu, Arch, Debian, or generally, Linux!
You'll be glad you did. Trust me.

[DHofmann]

You are the most productive guy I know.
Following your advice I am now running Ubuntu parallel to my Windows for two days.
The work environment is cleaner than ever and as there are no games, there are no more excuses for productivity 💪