Comment by LarryMade2 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by LarryMade2 | Hacker News Reader

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I could guess that the bar for entry to develop via OSX is a bit lower than on Linux.

While Linux Distros like Ubuntu make it really easy to set up a developer system (with localhost web, languages and database) it is even easier on OSX via MAMP: install MAMP, configure with a GUI, ready to roll.. Linux you might be tweaking some config files to get the optimal setup.

On Linux you are partially a dev-op not only working on your code but also learning and tweaking your OS, services, etc. for one reason or another.

Another factor is there are some shinier tools on Macs, (i.e. the Adobe lineup, and a easily installed Sublime Editor) And many that went to learning institutions will be comfortable more with Dreamweaver/Photoshop/Illustrator than Eclipse/GIMP/Inkscape.

I took the Linux route, even though I already owned a Mac, I felt on Linux I was closer to the metal where Mac OSX had too many safety rails (both for the user and many publisher's safety)

I'm not sure why the adobe suite of products is misconstrued as an "apple only" set of tools, it's a myth I've run into many times before. They run rather nicely on other platforms, not to mention sublime isn't mac only either. I'm forced to use Mac at work (employer wants the same platform to be used company-wide), but I have always used a wide number of graphics and development tools (the adobe suite, sublime, maya, zbrush, etc) on windows over the years and will continue to do so. I haven't played with Linux yet, but I detest Mac OS as I don't need training wheels.

Saying that OS X has "training wheels" just basically discounts you from a comparative discussion of OS's in my opinion. It's substance-free denigration that adds nothing to the conversation.

If there are parts of OS X that you don't like, fine, post about those, specifically.

Adobe products run fine on Windows, in fact Premiere runs better on Windows than Mac. But the parent was comparing Macs to Linux, and Adobe does not run on Linux at all.

There is nothing denigrating about using "training wheels" as an analogy, Apple's bread and butter are media consumers and not developers, in my experience it shows in the OS."Training wheels" are for kids to learn how to ride a bike without hurting themselves, similarly Mac OS is primarily geared towards providing a "safe" home computer experience to the computer illiterate media consumers where user is protected from destroying their system by being passively prohibitive. These "training wheels" are particularly irritating although they can be worked around, but they also make simple tasks far more complicated than they need to be this is rather frustrating/irritating for some developers. All platforms have their share of problems.

> Apple's bread and butter are media consumers and not developers, in my experience it shows in the OS.

I mean, have you been to a developer conference lately? That wasn't a Microsoft conference? Did you happen to see any Macs there?

> Mac OS is primarily geared towards providing a "safe" home computer experience to the computer illiterate media consumers where user is protected from destroying their system by being passively prohibitive.

OS X has shipped with a complete Unix shell since 2001. Pretty much every dangerous command you can think of on Linux will execute the same way in Terminal.

>I mean, have you been to a developer conference lately? That wasn't a Microsoft conference? Did you happen to see any Macs there?

I haven't been to a MS developer conference and saw a mix of platforms at all other conferences I've been to. Have you actually watched apple's product launches? Ever notice the media consumer is whom they are marketing to?

>OS X has shipped with a complete Unix shell since 2001. Pretty much every dangerous command you can think of on Linux will execute the same way in Terminal.

There is so much more to an OS than terminal, so it's not all that matters. I suppose if one only worked 100% out of terminal and nothing else it would be a non-issue.

This Apple product launch was for consumers?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w87fOAG8fjk

Again: if there are aspects of OS X you don't like, that's fine. There are certainly some things that I don't like. But the idea that it's somehow got "training wheels" and is therefore not suitable for developers, is just not supported by any evidence.

You're offended by the term, but I assure you I'm being quite objective- the "safety measures/training wheels" clearly exist. Why is it that you feel it's not suitable for developers? I'm curious because I never said that, but you did.

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