Is dual-booting Linux worth it for web development?

For most web development, WSL is probably the easiest option. You can keep Windows as your main environment while using a Linux shell, Linux tooling, and even Docker containers without rebooting. It gives you much of the development experience people want from Linux without completely separating your workspace.

I’ve used virtual machines and dual-boot setups, and both work, but they each introduce some inconvenience. Staying on Windows is perfectly reasonable, particularly if you already prefer its tools and workflow. Learning enough Linux to be comfortable with servers and development utilities is useful, but that doesn’t mean your whole computer needs to run Linux.

WSL, Docker, and virtual machines can all handle this, so there isn’t one universally correct choice. WSL is convenient for command-line development, while a virtual machine makes more sense if you need a complete Linux desktop. Dual-booting is mainly useful when you specifically want Linux running natively.

You don’t need Linux to become a better developer, especially at the beginner stage. Use the system you’re most comfortable with and switch only if you have a specific reason. If you do try dual-booting, installing each operating system on a separate SSD is generally less troublesome than sharing one drive.