I've been a Windows user since the mid-90s, recently working with VMs on Windows 11 Pro and Windows 2022 Server at AWS. However, as I dive deeper into the Bitcoin community, I've noticed that Linux is the preferred operating system for a lot of tools and applications. While Bitcoin Core and Lightning have Windows versions that I can use, many other resources and communities seem to be tailored for Linux users, and I'm often met with skepticism about sticking with Windows. I want to start learning Linux to get involved with these tools but I'm not sure where to begin.
I'm considering either installing Linux on a new Dell Precision laptop or running it on an existing Hyper-V VM on my Windows PC to get a feel for it. I mainly work with command-line interfaces but I may need to run Visual Studio for some development tasks. I also want a Linux version that supports Thunderbolt displays for my Apple monitor. Eventually, I'd like to migrate some server applications to AWS when I'm comfortable. From what I've gathered, Ubuntu is popular and well-supported on AWS, but I'm unsure of which version of Linux would be best for my situation and what desktop environment would work well for Visual Studio.
4 Answers
If you're using Linux primarily for command-line tasks and Bitcoin development, any of the mainstream distros like Ubuntu, Mint, or even Fedora should do great. Mint is particularly user-friendly, especially for someone transitioning from Windows. And yes, make sure to check compatibility for your hardware, especially with that Thunderbolt display you want to use.
I'd recommend starting with Linux Mint. It's user-friendly and based on Ubuntu, so it's a solid transition from Windows. I moved all my necessary apps to Mint without much hassle, and now I'm fully Linux-based for day-to-day tasks. Plus, you can find almost everything you need in their software center, which makes it easy to settle in.
Visual Studio doesn't run on Linux, but you might want to look into Visual Studio Code instead—it's a great alternative. For your needs, Mint or Zorin are both solid picks because they’re similar to Windows, making the transition smoother. If you need a cool development experience, those options should suit you well!
You can definitely run Linux on a VM or Hyper-V. Mint or Ubuntu are good picks for what you're looking for. If you're open to trying something different, Fedora might be worth it for a bit of a change—it's stable and offers fresh updates frequently. Just keep in mind that Visual Studio will need to be replaced with something like VS Code or other IDEs available on Linux.
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