I've heard people say that developers should use a Mac for a 'unix-like environment.' Can someone explain what exactly that means? I've done a little research, and I understand that a unix environment involves a kernel, a shell, and a file system, but don't most modern operating systems have similar features? I found a pretty vague definition saying a 'Unix-Like OS' is one that behaves similarly to a unix system. As an amateur web developer using Windows 10 and now getting into Python, I'm not sure why a unix-like environment is recommended. Why do people suggest using systems like Macs for development, and what really is a unix-like system?
5 Answers
Instead of drive letters like C: and D:, Unix-like systems structure their file systems around directories like /, /root, /boot, /var, /opt, and /home. This organization can be more intuitive for managing files and applications.
Once you set up tools like macports and xcode on a Mac, the command line starts to feel very similar to what you'd find in Linux. You'll have access to package managers and everything you might need for development, making it quite user-friendly for devs.
Linux is a unix-like operating system and it's open source. Macs, on the other hand, are closed source and come at a higher price. Some argue that you’re paying more without a clear benefit when Linux can cover a lot of developer needs.
The Unix philosophy emphasizes creating programs that do one specific task and do it well, allowing them to work together seamlessly. This focus on handling text streams as a universal interface is key to the Unix experience. You can check out more about it in the Unix Philosophy article.
A unix-like environment refers to systems that have a kernel allowing access to the standard UNIX (or POSIX) API. This differs from non-unix-like systems, such as Windows, where the API is entirely different. For instance, Windows has complex API calls like `WinGetMeACupOfTea`, while Unix systems simplify things with basic commands like `open`. Some older Windows versions may offer a unix-like API, making things a bit confusing sometimes!
While that may be true, Apple’s hardware often outperforms others on the market in terms of quality and reliability. There are definitely some valid reasons to opt for a Mac!