I've been hearing a lot about how developers should use a Mac for a "unix-like environment." But I'm not really sure what this means. From what I found, a Unix environment has a kernel, a shell, and a file system. It seems like most modern operating systems have some of these features. Wikipedia gives a circular definition saying a Unix-like OS behaves similarly to a Unix system. As a beginner web developer using Windows 10 and dabbling in Python, I don't quite understand why a Unix-like environment is recommended. Can anyone explain what a Unix-like system really is and why it's suggested for developers?
5 Answers
Linux is an open-source Unix-like system, while Macs are closed-source. Many folks wonder why pay for a Mac when Linux is available for free. However, some believe Apple creates the best hardware for laptops, which is one reason people still opt for Macs.
In a Unix-like system, instead of drive letters like C: and D:, you typically see a single root directory '/' with subdirectories like /root, /boot, /var, and /home. This kind of structure makes navigating and managing files more consistent across Unix systems.
There's a philosophy behind Unix that really stands out. It states: "Write programs that do one thing and do it well, and let them work together." This concept has influenced a lot of software design, making Unix-like systems incredibly powerful for developers.
If you set up MacPorts and Xcode, the command line on a Mac operates almost identically to Linux's command line. You’ll have access to a package manager and many familiar command-line tools, which can make development smoother.
A Unix-like environment refers to systems that provide a standard Unix (or POSIX) API. This means they handle files, processes, memory, and other functionalities in a way similar to Unix systems. For example, Windows has a lot of complex APIs, while Unix systems simplify things with straightforward commands like `open`. Newer versions of Windows aren't entirely Unix-like, but older ones had some UNIX features so the comparison can be tricky!
True, Apple does have great hardware, and some users prefer their design and ecosystem, even if it costs more!