I've been thinking about how to best manage my local development setup on my personal laptop. Previously, I used a Windows machine where I ran a Linux virtual machine for development work, which I really liked because of the separation it provided. However, since switching to a Linux laptop, I've been coding directly on the host OS. I'm a bit uneasy about installing npm and pip packages directly on my machine because of concerns regarding supply chain attacks. I'm exploring options like returning to a VM for all my programming, using Docker to manage dependencies, or even setting up a VPS as a remote development box. How do you handle your local dev setup and what do you recommend?
5 Answers
I rely on Docker for nearly everything. It simplifies my workflow greatly, and I keep my project folders mounted for development. This setup means I only rebuild when there's a change in dependencies, making it super efficient.
I have a dedicated PC for gaming and general use, while I keep a separate laptop just for programming. This separation really helps me stay organized and focused on coding.
I prefer using virtual environments for Python projects. It prevents any global or system-wide install issues, which can be a problem. For Node.js, I always install dependencies at the project level instead of globally. It just feels cleaner and more secure.
Absolutely, I follow the same approach! Virtual environments are the way to go for Python and project-specific npm installations work perfectly.
My employer provides me with a work laptop. I strictly use it for job-related tasks and only install approved applications. It minimizes the risk for both me and the company. In the past, I’ve worked places that had some serious clauses about personal device usage, which made me very cautious.
I use .envrc and Nix to manage environment setups per project. This way, I don't pollute my host OS with multiple dependencies and can just focus on what I need for each project.
Having everything on one laptop can get a bit crowded! I’m also considering going the VM or VPS route for a cleaner separation.