I'm really not a fan of WSL and unfortunately can't use Linux due to company policies. I was wondering, do any of you actually develop using PowerShell integrated with Visual Studio Code for tasks like running Git, Node, Docker, and so forth? If so, how's the experience? Is it stable? Do you find yourself being productive with it? I'm also curious about how you set up commands, create aliases, or write bash scripts if necessary. While speed matters, I value quality over quantity. Any recommendations for tools to help ease the transition since I'd like to give it a shot? Thanks!
5 Answers
I’ve mostly used Git Bash and Windows Terminal, and they work pretty well! Most tools like Node and NPM run fine on Windows; just make sure to check compatibility. Sure, WSL has its benefits, but there are plenty of alternatives that do the job if you want to stick with Windows. You just might have to deal with some quirks!
If you're focused on web development, Windows can definitely get the job done. But you might hit some bumps using certain tools, especially if they were designed primarily for Linux or macOS. For instance, I had a lot of trouble with Ruby on Windows, and WSL was a way better experience for that. Still, if you're sticking to tools that are well-supported like Git and Docker, you’re likely going to be fine.
Yeah, plenty of people code on Windows without WSL. It might not be as seamless as other systems, but you can still get it done! Tools like Git and Node have solid installations for Windows, so you're good to go there. I had my whole setup on native Windows before moving to WSL, and I did alright with Apache, PHP, and MySQL on Windows too! But honestly, WSL felt like less hassle and better performance for me. Though I miss the ease of backing up a WSL image, which is super simple compared to setting up a full Windows environment from scratch.
I'm a bit of a WSL fan myself, but I'm using PowerShell more these days. I've found that switching between the VM for IP bridging has become a hassle, so using PowerShell feels more straightforward. You can absolutely run your development environment on Windows without WSL, and still be quite productive, especially if you're mostly in the .NET ecosystem or something Windows-centric.
There are lots of options! While I personally try to use WSL for compatibility, I know a bunch of folks who just use a Linux VM or the odd console emulator like cmder for running things on Windows. Just take your time to find what fits your workflow, but don’t forget to check out tools like GitHub Desktop or new terminal apps that can help streamline things.
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