Which Operating System to Choose For Web Development?

An operating system serves as an interface between the computer user and computer hardware. The purpose of an operating system is to provide an ecosystem in which a user can execute programs efficiently. Web developers often wonder which operating system would be the most compatible as per their requirements. The real answer is – it depends. This might sound vague, but choosing the right OS depends on a variety of factors.

In this blog, we will suggest you some operating systems and provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of each of them with all of their pros and cons so that you can decide the best Operating System To Choose For Web Development. So let’s get started.

An operating system is of paramount importance when it comes to web development and therefore you should give it a good thought before proceeding with your web development journey. Let’s first understand why operating systems are so important and what are the factors that truly make an operating system robust. Below given are some important OS factors that you must take into consideration:

• Computing Power: The capacity of an operating system to perform a series of tasks or to carry out instructions seamlessly is known as computing power.
• RAM: Random Access Memory is another important factor of an OS. It is the memory that handles all the active applications and tasks.
• Program Execution: Operating systems handle a variety of tasks, from system programs to user programs. Each of these tasks is encompassed as a process and hence an OS should be able to handle it ingeniously.
• I/O Operations: The information transfer amongst computer devices is another key feature that must be taken into account.
• Network Security: Lastly, you have to take care of network security that mainly consists of policies and practices to prevent and tackle unauthorized access, modification, or misuse of a computer network.

Picking the Right OS for Your Web Development Needs

Now let’s take a look at the types of operating systems that you can adopt for your web development projects:

Mac OS

macOS is an operating system developed by Apple and is the principal OS for Apple’s Mac computers that covers around 9.68% of the total market share. It is also the second most widely used OS around the globe.  

Pros:

• macOS facilitates multitasking as it’s engineered for multitasking. You can run several tasks simultaneously as well as transition smoothly amongst them.
• If you are a developer working on software for Apple products, Mac should be your preferred choice. Data and files are synchronized readily with the Apple cloud servers for convenient storage and sharing.
• The macOS comes with a few intrinsic features like Siri and DaVinci Resolve (a unique non-linear and color grading visual studio). Along with this, it also has super-intuitive navigation.

Cons:

• Apple’s macOS is not a favorable option for you if you are working on game development or if you are a gamer. That’s because OS developers focus more on the optimization of the software rather than hardware power.
• Mac has non-versatile upgrades, even though you can add supplementary RAM to your system after purchasing the OS.
• The latest iMac Pro comes with a hefty price tag of $4,999. This price is too high compared to its alternatives.

Windows OS

Windows is the most favored system and it is evident from the fact that more than 70% of computers are running with Windows OS. 

Pros:

• Windows support a diverse range of software as well as hardware components for development. Also, the Plug and Play is one of the notable features of Windows OS.
• Affordability is another great edge that Windows has about Mac. As a result, more people are gravitating towards Windows.
• Programmers who like to customize their system or update it occasionally should go for the Windows OS as it provides easy upgrades compared to its contemporaries.

Cons:

• Customization is considered as an advantage but allowing multiple drivers to operate together might become the cause of severe system crashes at times.
• People generally face resistance when it comes to troubleshooting problems with Windows. This is because only Microsoft has full-fledged access to the source code of its software.
• Another drawback that Microsoft is infamous for, is its technical support. Only a few people from Microsoft’s technical staff understand high-end issues like security issues or source code issues.

To get more in-depth information about differences in Windows and Mac OS click here.

Linux OS

Linux is an open-source operating system family and has the members – Linux Mint, Linux Kernel, and Ubuntu. All of them are considered to be very efficient operating systems.  

Pros:

• The most remarkable feature of Linux is that it is open-source and can be tested at zero cost.
• Linux provides encryption and hence has powerful network security. Due to this, it is a highly secure and reliable OS. Also, the updates don’t interrupt the developer’s workflow.
• The installation of complex packages and modules is quite lucid. Scripts and source codes run much faster in Linux and hence it is the top choice of programmers.

Cons:

• For an amateur, Linux might be a bit complicated in terms of unsupported software. For instance, MS Word and equivalent utility software are not supported by Linux.
• As Linux is an open-source OS, i.e. it is free, it has some unresolved errors that have been overlooked. This doesn’t affect the reliability of the system much, but a few cases of system crashes have been reported earlier.
• Another limitation that holds Linux back is its substandard tech support. People are unable to access the support as Linux is a free OS and its funds are finite.

To get more in-depth information about differences in Linux and Mac OS click here.

Web developers are primarily focused on developing websites and web applications that run on internet browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc. Hence, if seen from a stratospheric level, Windows is a better overall option as it permits you to work simultaneously with Linux. While using both systems together, developers can use the necessary software tools such as Node JS and GIT with ease.  

Conclusion

The market is flooded with hundreds of operating systems, but the OS that suits your requirements is the only one that matters. You can take some effort to use a few operating systems and evaluate which one suits your exact needs. If you discover an operating system that fulfills your requirements, you can transition and adapt to it.  

At the end of the day, everything depends on what the developer is looking for. All the operating systems mentioned here are good for web developers and all of them can render a streamlined development experience. I hope that you found this helpful.