This topic has crossed my mind before but after reading this Google Plus post I have decided I would like to pose this question in a public manner. Why are some developers so opposed to using Linux? Complaints are aimed at all different things about Ubuntu or simply Linux in general (that also brings up a secondary question, why are the developers that are using Linux using Ubuntu?) . Some complain about the UI not being simple enough, some even complain about editing a configuration file. You write code for pete’s sake! Why is it so hard to learn about the system you are using? If you can write a line of code, you are smart enough to edit a configuration file. If you are smart enough to write a line of code, you are smart enough to figure out how Gnome works. And then guess what, you actually understand how your system works and how to configure it the way you like, why would you not want a configurable system when you are a programmer? It makes no sense not to.

I know the main argument that you will here in response to this is “I’d rather spend time programming and making money than learning how to configure my system.” There is something called a capital cost people, spend a day or two (yes, it only takes a day or two to learn most things) and you will benefit from it forever. Then you don’t have to pay for your OS anymore, you will become a stronger programmer because you can use the terminal (IMO you’re not even a programmer if you can’t use the terminal, that’s just sad), and you can stop complaining and sounding ignorant on Google Plus posts .

Am I way off here in assuming these are the reasons why some developers hate on Linux? I can understand certain situations such as developing on a mac so you can make iPhone apps (even if it is evil). The issues that I was addressing are clearly different from that however.