Subj : Re: Computer operating system of choice?
To   : DustCouncil
From : Arelor
Date : Mon Feb 07 2022 19:12:08

  Re: Re: Computer operating system of choice?
  By: DustCouncil to boraxman on Mon Feb 07 2022 09:07 pm

 > All of them, in this room.  I learned a long time ago that there was no bene
 > to me personally to become some kind of OS partisan; in my situation, there 
 > deficiencies in all OSes.
 > 

There may be an OS for each task, but there are big advantages for betting hard
on one family. Specially if you are managing a big lot of computers for custom
tasks.

Real world example: maybe I like a given piece of free software, but it has a
bug and upstream won't patch it because they think it is a "feature". If I have
an heterogeneous fleet of 10 computers, I might need to patch a custom branch
of that software myself, then package that software for each of the systems
those computers might be using. In a single word: PAIN.

If those 10 computers are running the same OS, I can just place the patched
software in an automated package-making cluster and upload it to my custom
repository, which will distribute the patch to all the computers. It is a heavy
bet to place, but it simplifies things so much.

Also, if your grandpa asks you for help with his computer, if his computer is
running something wildly different than what you are used to, it is going to
take you 5 extra minutes while you remember how his OS is managed. Now imagine
if you set a lonely FreeBSD appliance and you never touch it in 6 months until
something cracks and you have to troubleshoot it. YOu are going to waste a
quarter an hour relearning the OS only. Maybe it would have served you better
to install the same thing you are running everywhere else, even if it is worse
for that task, if just because you are guaranteed to have the know-how for it.

Homogeneous fleets score an extra point because you can apply a single set of
strategies for all the fleet. You don't need a backup solution for 3 OS if your
fleet only has 1 OS: a single backup tool and a single backup strategy will do
for them all. Same for recovery tools, hardware provisioning, you name it.

This approach only works if you can find an OS which you can, at least,
shoehorn into all the tasks you need to do, but let's be honest, the notion
that a given OS is a must for certain task X is becoming a myth in most fields.
We are reaching a point in which most generic tasks can be done, better of
worse, with the same OS. Specially if you are flexible.

For example: if your goal is playing GTA 24, your platform choices might be
reduced; if your goal is watching Netfleex, your may be stuck with a given
platform. However, if you goals are "playing awesome games" or "watching cool
movies online," then you don't need to artificially limit your options.

I am not free from sin, but I am working towards homogenizing all my home PC
fleet (job computer fleets are already done). I am getting there :-)


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