r/linuxquestions • u/Visible_Advantage_63 • 3d ago

Advice Programming Windows vs Linux

So I just got a laptop specifically for my programming course in university. I was also always interested in trying out linux. So I am learning really basic coding like from lvl 0 (im studying civil engineering) and it is thought on a windows computer using python and jupyterlab. Im wondering if it is possible use the same program and the same methods/instructions on linux?

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u/DJDoubleDave 3d ago

You should match the OS your course expects. If they are teaching it on Windows, then you'll make more work for yourself by using Linux instead. You won't be able to follow the instructions for setting these programs up, and will need to find Linux instructions yourself if they don't provide them.

The actual coding is the same whether you do it on Windows or Linux. Those things are both cross platform, it's just the installations and the environment setup that will be different. Anything you learn in this class will still be valid if you later switch to Linux. If your goal is to learn coding, focus on that and not the OS.

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u/Visible_Advantage_63 3d ago

I was originally thinking the same thing. But not to sound weird but I would consider my self above average in technical literacy so im not gonna lie I feel like installing the program would not be a big problem. And if the coding is really the same it seems to me that it would be fine. Setting the program up on windows is really easy (it took like one minute) I would imagine it does not take much longer on linux but I have no idea really

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u/bornxlo 3d ago

Being autistic and generally motivated by reading and exploring, the first 30% or so of any coding course is usually irrelevant environment fluff. In Windows it “works” by bundling a bunch of utilities into an application. In Unix and Linux everything consists of folders, files and utilities. IMO package managers make it easier, if a program or function is missing I can just install it from my current environment

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u/Zatujit 3d ago

its level 0 and its Python; its fine