For any kind of serverside development I recommend you get a Linux VM. I too prefer to develop on windows but one must understand that in this day and age no one will take you seriously of you host on Windows.
> one must understand that in this day and age no one will take you seriously of you host on Windows.
Must I? We clearly don't talk to the same people, then. Not only have I never judged someone or something based on what web host they use (seriously?), I've never heard anyone say or intimate that they would, either.
Honestly I think the issue really is with the compatibility problems you run into, especially when trying out newer stuff that was written to targin linux/mac first and foremost. You don't always run into issues, but every now and then you get some node-gyp build snafu or something that causes you to go on a google-fest for potentially obscure fixes. I've had a win7 laptop as my main machine for awhile, and generally did most of my development either in a vagrant VM or using Cloud 9 (fixes build issues and allows me to work on it everywhere). I think having a mac or using linux just makes your life a lot easier as a developer as long as you aren't doing .NET. Suddenly all the tutorials, example code, and default installation instructions just work.
> I've never heard anyone say or intimate that they would, either.
I'm completely in agreement with you. Unfortunately I've been to a handful of tech meetups where I've heard this exact phrase. It's like they look down on me for using windows :( I dunno, maybe it's my limited perspective but I've actually been feeling like I'm not taken as seriously when I show up to tech meetups with my thinkpad.
I am of course exaggerating and it seems that you see me as "jud[ing] someone" for their choices, which I am not. What I attempted to communicate is that linux (unix?) seems to be the lingua franca of the server world. Sure there are ways to get Mongo or Redis to work on Windows. But why would you? You can scratch your head using your foot. But why would you?
Reminds me of my favorite Mac Joke though I think it could apply to Linux folks too so feel free to swop it out. ;)
"How can you tell a Mac user? Answer: They tell you"
A network support guy laid that on me a few years back, I thought it was hilarious because it's so true. I have since stopped mentioning I'm a mac user...
