Years ago, I switched from Windows to Linux to get a more lightweight and stable desktop environment. It worked out well, but I’m having enough problems with Linux to consider another change. Specifically, I’m looking for better stability in the system libraries.
I use Debian Unstable (argh..I meant Testing) because I need to track development in some Linux applications. Since they are in active development, I expect occasional bugs in them. My problem is with the frequency of breakage in basic system utilities, like hdparm or halevt. In the past year, every time I have updated a system or done a fresh install, some different utility has been broken.
The best alternatives seem to be FreeBSD and Solaris. (Solaris is free for development use, which is all I care about). I’m asking here which would be better for my use and/or whether they have enough of their own problems that I would be better off sticking with Linux.
My usage:
-
Java development, programming style is carefully system-independent, desktop apps, target users mostly on Windows and OS X
-
Virtualization to run apps on various OSes
-
General destop stuff: wordprocessing, web, music
-
Not used as a server
So far, it seems to be:
-
FreeBSD Pro documentation, community, clean design, extensive ports Con Java support
-
Solaris Pro Java and virtualization support Con see FreeBSD pro stuff
I would suggest separating concerns.
Choose a stable distribution as the host operating system and then install a virtual machine environment in it (like vmware player). Then install those unstable ones you need to track inside it, plus perhaps even a Windows instance.
You can then run those you need to, when you need to, while keeping your stable distribution unharmed.