Windows or Linux for Wallet Software?

[Riptide999]

I am about to buy a fancy laptop primarily for the purpose of doing all my cryptocurrency stuff (but not mining).

Can anybody help me decide between Windows and Linux?  My main question is do wallets/nodes tend to be developed on Linux first or Windows first?  I want to know which platform Bitcoin clients, but also other cryptocurrency clients/wallets in general tend to get developed on first.

I am not an expert with command line (although I can use Linux in a basic way), so I refer mainly to GUI type wallets.  I am interested in software for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Factom, Synereo, Dash, Maidsafe, Storj, NEM, Sia and Lisk.  So Windows or Linux for these?

[mocacinno]

I am about to buy a fancy laptop primarily for the purpose of doing all my cryptocurrency stuff (but not mining).

Can anybody help me decide between Windows and Linux?  My main question is do wallets/nodes tend to be developed on Linux first or Windows first?  I want to know which platform Bitcoin clients, but also other cryptocurrency clients/wallets in general tend to get developed on first.

I am not an expert with command line, so I refer mainly to GUI type wallets.

In my personal opinion, an honest dev will publish his sourcecode on github...
In my experience, compiling a node/wallet on linux is a lot easyer than compiling one on windows.

however, i've seen some dev's publishing the windows binary long before publising the linux binary...

[Riptide999]

Perhaps I can help by being a bit more specific:

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero
Factom, Synereo, Dash
Storj, Sia, Maidsafe
Lisk, NEM

Given that list, can anyone say whether Windows or Linux would likely be the first release platform for their wallets/nodes/stuff...?

[mocacinno]

Perhaps I can help by being a bit more specific:

Bitcoin
Ethereum
Monero
Factom
Synereo
Dash
Storj

Given that list, can anyone say whether Windows or Linux would likely be the first release platform for their wallets/nodes/stuff...?

You're listing the bigger, more established coins here... I don't think there will be a (big) difference between the release times for windows or linux wallets for these coins.
I was talking about new coins with a small community.

I'd personally go for linux, but i think it's just a matter of personal taste...

[Riptide999]

Sorry, I realised that just now and added a few more.  Doh, I'm being a dummy but I didn't expect such great fast replies!  Thanks!

[mocacinno]

Sorry, I realised that just now and added a few more.  Doh, I'm being a dummy but I didn't expect such great fast replies!  Thanks!

I'd still go for linux, since an honest dev should, in my opinion, publish his work on github (or an other online repo). Once the sourcecode is on github, i personally think it's much easyer to compile a wallet on linux compared to windows.

The ones in your current list are still older, established coins, so there should be little or no difference in the release time of windows vs linux binaries tough...

[Riptide999]

Thanks!  I've been wanting a Linux machine for ages, so I'm happy to hear that.  Just a shame that Linux doesn't support Oculus Rift! haha.  Now because of your fast replies I can get on with buying my exciting new laptop!  woohoo!

[mocacinno]

Thanks!  I've been wanting a Linux machine for ages, so I'm happy to hear that.  Just a shame that Linux doesn't support Oculus Rift! haha.  Now because of your fast replies I can get on with buying my exciting new laptop!  woohoo!

IF you bought an oculus and really want to use it, there's always the option of either dual booting, or the option of running a linux distro in virtualbox.

Altough untested by me, there even is the option of running windows subsystem for linux on windows 10:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/commandline/wsl/install_guide

Arch linux even has a wiki page devoted to running an oculus V9 => https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Oculus_Rift

Altough for simplicity and compatibility reasons, i'd suggest either debian or ubuntu as a starter distro

[Riptide999]

Oh Yeah, it's my first time to properly have a Linux OS, so I want the easiest to use version.

I have used Red Hat Linux at work, but only poking around to make the basics work, I am no expert!

[nemgun]

Oh Yeah, it's my first time to properly have a Linux OS, so I want the easiest to use version.

I have used Red Hat Linux at work, but only poking around to make the basics work, I am no expert!

You should go for Ubuntu, as it has a nice UI and is widely used. when it comes to Linux, each user have his own preferences, but in the end what ever you want to use you will have a linux system with different features.
Personally i like Ubuntu because it has a nice GUI, the unity bar is just useless to me, but if you are a MAC user, then it should be handy.

Beside that, no difference.

[Darker45]

Been thinking of purchasing one more laptop and a pc soon. I never used linux ever since but I am considering it on at least one of my units mainly for crypto purposes too. So looks like linux is better. I also noticed most wallets were linux based first before considering windows. My friends are also laughing at me for using windows. 

[BigBall]

I prefer you windows wallet software because I know that windows is always better product because better kind of qualities because it is so big time and money invested to create it better than any other so I will always prefer windows.

[nemgun]

I prefer you windows wallet software because I know that windows is always better product because better kind of qualities because it is so big time and money invested to create it better than any other so I will always prefer windows.

I think that you are either new to the IT world, or completly blind to security threats.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-major-difference-between-Windows-and-Ubuntu
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-things-ubuntu-better-windows/
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/os-showdown-windows-10-vs-linux-1299406

Ubuntu is just better on a lot of sencitive points, especially security because windows is backdoored.
the workflow of windows is simple, first make a commercial demo of a product, get some hyip and invest some marketing budgets. Then release it as is, and fix the bugs later, if they get to a dead end bug, they just leave it.

ubuntu is made by the community of the developers who works on it, if you have any problem, you can either solve it yourself and fork it, or ask for the devs to help you. which is far better then an unresponcive so called support.

[sva_h4cky0]

as long as you know how to compile daemon or wallet gui, imo Linux is the better choice. mind you that sometimes problems arise, like library incompatibility issue, path, etc.

if crypto dev provide Linux binary, just forget about that because mostly they only run on specific version of ubuntu. however there's some exception, like electron/java/python/etc based wallet which is run just fine, again worst scenario you end up compiling yourself.

if you wanna run nodes, well Linux is obvious choice.

anyway, you can also run windoze virtual machine. 

[KenR]

I am about to buy a fancy laptop primarily for the purpose of doing all my cryptocurrency stuff (but not mining).

You don't need a fancy laptop just for the sake of bitcoining.However,it is always a good a futuristic thinking process.It is not a bad investment after-all.

Can anybody help me decide between Windows and Linux?  My main question is do wallets/nodes tend to be developed on Linux first or Windows first?  I want to know which platform Bitcoin clients, but also other cryptocurrency clients/wallets in general tend to get developed on first.

Well,it's a subjective question.Personally,all that 'geeky' stuff is always deployed on Linux machines because most of the dev groups reply on it and they're a bit more secure.Most of the wallets always have windows/Linux installations available.If a command line and a terminal really turns you on,go with Ubuntu.

I am not an expert with command line (although I can use Linux in a basic way), so I refer mainly to GUI type wallets.  I am interested in software for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Factom, Synereo, Dash, Maidsafe, Storj, NEM, Sia and Lisk.  So Windows or Linux for these?

My previous question should answer that. Stick to Windows.

[cr1776]

I am about to buy a fancy laptop primarily for the purpose of doing all my cryptocurrency stuff (but not mining).

Can anybody help me decide between Windows and Linux?  My main question is do wallets/nodes tend to be developed on Linux first or Windows first?  I want to know which platform Bitcoin clients, but also other cryptocurrency clients/wallets in general tend to get developed on first.

I am not an expert with command line (although I can use Linux in a basic way), so I refer mainly to GUI type wallets.  I am interested in software for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Factom, Synereo, Dash, Maidsafe, Storj, NEM, Sia and Lisk.  So Windows or Linux for these?

Much will also depend on the sums involved and your risk tolerance.  If you are only going to have a few hundred or few thousand euros or dollars on there, it will be different than if you will have more.

For larger sums, Linux is the clear winner due to security. 

Likewise, will this be a "connect to the internet once to get the software then never do it again since you have hundreds of thousands of euros or dollars on it" or "always connected" computer?

[Coin-Keeper]

Expressing my opinion here:  Linux all the way.  I do computer security and network engineering.  Ubuntu is a nice simple place to start out on your linux journey.  They have pretty good driver support for those that don't know how to go and find drivers on their own.  I have moved on to a custom install distro to capture more control but it isn't really needed.  Whether or not you decide to use Windows or Linux I would urge you to pause and think about running ANY computer online where the private keys/SEED reside on the drive platter, including even if they are encrypted within a wallet.  For 100 bucks or less you can acquire a state of the art hardware wallet and eliminate the inherent risks of being online.

As a linux newbie it would be very incumbent for you to do some basic research before buying a laptop.  Some models just work with linux right out of the box so to speak.  With others, driver acquisition can be tasking for a linux "minnow".

[KenR]

As a linux newbie it would be very incumbent for you to do some basic research before buying a laptop.  Some models just work with linux right out of the box so to speak.  With others, driver acquisition can be tasking for a linux "minnow".

Or he can just buy a laptop which comes pre-installed with one of the Linux Distros ?A lot of new laptops have that option,also it saves on the operating system costs spent on Windows.Learning linux can be get cumbersome ,not if they take a crash course on of the free websites.

[KeyGenKing]

Been thinking of purchasing one more laptop and a pc soon. I never used linux ever since but I am considering it on at least one of my units mainly for crypto purposes too. So looks like linux is better. I also noticed most wallets were linux based first before considering windows. My friends are also laughing at me for using windows. 

I do prefer linux over windows for mining, I think Linux gives me more usage and control.

[Coin-Keeper]

I am about to buy a fancy laptop primarily for the purpose of doing all my cryptocurrency stuff (but not mining).

I am not sure what you mean by "fancy" but Linux is nothing like Windows.  A basic machine will run at lightning speed compared to Windows on the same machine.  Its a cleaner and much leaner running OS.  Frankly, if you had (or are willing to acquire) the skillset you can easily run both Windows and Linux on the same machine.  Its somewhat easy to make them completely independent of each other using full independent encryption.  This will eliminate any cross-talk from even the realm of possibility.  Configured tightly there is no chance for either OS to even know each other exists even though they are on the same drive.  I have some machines with half a dozen unique OS's and none can see each other even if they wanted to.  Just depends upon how much you want to learn.   BTC software is very fundamental and the resources needed are super small.  Security is paramount not mainframe horsepower.  That security comes from your configuration expertise.