Windows or Linux for Wallet Software?

[shamzblueworld]

If you know what you're doing and have experience with linux, than always go for linux, much better, safer, faster option.
And you'll have more control over your OS also.

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[nemgun]

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.

i would be more extreme here, regarding the latest security exploit on windows : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/ransomware-does-work/
This is one more reason to forget windows and burry him in the "bad techs cemetry", once i have been told by a member of the forum that BSD is one of the best because of the time they take to release updates or new packages as they have a very special way to work, usually they don't release a package untill he is totally ready. It is simply the opposite of windows.

[Cereberus]

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.

i would be more extreme here, regarding the latest security exploit on windows : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/0/ransomware-does-work/
This is one more reason to forget windows and burry him in the "bad techs cemetry", once i have been told by a member of the forum that BSD is one of the best because of the time they take to release updates or new packages as they have a very special way to work, usually they don't release a package untill he is totally ready. It is simply the opposite of windows.

Go with Linux all the way now that this nasty ransomware has hit 300 countries of the world. The most common way to be infected is to click an attachment in an email. I had one at work a few days ago and we format the PC as luckily we had backup of all data. We didn't have premium antivirus at that PC. With this happenings there are 2 ways for the wallet software, keep using windows but keep the seed of  your wallets if you are using a HD wallet in different places, USB, external HDD etc so if you get hit by this ransomware , you just format your PC and reinstall electrum and restore from seed.
Or be smart and install Linux.

[The_Dark_Knight]

If security and privacy are important to you then there is no doubt in my mind you need to go with any Linux distribution you may like, a favorite of many users is Ubuntu since it is very easy to use and feels similar to windows without all the bugs and backdoors windows has of course.

[Shiroslullaby]

You can always do a dual-boot setup and install both Linux/ Windows with a GRUB bootloader etc.

Or a Virtualbox setup installed on Windows for when you want to run a Linux OS.
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/VirtualBox

Personally I think its good to have access to both.
Open source Linux is better but takes more work to set up usually. Definitely worth learning if you are serious about checking code and learning to compile things yourself.

[python_fan89]

Here's a small snippet in Python, which creates you Private key, Public key and address. Especially for those, who don't believe anyone, cause using this code, literally only you can know your private key

1. install Linux
2. Use pip to install pybitcoin tools - https://github.com/vbuterin/pybitcointools (written by Vitalik Buterin BTW!)
3. Generate all the stuff:

>>> from bitcoin import *
>>> private_key = "28da5896199b85a7d49b0736597dd8c0d0c0293f130bf3e3e1d102e0041b1293"
>>> public_key = privtopub(private_key)
>>> public_key
'0497e922cac2c9065a0cac998c0735d9995ff42fb6641d29300e8c0071277eb5b4e770fcc086f32 2339bdefef4d5b51a23d88755969d28e965dacaaa5d0d2a0e09'
>>> address = pubtoaddr(public_key)
>>> address
'1LwPhYQi4BRBuuyWSGVeb6kPrTqpSVmoYz'

That's it

[BitcoinNewsMagazine]

No reason not to use Linux but you really should be thinking about using a hardware wallet for as many of your cryptocurrencies as are supported by Trezor or Nano S.

[SysFailure0x5a]

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?

My advice is to install VMware Workstation. Install a Windows system and completely update it but don't install anything on it. Then create what is called "Linked Clones". Make a linked clone for EACH and every one of your crypto currencies. You can probably put Litecoin and Bitcoin on the first one, but each shitcoin should have it's own VM.

You will notice some shitcoins only really have a Linux wallet. If that's the case then do the same thing with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

What I do is a bit different. I have an install of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. I use what is called LXC containers. Each LXC container has a node on it. One for bitcoin, one for litecoin, a few for shitcoins, etc. But I'm a lot more technically apt than most people.

I would also completely blow away your laptop and perform a vanilla installation of Windows 10 without all the bloatware. Most importantly, do not browse the internet or install anything else on it.

[Jet Cash]

I bought a second machine recently ( an HP netbook ), mainly because I wanted a machine to use off grid, so I got one without a fan, and with an SSD. I was shocked by the "extras" in the Windows 10 that was installed, and I decided that it was insecure with all the Microsoft tracking and reporting -Cortana, cloud saving, and various other things. I reformatted the drive, and installed Ubuntu without any difficulty. I bought an external SSD for the blockchain storage for two reasons - the internal drive wasn't really large enough, and I felt that the detachable drive gave me extra security.

I've had no problems at all with running core, and you can use the Ubuntu updater to keep your node software up to date.

You will find it cheaper to buy a Windows machine and wipe the disk, than to buy a Linux machine. This is because the Windows machine comes loaded with trials and "free" software that poses a security risk in my opinion. The Linux machine will run faster as well.

[BitcoinNewsMagazine]

The problem is many OEM Windows machines will not run Linux due to compatibility problems. HP laptops are famous for rejecting Ubuntu installs. Dell and Lenovo, not so much. If you go this route check the laptop for compatibility at https://certification.ubuntu.com/certification/

System76 sells laptops with Ubuntu loaded ready to go. A bit pricey though. Whatever you do try to get yourself an SSD you will be amazed at the speed.

[Kakmakr]

By the looks of it, the NSA tools that were leaked are mostly targeting Windows operating systems and these Malware attacks and Ransomware are also predominantly on Windows. I bought several second hand computers and notebooks and use them for different tasks.

I have a bootable Tails {Linux based} DVD that I clean boot with to do some of my Bitcoin related tasks. < This method, reduce the risk of having spyware and malware and keyloggers being installed and collecting data of everything I do >

I also use one to create paper wallets < This one will never connect to the internet again >

Do not use one OS, try multiple operating systems for different tasks. ^smile^

[KenR]

By the looks of it, the NSA tools that were leaked are mostly targeting Windows operating systems and these Malware attacks and Ransomware are also predominantly on Windows. I bought several second hand computers and notebooks and use them for different tasks.

That's not the fresh news.Windows Kernal is easily exploitable.NSA's tools were leaked on purpose.It's an inside,planned job.

I have a bootable Tails {Linux based} DVD that I clean boot with to do some of my Bitcoin related tasks. < This method, reduce the risk of having spyware and malware and keyloggers being installed and collecting data of everything I do >

Why not just  install grub bootloader and keep windows along ? The interesting part is,if my hard disk ever fails due to system issues,I can always login from Linux and back it up.

[markj113]

Windows laptop with a Linux boot usb stick

[HeroC]

I imagine it will be easier to compile for linux, but easier to reach a larger audience with a windows executable. Depends on the overall goal of the new coin. I run my wallet on an offline linux machine.

[rahmat92]

Try using debian linux, I am also one of the people who use linux variant, operating system which I think is very safe for your wallet.

[saitejcrypto]

 
Linux is most recommended.....

[nemgun]

A USB stick with ubuntu isn't that good, as you are very limited.
You have a hundred ways to generate a bitcoin keypair, just pick the one you want to use.

If you are really aware of security, you can use virtualbox to create a temporar Linux machine, regardless of the flavor, and then from there you can generate private and public key, address, and create your transactions, once it is done, just backup the keys, write them down, and delet the machine.

It is one the safest ways to work with bitcoin.

[kandy.ye]

In my opinion, Linux is better than Window.

[Betamog]

For Me It's Window But The More Secured Is Lunix Obviously
And Vmweare exist For this Situation 

[shelly154]

Linux is a highly secure operating system. ... But as the operating system with largest user it is the primary target for malicious coders. As a result, of all major systems, Microsoft Windows is the most likely to be the victim of viruses.