Setting Up A Development Environment On Windows

bitlockerbandit

I’ve recently switched from macOS to Windows and I’m looking to set up a development environment primarily for web development and some data science projects. I’d appreciate any suggestions on the best tools and practices for a seamless setup.

Text Editor/IDE: I’ve been using Visual Studio Code on macOS. Is it just as good on Windows, or should I consider other alternatives like Sublime Text or Atom?
Package Managers: I’m a bit lost without Homebrew. I’ve heard about Chocolatey and Scoop. Which one would be more suitable for managing development tools and dependencies?
Terminal and Command Line: The default Command Prompt and PowerShell seem a bit lacking in features compared to iTerm2 on macOS. What are the best alternatives for a more robust terminal experience on Windows?
Version Control: I used Git with some GUI clients like Tower and SourceTree. Do these work well on Windows, or are there other recommended tools for Git?
Docker: How well does Docker work on Windows? Are there any compatibility issues or important considerations to be aware of?
Data Science Setup: Beyond Python and Anaconda, are there specific Windows tools or settings that could enhance my data science workflow?

I’m open to any tips or advice that could help streamline the transition and optimize my productivity on Windows. Thanks in advance!

TechGuru123

Switching from macOS to Windows can be a bit of an adjustment, but you’ll find that most of your familiar tools have great support on Windows too. Visual Studio Code is just as robust on Windows as it is on macOS, so sticking with it might be your smoothest transition. For package management, both Chocolatey and Scoop have their strengths. Chocolatey has a larger repository and is generally more popular, making it great for a comprehensive setup. Scoop, on the other hand, is excellent for a more streamlined and simplified approach, especially if you prefer a folder-based management system.

For a more powerful terminal experience, Windows Terminal is a fantastic upgrade from the default options. It allows you to have multiple tabs and run different shells side by side, including PowerShell, Command Prompt, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which is a game changer for many developers coming from a Unix-like environment.

Regarding Git, SourceTree and many other GUI clients work well on Windows. Additionally, you might want to check out GitKraken, which is popular for its intuitive interface and advanced features.

Docker on Windows has improved significantly and integrates well when using WSL 2. It helps maintain a more consistent environment across different systems and minimizes compatibility issues.

For data science, leveraging WSL can allow you to run Linux-based tools directly on Windows without much overhead. This can be particularly useful for using tools and libraries not natively available on Windows. Additionally, tools like Jupyter Notebook and VS Code extensions help recreate a productive environment for data science tasks.

Hopefully, these tips make your transition smoother and help you set up a productive environment on Windows!

Vilma

I agree with what’s been outlined. Just a quick note: if you go for WSL 2, try installing your development environment inside WSL instead of Windows. It’s been a lifesaver for me with smoother Git operations and better package management on my data science projects.