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Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

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Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#31

Post by enos_feedler »

pkulak wrote: post #6

I'm still waiting on good Docker support. Word is it's close, but I don't know if it's there right now. Really all I need in a dev machine is a Unix + docker + IDE, so this is pretty interesting.

A patch has been merged to fix an issue that was preventing docker from working. I don't think the patch has made it's way into a proper docker release yet but I am using a custom build and it's been working fine for a month on my pixelbook. I do container development and control a GKE cluster with kubectl as well. More details on the docker patch here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Crostini/comments/9jabhq/docker_now...

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#32

Post by dman »

mav3rick wrote: post #29
dman wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Support window for older devices is questionable. I own a Generation 1 Pixelbook and it has stopped receiving updates (including security updates). Dropping security updates after a couple of years in fact is worse than other operating systems. Am unsure if users are alerted that their devices will not be updated anymore. Disclaimer: Views expressed are my own and do not represent my employer.

Chromebooks have a 5 year support policy. It's not a couple of years.

That is worse than other alternatives - PCs and Mac machines.

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#33

Post by numbsafari »

rb808 wrote: post #5

I'm thinking of getting a Chromebook for dev work, with the view of just using it as a dumb client for terminals and browser to cloud servers. I'm worried I'll buy then wish I bought a proper machine. Anyone thought the same then regretted it?

I'm currently doing it.

Crostini, the linux VM layer, is very much still a work in progress. If you are doing your development in hosted VMs, then this isn't so much an issue. There are some minor nits around key mapping issues, but I'm looking to evaluate Android-based terminal apps to get around those (since they are mostly related to Chrome taking priority for certain key combinations when using an embedded shell).

I love certain things about the keyboard, but absolutely miss little things from MacOS, like their support for easily entering accented characters by holding down a letter for a moment and then selecting the desired accent.

Being able to powerwash your laptop, and then login to see everything basically the way you left it, is pretty powerful. As someone who has to also support the IT needs of a small team, the potential peace of mind this offers is huge.

But it's not 100% just yet, so I haven't rolled it out to the rest of the team.

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#34

Post by philips »

Anecdote: I stopped using OSX for primary development about 7 months ago and started using a Pixelbook + Crostini exclusively.

Par

  - Hassle free desktop experience on par with OSX
  - Password managers, music apps, etc available via Android appstore
Advantages

  - Fast time to productivity because Crostini takes a few clicks, then apt-get everything
  - Native "File Manager" integration makes it painless to move files to and from VM
  - Desktop apps in the VM appear in ChromeOS apps menu without hassle of X11.app, SSH forwarding, etc
  - Android integration to unlock the laptop, etc works great
  - Hardware built-in FIDO U2F device
Disadvantages

  - ChromeOS 70 still crashes once and awhile inexplicably (weekly)
  - Android apps can be janky to resize
  - Multi-display with Android apps sometimes doesn't work
Overall I feel more productive on my Pixelbook vs OSX.

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#35

Post by rb808 »

azangru wrote: post #2

Interesting. Any advantage of using Chrome OS for Web development compared to just any plain Linux distro (e.g. Ubuntu)? Or, even more interesting, compared to MacOS? Because from the video, it feels as if Crostini is a second-class citizen on Chrome OS (all that talk about Linux in a container). Why choose Chrome OS at all?

Cheap, light, low powered/long battery life.

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#37

Post by idm »

Happy Chromebook user here. I use the Asus c213 as my daily driver now. I do the heavy lifting on a Linux server.

Crostini made it all click for the mobile development environment. VS Code was the last piece of the workflow that I was missing.

Now, I've got a rugged laptop with rubberized edges and some water resistance. I take this thing into environments I would never have taken any other laptop. I don't worry about this laptop and I love that.

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#39

Post by abeyer »

rb808 wrote: post #5

I'm thinking of getting a Chromebook for dev work, with the view of just using it as a dumb client for terminals and browser to cloud servers. I'm worried I'll buy then wish I bought a proper machine. Anyone thought the same then regretted it?

I've used chromebooks as my primary laptops for dev stuff for ~7 years now. No regrets, but there are tradeoffs that are worth considering.

Things in my situation that I think make this work well are: I have a "real" machine in a desktop (or a work laptop, if that's what an employer gives me), I don't consider any laptop my primary personal machine in any case. I'm happy running what I want in a linux CLI-only environment. (You _can_ do gui, but you start pushing the hardware limits of the lower end machines pretty hard.) I want a light, cheap, reasonably secure, and ultimately disposable machine that I'm not concerned about tossing around, throwing in my backpack, leaving out on a coffee shop table while i use the restroom, etc...

Issues I've hit: Poor/no docker support. I've just remoted back to home for things that need it and that works, but isn't ideal if you want to work disconnected. Occasional linux apps that require an X server -- either don't offer a CLI or do something stupid where even the CLI tries to connect to X. Internal storage tends to be limited and non-upgradable, SD cards are the portable option, but slow, and lugging around an external HD is a pain.

(Also, I haven't actually played with the new crostini stuff at all yet. I'm still on an older machine with crouton.)

Re: Chrome OS: Ready for Web Development [video]

#40

Post by rkeene2 »

philips wrote: post #34

Anecdote: I stopped using OSX for primary development about 7 months ago and started using a Pixelbook + Crostini exclusively. Par - Hassle free desktop experience on par with OSX - Password managers, music apps, etc available via Android appstore Advantages - Fast time to productivity because Crostini takes a few clicks, then apt-get everything - Native "File Manager" integration makes it painless to move files to a…

It's real annoying when Chrome crashes (which it does once or twice a week on average) because it restarts all your Android apps as well !
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