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How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

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Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#61

Post by endtime »

qmarchi wrote: post #35
vinkelhake wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The average Googler doesn't get to pick the OS that their workstation runs. It's going to be Linux. The typical work setup is a browser, some kind of editor and terminals - which is something that works well in Linux.

It depends on the team, and the individual. Generally, a Googler does actually get to pick their OS, it's part of the onboarding process that every Noogler goes through, and you're given 30 days from your start to swap around and test the other platforms (gLinux, macOS, gWindows, or Chrome OS).

Are you sure you're talking about workstation and not laptop? What you're saying sounds true for laptops, but I was at Google for 10 years on a variety of teams and I was only ever aware of Linux workstations unless one has a specific need for a different OS. (Or you could get a Chromebox at one point, but then you'd be SSHing to and building on a VM.)

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#62

Post by DiggyJohnson »

POPOSYS wrote: post #59
emptysongglass wrote: post #2

The more important question is where is this magical Google-blessed rolling release Debian available to download? We've all heard rumors of this internal Google distro and what I'm reading is their intent to give back. You can use Microsoft's CBL-Mariner today. Where is Google's?

Quoted post unavailable.

I have never seen a gender-based criticism of the fragmentation of Linux distros, that’s for sure…

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#63

Post by vinkelhake »

esprehn wrote: post #45
vinkelhake wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was under the impression that unless you have an actual business need that calls for something other than gLinux, then it's going to be gLinux. Like a Chromium dev who primarily works on the Windows side of Chrome obviously has a need for it. I'll fully admit that my onboarding experience is quite out of date since I've been there for a decade. When I joined I didn't really have a choice for workstation since I onl…

No they're the same. Pretty much all google3 work is done on Linux, but folks usually get 2 machines: a laptop you pick the OS and the workstation (or cloudtop) which is Linux unless there's a special need like chrome eng. Lots of folks do stuff like use Chrome OS + cider + cloudtop though.

Okay, then it sounds like I did give an accurate answer to OP's question (which was about workstations, not laptops) :)

I've used different setups over the years, but my workstation has always been Linux. Currently running gLinux on the workstation and cloudtop. My current laptop is running ChromeOS (I'm a ChromeOS swe).

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#64

Post by p_l »

YPPH wrote: post #50
qmarchi wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on the team, and the individual. Generally, a Googler does actually get to pick their OS, it's part of the onboarding process that every Noogler goes through, and you're given 30 days from your start to swap around and test the other platforms (gLinux, macOS, gWindows, or Chrome OS).

I was certainly under the impression you got the choice, thanks for confirming that applies generally.

You get a choice for the laptop, but unless your work touches any other platform its going to be done on Linux workstation (or remoting to one), iirc

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#65

Post by walrus01 »

regular debian testing, unless you are doing something really esoteric, is really quite stable for desktop use. such as you might get if you installed the basic barebones debian CLI setup totaling about 1GB disk space occupied and then used apt to install xorg and xfce4 or any other window manager.

debian-stable is extremely conservative in packages and stuff is often several years behind.

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#67

Post by colordrops »

uncletaco wrote: post #52
pbamotra wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the article, > Rolling releases with Linux distributions today are getting more common (Arch Linux, NixOS).

NixOS users are socialized to not bother reading

I'm talking about the comments.

Re: How Google got to rolling Linux releases for Desktops

#68

Post by nprateem »

_ZeD_ wrote: post #42
YPPH wrote: post #29

Out of curiosity, why would a Googler elect to use a Linux based workstation as opposed to a macOS workstation? Are they testing Linux binaries? Developing kernel extensions? Linux build tools? macOS offers such a superior desktop experience I can't imagine why else you'd ask an employer offering you a macOS machine to substitute it with a Linux one.

>>> macOS offers such a superior desktop experience [citation needed] I don't work at google, but, recently I had to discover macos at work, and boy the "desktop experience" you talk about sucks. I miss my linux env (I have a slackware at home) and even my windows one (the old machines at work)

Yeah it still surprises me every time I try to copy and paste a file in finder by right clicking just how crap it is.
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