# Best OS platform for rails development

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-os-platform-for-rails-development/100256>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [July 28, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-os-platform-for-rails-development/100256 "2006-07-28T01:16:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jonathan_o)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-os-platform-for-rails-development/100256/1 "2006-07-28T01:16:48Z")

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I am on OS X right now and it definitely works well for rails, but I  
am considering buying a cheaper Dell and running a flavor of linux,  
ubuntu maybe. I’ve only heard bad things about running on Windows,  
but I am not opposed.

What is the best OS/platform for developing rails applications?

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**Author:** ![jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jonathan_o)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-os-platform-for-rails-development/100256/2 "2006-07-28T01:23:05Z")

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On Thu, Jul 27, 2006 at 06:14:24PM -0500, Jonathan O. wrote:

> What is the best OS/platform for developing rails applications?

Any unix.  
OS X if you like GUI tools.  
Any linux if you like text-based.  
Ubuntu if you choose Linux and don’t know which distribution to use.

For a server, Debian or Ubuntu non-desktop install.

-jim

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jonathan\_o](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jonathan_o)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/best-os-platform-for-rails-development/100256/3 "2006-07-28T01:51:58Z")

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On 7/27/06, Jonathan O. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> I am on OS X right now and it definitely works well for rails, but I  
> am considering buying a cheaper Dell and running a flavor of linux,  
> ubuntu maybe. I’ve only heard bad things about running on Windows,  
> but I am not opposed.
> 
> What is the best OS/platform for developing rails applications?

Personally I have been on Windows for many, many years and only  
started experimenting with Linux about two years ago, but about 5  
months ago I decided to switch all of my development work to Ubuntu,  
leaving a fresh copy of Windows on the machine solely for testing on  
Internet Explorer or playing a game. Quite honestly, with my switch, I  
have seen a big boost in productivity. I didn’t really have too many  
problems developing on Windows, but the toolset that Linux offers (all  
of which are open-source that I use) is great. It does take some time  
to learn your way around and how to become more productive  
(unfortunately, never touching a command line is still a distant dream  
for anyone hoping to do anything semi-complicated), but it is worth  
it.

Ubuntu is very well polished, but if that is not enough, you best  
stick with a Mac. Do check it out though! Of course, many other great  
distros also exist if Ubuntu isn’t your style (check out distrowatch).