this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2025

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How to minimize pain of Windows in work environment? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by someacnt@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@programming.dev

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Hello all! I began working today, where the work is closely related to programming. Despite this, the work computer is set up as Windows (eww). I want to look for work-arounds, as installing linux on a work machine is a no-go.

I wonder, what is the way to minimize pain from having to use windows? Either that, or a way to maximize work done on linux-like stuffs. A linux server is given for us, and I think I can install WSL. Any recommendations on this setup?

Especially, I miss the virtual desktop feature, is there any way to use it? Is there a way I can run compositor through WSL? Also, should I install Pop! OS for the feature, or is it available on e.g. Ubuntu (default WSL)?

Sorry to ask a non-exclusively-linux question, but I think, hopefully, many linux people have experience to give me pointers what to do with a windows work environment.

EDIT: The Windows is Windows 10. EDIT: It seems like using WSL is servicable, while being janky at times. Gotta see how it goes.

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[–] BetterDev@programming.dev 5 points 6 days ago

I've cracked this code (at least for me)

Use Hyper-V to create a workspace VM, using your favorite OS.

Keep all business related things on the host:

email
instant mesenger
meeting software
MDM
etc

Put all dev related thing in VM

docker
ide/text editor
dev tools

Set up "enhanced sessions" with

shared drives
clipboard integration
automatic monitor resizing

It isn't easy, and a lot of the sotware used for deep integration is archived but it still works. But since Hyper-V is integrated with the windows kernel, you can achieve near-metal performance with minimal tweaking.

Best part? New laptop? Just export the VM onto it, you lose nothing.

This even works in Windows 11.

I have played the cat and mouse game of Docker for windows and WSL and been dissapointed time and time again. No more.

Free yourself. Escape Windows development pain. Carve out a palace of your own design from within the jail provided you, and make it the best dev environment for you.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 16 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Why aren't you discussing this with your leadership?

If you're doing Linux dev work, there must be a reason your team is using Windows, and they have process around dev tasks. And your team must have process/tools for what your role does.

This seems very much like an internal discussion around what your team does.

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)

+1 for bringing it up as serious discussion.

The last time I had to ask permission for something like this, the issue turned out to be simply that the IT staff wasn't trained in Linux and therefore couldn't support it. I was more than capable of administering my own Linux box and ensuring that it wouldn't become a risk to our company network, so we agreed that I would do that.

It was a win-win result: I had the tool I needed to be most productive, and IT had fewer machines to support.

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Sounds more like a win-lin result to me.

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

I see, I gotta talk about it with the leadership. For context, my work is just a small university lab (5~20 people), so I expect it to be less organized.

[–] BatmanAoD@programming.dev 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Actually, it's pretty surprising to me that a small university lab is forcing a specific version of a specific OS on you.

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

It is not forcing per se, it's just that the computer comes with Windows pre-installed, and I am worried that changing it will cause more issues than it's worth.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What are you doing? Why do you need Linux at all?

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

I seem to have irrational hatred on Windows.

Besides, there is programming work which is conducted entirely on linux server.

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I tried at my job. Basically the IT guys are too incompetent and don't know how to manage Linux computers.

But the company had to be able to have control over what users install, they must also have a VPN and proxy set up in a way that they can monitor what employees do or what they browse. They currently use Zscaler.

[–] lud@lemm.ee 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Or they are simply overworked like most IT teams.

Managing Linux devices is more complicated since it was very poor Intune and GPO support so you basically have to have another separate system for that.

We only have Linux workstations at work because a dev outside IT, setup their own Linux platform and does it support it. IT support won't help with any problems though.

The only way Linux workstations are officially supported is that they have certificates for 802.1x.

If the person that supports the Linux platform quits I'm not sure anyone else could take up the task. The Linux sysadmins might but I doubt they have the time for that.

A few people also setup their own Linux computers and abused a flaw in the 802.1x. implementation that allowed them to use Ethernet with a username and password instead of a certificate. That is fortunately fixed now.

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[–] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I really dislike the implementation of virtual desktops in Windows compared to say Plasma, but it is there, and it gets the job done. I realize this doesn't solve your other problems.

https://www.howtogeek.com/796349/how-to-use-virtual-desktops-on-windows-11/

Win10 similar.

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks, I will look into it.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)

EDIT: The Windows is Windows 10.

Enjoy it while it lasts. It'll soon be much, much worse.

[–] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I recently upgraded to Windows 11 and it's absolutely fine. Admittedly I did some research, got the IoT LTSC version and enabled the Rufus options to remove account requirements etc. But after that it's pretty much the same as Windows 10, just slightly swisher animations.

[–] cyborganism@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago

I've had my laptop reimaged at work with windows 11. It's horrible. I miss windows 10 honestly.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

it's pretty much the same as Windows 10, just slightly swisher animations.

And ten times more unusable without several third party programs to fix the absolutely fubared UI.

It takes about ten clicks more, on average, to do anything in 11 than in 10.

Utterly unusable garbage, is what it is, even if you ignore all the spyware and bloatware and lost functionality.

(Of course the same could be said of 10 in regards to XP, and XP in regards to 2000, so really it's utterly unusable garbage cubed.)

[–] BatmanAoD@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I...honestly don't know what you mean, and I've had 11 since about when it came out. Do you have an example?

Lots of settings actually seem more convenient now, especially the ones for audio and Bluetooth.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Try to configure a printer.
Try to configure a network adapter.
Try to configure graphics settings.
Try to organise the start menu to make it even remotely useable.
Try to uninstall a store app for all users without having to use undocumented powershell incantations.
And I'm already wanting to punch something, so I'll stop now.

Lots of settings actually seem more convenient now, especially the ones for audio and Bluetooth.

Sure, if all you want is to turn them on or off and you don't want to actually configure anything.

[–] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 5 points 1 week ago

Well, seeing as I only just installed Windows 11 I actually do need to do those, so here goes:

Try to configure a printer.

Windows button -> "add printer" -> Click "Add a printer or scanner" -> Click "Add Device" -> Oh my god it actually found my shitty wifi printer immediately! -> Click Add -> Jesus it actually worked quickly and without any issues. I'm actually blown away by this. It's never worked anywhere close to this smoothly on Linux, Windows 10 or even Mac.

Try to configure a network adapter.

Well I don't really need to do this but let's imagine I want to set a static IP.

Windows button -> "net..." ok it wants to show me Settings but it did show me "View Network Connections" for a second too, which based on my experience of Windows 10 is a better bet... -> Right click -> Properties -> TCP/IPv4 -> Properties... Ok everything here appears to be absolutely identical to Windows 10.

Try to configure graphics settings.

Hmm I do want to know what refresh rate I'm using. IIRC in Windows 10 this was always most easily available by right clicking the desktop (yeah it's not like Windows 10 was exactly consistent).

Right click -> Display settings -> Ok this isn't what I remember from Windows 7 & maybe 10.

Can't see refresh rate, but there is "Advanced display", oh it actually says "Display information, refresh rate" in the subtitle. 100 Hz great.

Try to organise the start menu to make it even remotely useable.

The start menu wasn't really usable in Windows 10 either. This is certainly an improvement at least - no shitty links to OneDrive or whatever to remove (in the IoT edition at least). The only thing I had to do here was move it to the left instead of the centre, which was fortunately easy.

Try to uninstall a store app for all users without having to use undocumented powershell incantations.

IoT edition doesn't actually have the Windows Store.

[–] ms5K8oWx@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

You've failed to mention a single thing that can be qualified as a daily use-case. Okay, it might take an extra click or two to set up a printer, but this isn't something you do every day unless you work in an IT department. Even then, it sounds like you're rather irritated that things aren't how they used to be.

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[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

You know. I did all of those for my grandmother a few months back.

If you're having problems with those things, that's a you problem. Wasn't difficult at all to set it up for her, including Uninstalling bloat.

Yes, for some I did Google a powershell solution. Literally, "how to uninstall X with powershell" and boom. Done.

I get it. It's cool to hate on windows. I miss 7 too. But you just come across as technologically impaired.

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[–] anguo@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Install Microsoft Powertoys, and AltSnap

[–] Corgana@startrek.website 4 points 1 week ago

Chocolatey and Windhawk

[–] jia_tan@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

My boss lets me remote into a Linux VM hosted on a company server. You could just use a normal VM.

[–] thisisnotgoingwell@programming.dev 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

When people complain about Windows in a work environment, I wonder really what their complaints are. I mean I don't like windows either but at the end of the day you're just using visual studio and maybe a terminal emulator to access your work. Your codebase is on a test server or production server.

That said, my mind was blown when I used my first mac. Even the best windows laptop I've been given at work would maybe last 4 hours without charging. I can use my Mac for almost two days without charging it which makes going to the office that much easier when I can sit outside. I don't know if Windows is just extremely inefficient with its resource management or of it's all the bullshit spyware companies bloat every PC with but if the company absolutely won't let you install a Linux desktop OS I'd just ask for a Mac. Plenty of staff use them at universities

[–] scrooge101@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

If you are used to your custom tiling window manager, you are less productive on Windows. Additionally, you have an increased anger level due to all the Windows annoyances.

[–] Dunstabzugshaubitze@feddit.org 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

A virtual machine with Linux might be an option or Remote Desktop to a linux machine.

If its just about virtual desktops:

Windows 11 has that, i think win+ctrl+d creates a new one and win+ctrl+left arrow/right arrow scrolls through the desktops.

with that Docker and WSL(because powershell confuses me, and iam to lazy to learn it) i work pretty much the same as i would on a linux machine with a non-tiling window manager.

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Thanks, sadly the setup is windows 10, so I guess no tiling for me :/ EDIT: Seems like there is virtual desktop feature in windows 10!

[–] gratux@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 week ago

i remember powertoys offering tiling for win10

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[–] Geometrinen_Gepardi@sopuli.xyz 8 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Windows terminal for starters. Windows has virtual desktops built in.

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[–] Eiri@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What exactly are you trying to get around? The question is kinda broad.

If your issue is your program behaving differently or being hard to set up depending on the OS, a common strategy is Docker.

PS: why is your employer forcing you to use old Windows that's going to go end-of-life basically tomorrow morning? That's odd.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

They said they work at a university...

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[–] Olap@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago

WSL2 with VSCode is really common. Windows Terminal is actually good. I use Ubuntu at work, and run Docker community edition and Vim. Firefox in the windows instance. Biggest issue is always the corporate firewall, good luck!

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I want to look for work-arounds

It's not your computer, i highly recommend you ask for permission.

Especially, I miss the virtual desktop feature,

SysInternals has that feature (Desktops specifically) you can use for Windows 10 (and i think it's native on 11). This is a common feature in most Linux distros...

What i do is work mostly on VirtualBox VMs, but had to have clearance from IT for that (and for USB) 'cos i do all kinds off stuff that triggers their normie warnings.

[–] someacnt@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

I see, I will note myself to ask permission about these stuffs. Thanks!

[–] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago

Programming on Windows can be totally fine, if you're working with a language that cares about Windows support. E.g. in my experience:

Good: Rust, Go, C#, Java, Deno, Dart
Okish: Python, C++, Node
Bad: Perl, OCaml

If it's in the "bad" category I would recommend installing WSL and using VSCode's remote feature that lets you have a Windows copy of VSCode connect to WSL.

[–] JanUwU42@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

Powertoys, Chocolatey and Wintoys are pretty useful to make windows at work less painful xD

[–] namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev 3 points 1 week ago

What kind of programming work are you doing?

I've thought about situations like yours and what I would do if I were in that situation someday. For me, the plan is to try doing as much in the console as possible, which means Vim/Neovim for development and Tmux for window management.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Docker, wsl

With wsl you can do party much anything

You can run an x server in wsl and make that your main GUI if you want.

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[–] _____@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

WSL, if not then msys2/git bash at bare minimum

Poweshell 7 is okay if you have access to it but regular day to day shell scripting is like as 10x more verbose with powershell than bash

I just use WSL at work, extremely fortunate to be able to despite IT locking down everything as much as possible

[–] qkalligula@my-place.social 3 points 1 week ago

@someacnt

Citrix... I use my Linux setup to remote into my work laptop work for work... It allows me to have my standard Linux workflow while having access to my work stuff and not putting that anywhere locally.

[–] rah@feddit.uk 2 points 1 week ago

I think, hopefully, many linux people have experience to give me pointers what to do with a windows work environment

Windows people would have much more experience. Try !windows@sopuli.xyz ?

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