In the developer world, it often feels like macOS or some Linux distro is the default. And while I respect those choices, I've found my sweet spot with Windows 11 for my development work. It just... works, for almost everything I throw at it.

A huge part of this is WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). It gives me a genuine Linux environment (I usually opt for Ubuntu) seamlessly integrated into Windows. I can run my Linux-native tools, scripts, and servers right alongside my Windows applications. Docker Desktop also integrates beautifully with WSL2, making containerization a breeze. Plus, for the .NET stuff I occasionally dabble in, Windows is naturally a first-class citizen. Most importantly, all my favorite IDEs, like VS Code, run perfectly.

I'll be honest, I don't have any real experience with macOS. The hardware is beautiful, but the ecosystem and price point have always kept me at bay. I did try Ubuntu as my primary OS on a laptop a while back, and while it was capable, I just found myself missing the broader software compatibility and polish of Windows for my day-to-day non-dev tasks. Windows 11 has refined the UI, improved performance, and with WSL2, it bridges the gap for development needs so well that I don't feel like I'm compromising. It's the best of both worlds for my particular workflow.