Steve Loughran [11.27.05 02:16 PM]

The numbers don't surprise me.

In the Java world, Windows is part of the ecosystem; pretty much all java products run on Windows, and bugs get dealt with, not laughed at. In Ant, we do have an outstanding Win98 bug which we are reluctant to track down. Now that I have a vmware image of Win98SE, it may happen.

The other thing is that 'enterprise' developers have enterprise desktops/laptops, and that has historically been a windows box. Partly for app compatibility (how can you file your expenses from OSCON Europe without access to the 16-bit legacy nightmare that is the expense app?), partly because it has always been that way. Also, when you compare Windows and Linux laptop support, Windows still has the edge, though Ubuntu promises much. IF you are going to code in meetings, you need a laptop, and that means a windows one. If windows starts to loose the developer's desktop, then things may change.

I don't the takeup of Java server-side apps on Windows platforms. Maybe the Tomcat team could give some figures there -they do now include a windows installer, NT service and so on.

  Kyle Adams [11.28.05 08:17 AM]

Agreed with Steve. Windows on the desktop has been a corporate standard since '95, so corporate development is no different. Running a Linux desktop is a quick way to bring down the wrath of the IS law enforcers.

Even if I could run Linux, I'd have problems accessing other shared resources. Nothing that couldn't be overcome with a mix of Samba, Mono, WINE , and other creative hackery, but all that stuff gets in the way of doing my actual job.

That said, I don't see Windows use for J2EE hosting anywhere outside of the desktop for us. We're currently Solaris with Linux just beginning to come onto the production scene.

  Ingo [11.28.05 11:04 AM]

While I'm not surprised by the number, it doesn't really say anything by itself. There is a huge difference between "yes, I have deployed to xyz" (like, once) or "many/most of my deployments are on xyz". What matters is the ratio of deployments or time spent working on either platform.

  Wai Yip Tung [11.28.05 11:06 AM]

I choose Windows as my open source development platform. I know this doesn't score geek points. And I'm not proud that I've make Bill Gates richer. Tried Linux. Doesn't work for me. Tried Mac, it is too mouse oriented whereas I'm a keyboard person. And the touchpad is even tougher for me compares to trackpoint. Microsoft the company maybe the nemesis of Open Source culture. But Windows is just a tool for me.

My platform is actually Python. It runs on a wide range of OS. I've built non-trivial applications with Python and believe it or not, it just works on other OS, without changing a single line of code.

  ingo [11.28.05 11:06 AM]

clarification: I recognize that for JBoss, it /is/ the ratio that was given. I was referring to the other number "90% of our developers". Is that exclusively, or what?