I am going to ask if I may use linux for work. We are using windows but there is nothing that couldn’t be done on linux. Privately, I am mainly a fedora user but I’d be happy with any OS and DE or wm. What do I need to look out for when I suggest an OS? What does a computer/ linux/DE need in order to be ready for enterprise workstation? Will I only have a user and no sudo rights? May I install all flatpak apps? Does the admin have to be able to remote ssh?
if it’s a large enough company, expect them to have systems administrators (sometimes called systems engineers nowadays) to exert control over their windows systems using either active directory or azure iam policies.
there are multiple ways to get a linux system to comply with those policies; but that doesn’t matter since they’ll make the case to management that the extra operational costs of either getting your system to become compliant or providing you with support will hurt the budget and/or suck up extra bandwidth for support.
your best bet in such cases are to offer written agreements that you will never seek out IT’s help and you will take full responsibility if you’re not able to get your work done because your linux system and provide a plan written down for each eventuality you can think of when your linux system doesn’t work as expected.
i would also expect your manager to reject your request despite these efforts unless you’re a highly enough paid individual contributor or have a special enough relationship with upper management.
Honestly the only hope will be if there is a Linux nerd in the IT shop who is willing to make the case for OP from the sysadmin side of the fence. If you don’t have someone batting for you in that corner, there’s basically no hope.
Source: I’ve been using Linux at work in a Windows centric org for 5 years. Only reason is because a blessed nerd in my local IT support shop was on my side when I started there.
If you work for a larger company, they will likely want you to keep using what they already have, not because Linux can’t do the job but because it’s a PITA to maintain different devices.
Also, they will likely not appreciate having a lone user with a unique attack surface.
Also most Windows-centric companies hire Windows-centric sysadmins who’ll hide behind any excuse not to show their linux ignorance.
Also most Windows-centric companies hire Windows-centric sysadmins who’ll hide behind any excuse not to show their linux ignorance.
my favorite line they like to use is something to the effective of: we have to use something that can handle many users; implying that linux cannot handle thousands to millions of users, completely ignoring that it’s the most widespread server os on the planet handling billions of users.
Depends, every tech company I’ve worked at has had Windows machines for project managers, account managers etc, and Mac for developers and designers. So it is possible to support two OSs as standard. I’ve always just picked the Mac but when my next laptop is due I may ask if anyone uses Linux
It’s funny because I’m not allowed to use a Linux machine as a main system but all the appliances I build run Linux so I built myself one of those machines to be able to test my other machines because my windows machine is so locked down I can’t do anything with it. So every day I have to ssh into my Linux test bench to test our products it’s annoying
You probably will be told no. However, it never hurts to ask. I would go for bring your own device as that will allow you to set it up in a way that works for you.
Does your company have a serious IT department that manage devices?
If yes, then you’ll need to do whatever they say, and be ready to be told that’s not happening.
If not, I’d suggest a stable distro, encrypt the disk, and use flatpak/nix to install fresh packages. Fedora could work, but I’ve had bad luck with it, and wouldn’t want to risk my device crapping out because of an update.
The rest is really going to depend on your work and your it department.
