mb1471 said:
I hear it is very important to use a linux machine for c programming,
is this just a common myth or is there any truth there.
It's a common myth - and like many myths, it has a huge amount of truth
behind it.
C is a portable language. Any box you can find a C compiler (or
cross-compiler) for, you can use for C programming. And if you write your
code carefully, very often the only thing you have to do to get your
program working on a different system is to recompile on the new system.
So, for example, you write your Widgetalyser on a Mac, get it working, copy
it over to a mainframe, recompile, and hey, presto! It works on the
mainframe too. And, one recompile later, it works on Linux too. And maybe
even on your mobile phone or microwave oven. (Er - maybe.)
I have been
considering switching to linux for this reason, but I'm not sure if
it's worth it..?
Oh, it's worth it all right. But perhaps you should put in a couple of years
on a Windows box first, just so that you'll be *really grateful* when you
change over. ;-)
Seriously, I don't like Windows (having used it for many years), I do like
Linux (having used it for a few years), but C doesn't care. You can get
good C compilers for Windows easily enough, legally for free in many cases.
The only thing to watch - er, one of a few things to watch is that you need
to be very firm with your typical Windows development environment. Be sure
to save your files with a .c extension, not a .cpp extension. Typical
Windows compilers will see a .cpp extension as an invitation to use C++
rules instead of C rules when compiling - with, as the saying goes, the
usual hilarious results.