Package management, too. I recently got a MacBook for work, but it’s sitting on my desk and I’m continuing to use my Lenovo. Managing software updates is much better on Linux. As is managing windows (via Niri in my case). macOS really feels like a downgrade.

I don’t disagree, I just moved back to Linux from macOS myself (Tahoe was the last drop for me).

But did you try Homebrew and its extensions? It works pretty well for managing both terminal and GUI apps, and has some useful extensions like Brewfile, MAS, etc. Its not perfect, but for single-user Macs with an up-to-date OS version, it works quite well.

For managing windows I agree Mac OS sucks. But the third party window managers I use for MacOS are better than any other first or third party window managers I’ve ever used. Windows has far better window management than any Linux distro’s default WM. (But it’s terrible in every other way)

Except on Linux you have to remember which of the several different package managers each specific system uses. Do I use apt, apt-get, pacman, yum, dnf, flatpacks, build from source? Homebrew on MacOS is miles ahead in terms of DE in my experience. But yeah I guess by default the “App Store” is meh.

There is no such thing as DX with any digital tool. Its just pain and suffering all the way down. Sooner you realize it and make peace with it the better.

> Except on Linux you have to remember which of the several different package managers each specific system uses. Do I use apt, apt-get, pacman, yum, dnf, flatpacks, build from source?

How often are you switching systems that you can't remember the package manager?

You could just alias your package manager to something more memorable if it's really a problem, but I feel like this argument only really applies to servers where you may be logging into a variety of different distributions every day.

did you tried nix on macos? helps with software updates

Nix is not the same as nixos, and in this case the distinction matters. It has to step carefully around Apple's updates. This further highlights the fact Apple lacks the same quality package management as some linux distros. Nixpkgs (on macos), Ports, and Homebrew packages are toys compared to the EFFORT that goes into maintaining Debian and Redhat packages.

In terms of package management SOFTWARE, however, nix (and guix, lix, etc.) are state of the art and work fairly similar in both linux and macos. A deeper integration with the OS would have been nice.

Package managers are wonderful until you step near our outside of the packaged software - then you better hope you're on a big distro otherwise you may be in uncharted territory.