Linux

I've cracked this code (at least for me)

Use Hyper-V to create a workspace VM, using your favorite OS.

Keep all business related things on the host:

• email
• instant mesenger
• meeting software
• MDM
• etc

Put all dev related thing in VM

• docker
• ide/text editor
• dev tools

Set up "enhanced sessions" with

• shared drives
• clipboard integration
• automatic monitor resizing

It isn't easy, and a lot of the sotware used for deep integration is archived but it still works. But since Hyper-V is integrated with the windows kernel, you can achieve near-metal performance with minimal tweaking.

Best part? New laptop? Just export the VM onto it, you lose nothing.

This even works in Windows 11.

I have played the cat and mouse game of Docker for windows and WSL and been dissapointed time and time again. No more.

Free yourself. Escape Windows development pain. Carve out a palace of your own design from within the jail provided you, and make it the best dev environment for you.

Docker, wsl

With wsl you can do party much anything

You can run an x server in wsl and make that your main GUI if you want.

Install Microsoft Powertoys, and AltSnap

Powertoys, Chocolatey and Wintoys are pretty useful to make windows at work less painful xD

EDIT: The Windows is Windows 10.

Enjoy it while it lasts. It'll soon be much, much worse.

Why aren't you discussing this with your leadership?

If you're doing Linux dev work, there must be a reason your team is using Windows, and they have process around dev tasks. And your team must have process/tools for what your role does.

This seems very much like an internal discussion around what your team does.

My boss lets me remote into a Linux VM hosted on a company server. You could just use a normal VM.

I really dislike the implementation of virtual desktops in Windows compared to say Plasma, but it is there, and it gets the job done. I realize this doesn't solve your other problems.

https://www.howtogeek.com/796349/how-to-use-virtual-desktops-on-windows-11/

Win10 similar.

WSL2 with VSCode is really common. Windows Terminal is actually good. I use Ubuntu at work, and run Docker community edition and Vim. Firefox in the windows instance. Biggest issue is always the corporate firewall, good luck!

A virtual machine with Linux might be an option or Remote Desktop to a linux machine.

If its just about virtual desktops:

Windows 11 has that, i think win+ctrl+d creates a new one and win+ctrl+left arrow/right arrow scrolls through the desktops.

with that Docker and WSL(because powershell confuses me, and iam to lazy to learn it) i work pretty much the same as i would on a linux machine with a non-tiling window manager.

Windows terminal for starters. Windows has virtual desktops built in.

What exactly are you trying to get around? The question is kinda broad.

If your issue is your program behaving differently or being hard to set up depending on the OS, a common strategy is Docker.

PS: why is your employer forcing you to use old Windows that's going to go end-of-life basically tomorrow morning? That's odd.

I want to look for work-arounds

It's not your computer, i highly recommend you ask for permission.

Especially, I miss the virtual desktop feature,

SysInternals has that feature (Desktops specifically) you can use for Windows 10 (and i think it's native on 11). This is a common feature in most Linux distros...

What i do is work mostly on VirtualBox VMs, but had to have clearance from IT for that (and for USB) 'cos i do all kinds off stuff that triggers their normie warnings.