From Clicking Icons to Building an OS: A Developer’s Journey Through Operating System

Source: Dev.to

Every developer starts somewhere. Some start with “Hello World.”
I started with “Why is my computer updating again?”

This is the story of my long, chaotic, coffee‑fueled journey through operating systems—how I tried everything, broke most things, and somehow ended up understanding OSs well enough to feel dangerous (in a good way).

Chapter 1: macOS — The Smooth Talker 🍎

macOS was my “it just works” era.

• Beautiful UI
• Terminal that felt almost Linux
• Apps that cost money but looked like they deserved it

macOS is the OS that makes you feel productive even when you’re just rearranging your dock for 20 minutes. It gently introduces you to Unix concepts without scaring you.

“Wow, I’m basically a Unix wizard.”
You are not.
But you feel like one—and that’s important for confidence.

Chapter 2: Windows — The Default Boss Fight 🪟

Then there’s Windows.

Windows is where most of us are forged. It teaches you:

• How to install drivers manually
• Why updates always happen right before deadlines
• How to troubleshoot problems that require 17 reboots and prayer

Windows is chaotic neutral. It supports everything, but at a cost: your sanity.

Still, Windows teaches you compatibility, backward support, and how enterprise systems actually survive in the real world. Respect.

Chapter 3: Linux — The Awakening 🐧

Then one day… you dual‑boot. This is where the journey really begins.

Ubuntu

Your first Linux love.

• Friendly
• Stable
• “It just works” (Linux edition)

You learn:

• apt install
• The terminal isn’t scary
• You can live without .exe

Linux Mint / Zorin OS / Pop!_OS

The comfort distros.

• Familiar UI
• Minimal suffering
• Maximum productivity

These teach you that Linux doesn’t have to hurt to be powerful.

Chapter 4: The Hacker Phase 😈

You install Kali Linux or Parrot OS.

Suddenly:

• Your wallpaper is dark
• Your terminal looks like a movie scene
• You Google “legal disclaimer penetration testing”

You learn:

• Networking basics
• Security tooling
• Why you should never run everything as root (but you still do)

You feel like a hacker. You are mostly just running tools. Still counts.

Chapter 5: Virtual Machines — God Mode 🖥️

Then come VMs.

VirtualBox, VMware, QEMU, KVM.

Now you:

• Spin up OSs like Pokémon
• Break systems safely
• Test configs without fear

VMs teach you:

• Isolation
• Resource management
• How servers actually live in data centers

This is where experimentation becomes skill.

Final Boss: Becoming an OS Master 🧠

At some point, you realize:

• An OS is just a kernel + services + user space
• GUIs are optional
• Stability, security, and performance are trade‑offs

You stop arguing about “best OS” and start asking:

“Best for what?”

That’s mastery.

TL;DR

I didn’t find the perfect OS.
I became someone who understands all of them.

And honestly? That’s better.