macOS Bioinformatic Programming in Perl - OS X versus Linux

[Borjan]

Hi there.

I am about to take an introduction to bioinformatic programming module for my university course.

I have never done any programming before, but think I have quite a logical brain and am good enough with computers, so I thought I would give it a go!

My course states that we will be using linux to program, I have no problem with this, I was going to put windows on my new Macbook anyway, so a linux partition wouldn't be too much hassle (I hope, haven't really looked into it). BUT, I see that Perl is included in OS X... could I just stay 'Mac-native' for my programming?

Any benefits? I realise that you may need to know more about what it is that I'll be actually doing, but I don't know that either!

 

[Cromulent]

Same thing pretty much. No need to install Linux. Mac OS X is BSD Unix.

 

[Nugget]

Perl is Perl is Perl. You'll be fine in native OS X.

 

[mobilehaathi]

You'll be good with OSX. No need to install a third OS on a separate partition. If anything download VirtualBox and your favorite Linux distribution, and you can go virtual.

 

[Borjan]

Thanks guys!

Saves me using up the 10gb or so linux partition.. now just to fill it with more crap!