IT House announced on August 9 that Gitlab has recently announced rules for IT team computers that prohibit employees from using Microsoft Windows and recommend using macOS or Linux. Gitlab cites a number of reasons for this, including licensing costs and security. Since Gitlab is a web-based platform, the conflict has to do with the possibility of testing IT team members in various browsers, including Microsoft Edge.
"Windows is the most targeted platform for spyware, viruses and ransomware due to its dominance of desktop operating systems. macOS comes pre-installed on Apple computers, and Linux is available for free."
To approve the use of Windows, GitLab must purchase a Windows Professional license, as Windows Home Edition does not meet GitLab’s security guidelines. Since many laptops are purchased by later GitLab employees on a reimbursement basis, telecommuting employees often purchase laptops with Windows Home pre-installed. Windows Home Edition is notoriously difficult to provide reliable protection against.”
Some people thought that the Gitlab IT team members needed to focus on work rather than security, so the new initiative made sense. Others were more of the opinion that Gitlab could also choose computers (provided by their IT team members) that were more suited to business use.
"Our only approved vendor for Linux laptops at this time is Dell. These laptops are typically pre-installed with Ubuntu Linux to save on the cost of unused Windows licenses. Dell does not currently sell laptops with Linux pre-installed in Australia and New Zealand; employees must install Linux themselves."
GitLab approves the use of Mac or Linux by its employees, including the configuration of the laptops used, etc.
"Apple Hardware Macbook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch - M1 Max / 10-core CPU / 24-core GPU / 32GB unified memory / 512GB or 1TB storage. Performance Models MacBook Pro 16-inch - Intel i7 or i9 / 512 SSD / 32 memory - legacy performance model - limited availability; we may offer this model subject to availability of new M1 Max models. Macbook Pro - 13-inch / M1 / 16GB RAM / 512GB - Standard model Note: Most roles requiring higher performance devices are approved for the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Max. Linux Hardware IT strongly encourages team members to choose a Mac; if you have experience with Linux and can support yourself, please request a Linux laptop only. Engineers, support engineers, data analysts, technical marketing managers, product designers, UX managers, product managers, technical and digital production staff are eligible to apply for Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5500 or 5700 Series laptops. Due to availability restrictions, these specific models offered may vary. IT will work with everyone to find available models that meet the following specifications: 15.6-inch display / 512GB SSD / 32GB memory / Intel i9 or i7 CPU. Everyone else is eligible for Dell Latitude 7300 Series laptops. IT will work with you to find available models that meet the following specifications: 13.3-inch display / 256GB SSD / 16GB memory / Intel Quad-Core i5 CPU Note: The maximum price for a Linux laptop does not exceed the price of an equivalent MacBook Pro 16-inch laptop."
The current development also mentions the ability for Gitlab IT team members to use Windows virtual machines inside Linux hosts.
In fact, Gitlab’s decision is not new. Google has opened it up in the past in the same way for macOS and Linux.
"After the 2010 hack, we switched from Windows PCs to the macOS operating system," said a manager, adding that "employees have the option to use Linux as their computer operating system."
There are also different views on web browsers, but they are basically based on Chrome, Chromium and Firefox. The problem with browsers is that Chrome, for example, displays menu items differently on different operating systems. In addition, the interpretation of certain selection style rules depends on the operating system platform on which the browser is running.
