Platform Differences¶
Comprehensive reference for platform-specific differences across macOS, WSL Ubuntu, and Arch Linux.
Quick Reference¶
| Aspect | macOS | WSL Ubuntu | Arch Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package Manager | brew | apt | pacman |
| Shell | zsh (default) | bash (default) | bash |
| Binary Prefix | None | Some (bat, fd) | None |
| User Binaries | ~/.local/bin | ~/.local/bin | ~/.local/bin |
| System Binaries | /usr/local/bin | /usr/bin | /usr/bin |
| Machine Manifest | macos-personal-workstation | wsl-work-workstation | archlinux-personal-workstation |
A headless LXC or small Linux box uses the separate linux-lxc-server manifest
(platform linux), a minimal profile installed with
install.sh --machine linux-lxc-server. It installs the core system-package
tier — the lean base tagged in packages.yml, without the docker/media/GUI
packages the workstation manifests pull in. Do not point a small box at a
workstation manifest; see
Minimal Manifest for Servers.
Deep Dive¶
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Package name and binary name differences across platforms
-
Package manager commands and environment configuration
-
Tool support, version managers, and platform-specific quirks