I borrowed these habits from Linux and my Windows setup is better for it

When I dipped my toe into Linux, there was a lot of trial and error, and it took me years to learn to avoid certain Linux mistakes. However, after many years of using the platform, I’ve developed several habits that have also found their way into my Windows usage. I find it interesting that I view Windows quite differently from how I did before I started using Linux.

These new habits that I’ve introduced to Windows make me much more productive and more efficient at using the operating system. Linux is often viewed as customizable and user-controlled, while Windows is seen as rigid and mainstream. But I now see past the stereotypes and understand that certain elements in both worlds can come together beautifully.

Treat your system like a toolkit

Your computer isn't Microsoft's

One lesson I learned early on using Linux is that every system has to be a tailored toolkit streamlined for me. For instance, when I install Fedora, I switch the default file manager (GNOME Files, also known as Nautilus) to Nemo, the default file manager for the Cinnamon desktop. It offers a dual-pane view, built-in terminal integration, and more extensive customization options. This works better for me, and because I went into Linux with the mindset that the system is mine to customize, it felt like second nature to swap out and customize components.

Before exploring Linux, I would, of course, uninstall and install apps that suited me, but this wasn’t my default way of looking at the OS. I didn’t start a fresh Windows installation with the mindset that everything had to be tailor-made for me. I only made these changes later on when I had a particular need. But now, starting by swapping, removing, and adding what fits me is my default. Now that every Windows installation feels more like a toolkit, at least to some extent, I can stop seeing it as Microsoft’s system and begin feeling it's something I own.

But interestingly, on Linux, the tinkering is never done. I started by cleaning up the installation and adding only what works, but I still keep playing around and exploring, which has become my approach to using Windows. It dawned on me that within the past few months, I've cycled through OneNote, Obsidian, and now Joplin for note-taking. I’m now much more flexible and willing to try new apps on my computer.

Automate ruthlessly

Even for small tasks

I spent more time in the Linux terminal than I ever did using the Windows terminal, and it made me hyper-aware of repetitive actions. On Linux, instead of repeatedly renaming dozens of downloaded files manually, I prefer to script it. Although it's possible and quite straightforward to automate several tasks on Windows, I hadn't considered that direction.

Windows' polished GUI makes you comfortable manually carrying out tasks that could be performed more efficiently with automation. It was only recently, when I wrote a small PowerShell script to bulk-rename files in seconds, that I realized I had carried over a habit from Linux.

Linux encourages you to prefer terminal efficiency over clicking through the GUI, but the moment you adopt the same philosophy on Windows, you become faster and more efficient. Suddenly, I’m turning tasks that took five clicks into a single keystroke. For example, I created a handful of AutoHotkey shortcuts for tasks such as launching my most frequently used apps, opening a VPN connection, and even pasting boilerplate text. This is just one of the many AutoHotkey scripts I use daily.

However, I also know the best automations aren’t the flashy ones. Using Linux cron jobs opened my eyes to the fact that Windows automation can run quietly in the background while you focus on real work. For instance, I created a script that deletes temporary files from both the user's profile and the main Windows temporary directory. This script is scheduled with Windows Task Scheduler to automate it.

Keep your system transparent

Always know what's going on

On Linux, I tend to monitor logs and system performance via the terminal, so I’m constantly aware of running processes and services. This is now a habit I’ve carried over to Windows. I stopped assuming that the OS is handling everything optimally and started taking more ownership and responsibility.

Now, I’d rather use Process Explorer instead of relying solely on Task Manager because it shows detailed process trees, CPU and memory usage, handles, and threads.

On Linux, I would often trim unnecessary daemons at boot because it means my computer runs lightly. I started doing this because I used to run Linux on very old computers. Because I’m aware of all the processes that run on Windows, especially during startup, I find myself disabling all non-essential startup apps and unnecessary services. As a result, my Windows installations now run leaner and smoother.

Prioritize lightweight and minimalist solutions

Avoid heavy apps

On Linux, I often went for the one app that does a specific task best. One reason is that Linux was my test OS and, at the time, I wasn’t going to budget top dollar for a new Linux computer; I was installing Linux on an older machine I could spare. This usually meant slower performance, and I couldn’t afford to install bloated apps. As a result, I preferred specialist apps over all-in-one solutions.

But what started as a resource optimization habit has long become my default. Now it’s less about speed and more about minimizing distraction. So, even when I use Windows, I’m constantly shifting from all-in-one solutions to apps that do one major function best.

For example, Voidtool's Everything now replaces full-featured, OneDrive-heavy file managers. But I took it a step further, minimizing the Windows UI for a more minimalist feel. I unpinned every unused Start Menu tile and cut down on taskbar clutter. Now only the apps and utilities that I use most remain visible.

Windows and Linux feel similar

I know many people live in different ecosystems, so it becomes challenging to acknowledge how similar Windows and Linux are. But when you zoom out, it's clear they are quite similar. I believe the biggest difference is in philosophy. But the moment I started using Windows more like I would use Linux, the dividing lines blurred, even if just a bit.

After applying these Linux-inspired habits, Windows feels more intentional, flexible, and more like something I control. I now utilize many open-source tools as part of my Windows workflow and have replaced several Google services with open-source alternatives. How we use a system matters almost as much as the system itself.