Students using Windows machines experience many more struggles than students on Unix-based machines (e.g., macOS and Linux). Although it is possible to complete the course on Windows, we have seen that overcoming the Windows-only challenges wastes a lot of time that could otherwise be spent improving your engineering skills.

We require all students to use a Unix-based platform (like macOS or Linux). Two solutions are available for students who have a Windows based machine:

Option 1:

Run a VM (virtual machine) with Ubuntu. To do this, we require that your computer meet the following minimum specs to ensure the stability of the VM, minimize lag, etc.

6GB of RAM

20GB of drive space free

2-core 4-thread processor

2GHz processor speed

Option 2:

Run a dual-boot system. This is a great option if your computer doesn't meet the specs required for Option #1. This means you have the option of booting your computer into Windows or Ubuntu (but not both at the same time) every time you turn it on. This option has been well-tested but requires a more involved setup.

In general, unless your Windows laptop is extremely old, it should be able to support one of the solutions above. Additional information explaining how to set up Option #1 or Option #2 is provided to admitted students prior to the beginning of the course. Please note that the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 10 is not sufficient for our course.