@bashy at least we all agree that windows is useless!

Celebrations - I am on Linux ! I've also got everything I need: Apache / MySQL / PHP / Laravel etc.

However, now I am thinking that Homestead is even more pointless than when I was on Windows. I mean, I certainly don't need a VM with Ubuntu, and I have everything else. If anything else comes up, well, then surely I can just manually install it.

Right ?? Wrong ??

If you're developing a app by yourself, then there really is no need for a VM. At least i am not using it. But in a collective, where people use different systems, VM is required.

At the same time, lot of people like to match their development environment 100% with the production one. Just to be safe!

If you're using Ubuntu (Mint is not Ubuntu!) and Unity then install Numix Gtk them with Numix circle icon pack. Or some other theme as the one which ships with Ubuntu is sooooo ugly.

And ask if you need any other help with Linux, which software to use....

Makes sense. Thanks ! I'm alone, so no need for a VM. Mint is not Ubuntu. Got that.

However Mint is derived from Ubuntu with a different interface. Mint 17 is based on Ubuntu LTS 14, which is the current Ubuntu release. Everything you can do on Ubuntu you can do on Mint.

Well Ubuntu is based on Debian...

While most packages realeased for Ubuntu are good with Mint, some (like third party drivers) sometimes are not. Mint uses Ubuntu base, but still is different OS.

ok, but your information does not quite jive with this statement on the Mint website:

"Linux Mint 17 features Cinnamon 2.2, MDM 1.6, a Linux kernel 3.13 and an Ubuntu 14.04 package base."

http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_qiana_cinnamon_whatsnew.php