For developing Python scripts that utilize OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 for tasks like web browsing and content creation, Linux and macOS are recommended due to their robust support for Python development. Linux distributions such as Ubuntu or Fedora are popular choices among developers. Windows 10 is also a viable option, offering stability and compatibility for Python development. Ultimately, the best operating system is one that aligns with your familiarity and project requirements.
Are you looking for an OS recommendation for a server environment, personal desktop, or both? Also, do you need compatibility with specific Python libraries or web automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Playwright)?
Best OS for Python (OpenAI API) Development and Web Automation Tools
Recommended Operating System for Python Development
While OpenAI’s API calls work on any major OS via simple HTTPS requests a Linux-based operating system is often the top choice for performance and stability when developing Python scripts. In particular, Ubuntu (Long-Term Support edition) is widely recommended for its balance of speed, reliability, and developer-friendly features. Ubuntu is known for its security and stability, providing a solid foundation for intensive tasks like AI model queries and web automation. It comes with Python pre-installed and offers easy access to development libraries through its package manager (APT), ensuring excellent compatibility with Python tools and libraries.
- Performance & Efficiency: Linux systems (like Ubuntu) are highly optimized and lightweight, allowing your hardware’s resources to be used for computation rather than OS overhead. Benchmarks have shown Ubuntu outperforming Windows on the same hardware in many cases – for example, Ubuntu 24.04 demonstrated about a 20% faster overall performance compared to Windows 11 in a battery of 101 benchmarks on identical laptop hardware. This means tasks like data processing, parallel computing, and running multiple Python processes can run faster and more smoothly on Ubuntu.
- Stability & Support: Ubuntu’s Long-Term Support releases are tested extensively, making them very stable for development work. The open-source Linux ecosystem benefits from continuous community-driven improvements and bug fixes, which contributes to its reputation for reliability. In practice, Linux rarely forces reboots for updates and is less prone to random system slowdowns, which is ideal for long-running scripts or servers. Additionally, Ubuntu is popular among programmers for its security and large community – if issues arise, there are plenty of resources and support forums available. This also translates to quick fixes and updates for any compatibility issues that might appear.
- Development Environment: Ubuntu offers a rich set of development tools out-of-the-box and via its Software Center, which is another reason it stands out for programming. It’s well-suited for AI and machine learning development, meaning libraries like PyTorch, TensorFlow, and the OpenAI Python SDK run easily on it. The OS’s package management and built-in build tools make installing Python packages (even those with native extensions) straightforward. In contrast, Windows often requires separate build tools (like Visual C++ Build Tools) for certain Python libraries, which can complicate setup. Ubuntu’s compatibility and ease of installing dependencies can save time during development.
Alternative Options: If you prefer or require Windows 11, you can still create a robust Python development environment by using WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux). WSL2 allows running an Ubuntu Linux instance within Windows, giving you Linux-like performance and compatibility without dual-booting. In fact, WSL2 Ubuntu can achieve performance on par with native Ubuntu and often faster than native Windows in development workflows.
This means you can enjoy the convenience of Windows (for other applications or drivers) while doing your Python/OpenAI API development in a Linux environment for stability. Additionally, for those with Apple hardware, macOS is another stable, Unix-based OS that works well for Python development. MacOS offers a powerful terminal and comes with many Unix tools, making it a good environment for coding; however, on an Intel PC laptop, Ubuntu Linux would be the closest equivalent in terms of stability and performance.
Web Automation Tools: Selenium & Playwright
When it comes to programmatically interacting with web pages (for tasks like automated web browsing, scraping, or testing user flows), web automation frameworks are indispensable. Two of the most popular tools in this domain are Selenium and Playwright. Here’s a brief overview of each:
Selenium – Selenium is a veteran open-source toolset for automating web browsers. It allows you to control a real browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.) through code, simulating clicks, typing, navigation, and other user actions. Selenium works by using browser-specific drivers (via the WebDriver protocol) to manipulate the browser just as a human would. It supports a wide range of languages (Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, and more), which makes it very flexible for different projects. Developers commonly use Selenium for web scraping, form submission, automated testing of web applications, or any scenario where you need a script to interact with a live webpage’s UI. Its long history means it has a mature ecosystem and strong community support, along with integrations for test frameworks. For example, QA engineers rely on Selenium to ensure web apps behave correctly across different browsers and devices. In practice, using Selenium in Python involves installing the
seleniumlibrary and a driver (like ChromeDriver) for your browser, then writing scripts that locate page elements and perform actions.Playwright – Playwright is a newer open-source framework from Microsoft, designed to provide fast and reliable browser automation. It offers a high-level API to control browsers in either headless mode (no UI) or headed mode, supporting all major browser engines – Chromium (Chrome/Edge), Firefox, and WebKit (Safari) – with one consistent library. Playwright was initially built for Node.js, but now has first-class support for Python, Java, and .NET as well. One of Playwright’s strengths is its modern architecture: it has built-in waiting mechanisms that automatically pause script execution until page elements are ready, reducing the chance of timing issues in automation. It also supports advanced features like intercepting network requests and emulating mobile devices or geolocation, which are useful for complex web interactions. Because Playwright was created more recently, it takes advantage of async programming for better performance – in many cases, Playwright scripts run faster than equivalent Selenium scripts due to this efficient design. Playwright is often chosen for end-to-end testing and web scraping in modern web apps because of its speed and out-of-the-box reliability, whereas Selenium remains a proven solution with broad language and browser support. Both tools achieve similar goals (controlling a browser through code), and the choice between them can depend on the specific needs of a project (e.g. existing infrastructure, need for legacy browser support, or preference for newer features).
Anyway, both Playwright and Selenium work on Ubuntu.
My laptop (an Intel Ultra 7 155H powered laptop with 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD provide more than enough power for handling OpenAI API calls, web automation, and multi-tasking efficiently.
Ubuntu Compatibility on High-End Intel Laptop
Hardware Compatibility (CPU, RAM, SSD)
CPU (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H): Ubuntu’s latest LTS can run this new Meteor Lake CPU without fundamental issues. The Linux kernel supports Intel’s hybrid P-core/E-core architecture, so all cores and threads will be utilized. However, full support for the integrated “Intel Arc” graphics in this CPU arrives in newer kernels. Ubuntu 22.04’s stock kernel might not recognize the iGPU or allow brightness control. Upgrading to a 6.5+ kernel (Ubuntu’s HWE/OEM kernel or a newer LTS release) is recommended to enable the iGPU and backlight control. Once on an updated kernel, the CPU and its GPU work properly. There are also ongoing performance tweaks for this chip in recent kernels, so staying up-to-date will ensure you get the best performance. The CPU is fully supported, but use the latest kernel available for your LTS to avoid any early-adoption issues.
Memory (64 GB DDR5): No compatibility concerns here – 64-bit Ubuntu can address 64GB RAM with ease. There’s no special configuration needed for DDR5; the memory controller handles it at the hardware level. Ubuntu will simply see all 64GB and allow heavy multitasking or memory-intensive workloads (like running multiple VMs or large datasets in Python) with no tweaking required. This amount of RAM is well above Ubuntu’s minimum needs, so you have plenty of headroom for running OpenAI API processes, browsers for Playwright/Selenium, etc., simultaneously without swapping. If you plan on using hibernate, note that you’d need a large swap file (roughly equal to RAM), but for most users with 64GB, hibernation is optional. Otherwise, Ubuntu’s default swap settings should be fine, and you can even lower the swappiness value to favor using RAM. Ubuntu will fully utilize the 64GB out of the box.
Storage (1 TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD): Ubuntu supports NVMe SSDs like the Samsung 990 Pro natively – the kernel’s NVMe driver will handle the drive at full PCIe 4.0 speeds. No extra driver is needed, and installation should detect the SSD without issues. Using an NVMe SSD is beneficial for Linux laptops; they are fast and power-efficient, which helps both performance and battery life. The main consideration is making sure the SSD has the latest firmware. Early Samsung 990 Pro units had a firmware bug causing rapid health decline, resolved by Samsung’s updates. Since Samsung’s firmware tool is Windows-only, you might update the SSD firmware in Windows or via a bootable ISO, then install Ubuntu. Once updated, the 990 Pro runs reliably on Linux – users have reported solid performance (exceeding 7 GB/s sequential reads in benchmarks) and normal drive health behavior. In rare cases on certain motherboards, NVMe power management needed tweaking to prevent the drive from “dropping” connection, but that’s unlikely on a modern laptop. If you do encounter any NVMe timeouts in logs, you can disable deep power states as a workaround. Generally, Ubuntu + NVMe is a well-tested combo, so you should enjoy fast boot times and snappy disk I/O with the 990 Pro.
Known Driver Issues and Workarounds
Integrated Graphics (Intel Arc iGPU): The Core Ultra 7 155H’s integrated GPU is new (Arc-based). Out of the box on older kernels, you might find the system falls back to a basic driver – symptoms include no GPU acceleration and inability to adjust brightness. This is resolved by using a newer kernel and Mesa drivers. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS with the latest updates (HWE stack) or Ubuntu 23.10/24.04 include support for Meteor Lake graphics. Kernel 6.8+ is needed for full Arc iGPU support (brightness control, etc.), and 6.9 improves its performance. After updating, the Intel graphics will function properly with 3D acceleration (via the i915/xe driver and Mesa). In practice, users installing updated Ubuntu on similar hardware report that “everything works fine” on the Core Ultra laptops. Be prepared to run system updates or use a new Ubuntu release so the iGPU driver is in place.
If you have a hybrid setup with a dedicated GPU (e.g. Nvidia RTX 40-series), install Nvidia’s proprietary driver (using the “Additional Drivers” tool) for optimal performance and to switch GPUs. The Nvidia driver is necessary for CUDA, smooth graphics switching, and to avoid the many issues of the open-source nouveau driver. With the Nvidia driver installed, Prime Render Offload or NV Control Panel can be used to switch to Intel GPU on battery and the Nvidia GPU when needed.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Check which Wi-Fi module your laptop uses. Many high-end Intel-based laptops ship with Intel Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 cards. Intel cards are well-supported in Linux via the iwlwifi driver, but you might need the latest firmware package. After installing Ubuntu, apply all updates (which will pull in the newest linux-firmware files). If your Wi-Fi isn’t working on first boot, connect via Ethernet or USB tether and run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeThis usually enables new Intel Wi-Fi chips. Bluetooth from the combo card will likewise work once the firmware is in place. If your laptop has a Realtek or MediaTek Wi-Fi, you might need to install a driver. Check the specific model (with lspci/lsusb); most newer Realtek WLANs have drivers available in the Ubuntu repos or via GitHub. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth should be fine on Ubuntu with minor updating, especially if it’s an Intel module.
Touchpad & Inputs: New laptops sometimes use updated touchpad hardware that older kernels don’t recognize. If you encounter a non-functional touchpad or camera after install, this is almost always resolved by kernel updates or installing the OEM enablement stack. Ubuntu’s 22.04.3+ and 23.04 releases included improved support for newer HID devices, so using those or backport kernels will solve it. Also, check for any BIOS updates for your laptop – sometimes firmware updates improve Linux compatibility for components like touchpad or fingerprint readers. Major laptop OEMs (Dell, Lenovo, HP) often include fixes in BIOS or work with the kernel team when they certify models for Linux.
Power Management: Power management on Ubuntu will work, but you should be aware of a few points for optimal results. Meteor Lake chips initially launched with less-than-ideal Linux power settings (running in a higher performance bias) and are being tuned in recent kernel patches. As those improvements land (in kernel 6.9+), idle power draw and efficiency improve. Using the latest kernel or Ubuntu release means you’ll benefit from those changes.
Many laptops with similar specs default to “s2idle” modern standby instead of deep S3 sleep. S2idle can resume faster but sometimes draws more battery during suspend. Check with:
cat /sys/power/mem_sleepIf only s2idle is available (no deep), you might see higher standby drain. Some BIOS offer an option to enable S3 sleep; if so, turning that on can greatly reduce sleep battery drain on Linux. If not, stick with s2idle and ensure all devices are in low-power mode (NVMe, USB controllers, etc.) when suspended. The tool powertop can help identify any device preventing deeper C-states.
Another aspect is CPU frequency scaling: Ubuntu uses the intel_pstate driver with an “Energy Performance Preference.” On AC power, it will ramp to high frequencies (and use more wattage); on battery, it might use a more balanced setting. You can manually choose power profiles in Ubuntu’s settings (Power mode: Performance, Balanced, Power Saver) to adjust CPU behavior. Thermals and fan control should be managed by firmware, but installing thermald (if not already present) can help react to thermal conditions on Intel CPUs.
Latest Ubuntu LTS Release and Kernel Version
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) – Default Kernel
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (codenamed “Noble Numbat”) is the latest long-term support release of Ubuntu (released in April 2024). It ships with Linux kernel 6.8 as its official default kernel. This means the Ubuntu 24.04 installation media comes with kernel 6.8 (initially 6.8.0) out of the box. Canonical chose the 6.8 kernel to provide users with new features and performance improvements—for example, Ubuntu 24.04’s kernel includes support for the bcachefs filesystem and integrates low-latency scheduling enhancements for better performance.
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) – Kernel and Latest Updates
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (released April 2022, codenamed “Jammy Jellyfish”) originally shipped with the Linux 5.15 LTS kernel as its default. As a long-term support release, it has received periodic Hardware Enablement (HWE) updates that introduce newer kernel versions from subsequent Ubuntu releases. Through these updates, Ubuntu 22.04’s kernel was incrementally upgraded (for example, Ubuntu 22.04.3 used Linux 6.2 and 22.04.4 introduced Linux 6.5). The latest available kernel update for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS arrived with its final point release (22.04.5) in late 2024 – this update provided Linux kernel 6.8 for 22.04 LTS via the HWE stack. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS started with a 5.15 kernel and, by its latest updates, can run on a 6.8 kernel, ensuring improved hardware support and performance over its support lifespan.