As a software developer who uses multiple operating systems at work, you've likely run into situations where you wished that you could somehow control all your devices with just one keyboard and mouse.
Maybe you were developing a new product and maintaining it across different devices or taking part in a database design project. Then you got frustrated by the inability to manage your software development workflow across all your operating systems concurrently.
We know. We’ve been there! But the good news is that there's a solution, and it's called Synergy. Our software provides an easier way to manage your cross-platform activities and move your focus smoothly between systems.
Let's look at some of the other ways software developers have tried to solve this problem, then look at why Synergy provides the best option.
KVM switches are often the first option you might consider when looking for a solution to control multiple devices with one keyboard and mouse. Some developers call them "switchers" because you have to push a physical switch to alternate your devices. Whatever you decide to call them, just know that all KVM switches work in the same way.
They use ports to interface with your operating systems, keyboard, mice, and monitors. The more ports your KVM switch has, the more devices you can connect to it. In most cases, a standard 4-port KVM switch is all that's needed. But it's not uncommon to see a 64-port KVM switch used in a server room or similar setting.
Pricing of KVM switches ranges from $20 per unit to thousands of dollars per unit, depending on the number of ports supported.
What if you don't want to go through all the hassle of setting up a KVM switch? You can always use mouse and keyboard combinations with multi-PC support.
For example, Logitech and Dell both have keyboard and mouse combinations to control multiple computers on the same local network. While opting for a keyboard and mouse with multi-PC support is convenient, it may not be the best option if you use an operating system that isn't Windows or macOS.
Varies between manufacturers
Synergy allows you to control multiple operating systems simultaneously with one keyboard and mouse over a LAN connection (Local Area Network). Our software’s backend code is built with C++, which gives you an added layer of flexibility and greater memory performance across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi.
In a recent survey, we discovered that 73% of Synergy customers use multi-operating-system setup (i.e. multiple OS with multiple computers) compared to 27% who only use one operating system (i.e. multiple computers with the same OS) in their daily workflow. Software developers are by far our largest user base, representing about 19.3% of all total users. Most use Synergy to increase their productivity when developing full-stack applications and cross-platform UX and UI interfaces.
To get the most out of Synergy's features at work, we recommend that you use the business license, which comes with SSL/TLS encryption across your network, and priority technical support with an initial response time of 1 hour. Business users are required to subscribe to the business version of Synergy to avoid violating our EULA.
$60 annual subscription, per user.
Contact us today to learn more about how our business license can help you become a more productive software developer.