Merge pull request #2655 from dfinity/add-different-workspaces

Add info about different developer environments

docs/developer-docs/getting-started/development-workflow.mdx

@@ -51,14 +51,51 @@ Collectively these functions are referred to as the **System API**.
 Developers are not intended to use the System API directly because that would be too low-level and error-prone.
 Instead, developers should use language-specific Canister Development Kit (CDK) libraries that are high-level wrappers around the System API.
 
+## Development environments
+
+There are several different environments that can be used to write, deploy, and test smart contracts. Each environment has different characteristics and benefits.
+
+- [`dfx`](/docs/current/developer-docs/getting-started/install/#installing-dfx): `dfx` is the 'native' way to develop smart contracts. It is a command-line tool that enables canister creation and deployment on macOS and Linux systems. `dfx` is developed and maintained by DFINITY, with new features and improvements being released regularly.
+
+- [Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install): `dfx` does not natively support Windows operating systems. To use `dfx` locally on a Windows machine, you can install the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Since this workflow isn't the primary development testing environment that `dfx` is designed for, there may be bugs or errors when using `dfx` on WSL. [Learn more about common WSL errors and troubleshooting](/docs/current/developer-docs/getting-started/install).
+
+- [Gitpod](/docs/current/developer-docs/developer-tools/ide/gitpod): Gitpod is an open-source cloud-based development environment that can be used to develop in the web browser without downloading tools or dependencies to your local machine. Gitpod can be used for long-term projects, as it does not use a temporary resource allocation system such as the Motoko Playground. Smart contract projects can be developed using Gitpod by spawning a new Gitpod workspace and configuring it to download and install `dfx`. [The Hello, world! Gitpod example can be used to learn more about Gitpod configuration](https://github.com/dfinity/icp-hello-world-motoko).
+
+- [GitHub Codespaces](https://github.com/codespaces): GitHub Codespaces is a proprietary cloud-based environment similar to Gitpod that can be used to develop smart contracts from within a web browser. To develop smart contracts, you can deploy a new codespace environment and download `dfx`. [The Hello, world! GitHub Codespaces example can be used to learn more about using codespaces](https://github.com/dfinity/icp-hello-world-motoko).
+
+:::info
+### Differences between Gitpod and GitHub Codespaces
+
+Gitpod:
+- Open-source.
+- Choose a repository to deploy into the Gitpod. Must pick an existing repo.
+- Choose from several different IDEs to be used in the workspace (VSCode, Terminal, PyCharm, etc).
+- Supports snapshots.
+- GitLab and Bitbucket integrations.
+
+GitHub Codespaces:
+- Proprietary GitHub software.
+- Do not need to select an existing repo to deploy into the Codespace. You can choose between several different template development environments that come with pre-installed dependencies, or choose an existing repo.
+- Cannot choose between different IDEs to be used in the Codespace.
+- Cannot choose between different workspace resources.
+- Does not support snapshots.
+- Does not integrate with GitLab or Bitbucket.
+:::
+
+- Using containers: Developer containers, such as [Docker containers](https://www.docker.com/), can be used for creating smart contracts and deploying them locally in a containerized environment. Containers can be useful for running several different projects simultaneously in your local environment that may be using different versions of `dfx` and different dependencies.
+
+- [Juno](/docs/current/developer-docs/web-apps/frameworks/juno): Juno is a blockchain-as-a-service platform that can be used to create and deploy smart contracts on ICP without using the traditional `dfx` development workflow. Instead, Juno manages ICP-specific tooling for you on the backend through a Juno 'satellite', allowing you to deploy on-chain dapps by interacting with just the Juno web console or through the CLI.
+
+- [Motoko Playground](/docs/current/developer-docs/developer-tools/ide/playground): Motoko Playground is a sandbox environment that can be used for testing smart contract code in any language, not just Motoko. Motoko Playground is only designed for temporary, short-term testing, as there is a 30 minute limit for each deployment. After 30 minutes, the canister will be deleted so the resources can be used for another deployment.
+
 ## Deploying smart contracts
 
 A developer can deploy smart contracts either on a local testnet or on the mainnet.
 The local testnet comes built-in with `dfx` and can be run with the `dfx start` command.
 The local testnet consists of a single node – the local machine.
 Note that as of writing, ICP doesn’t have an official public testnet.
 
-In order to deploy smart contracts on the mainnet, the developer needs either ICP tokens or <Tooltip text="Used to pay for ICP gas fees.">cycles</Tooltip>.
+In order to deploy smart contracts on the mainnet, the developer needs either ICP tokens or cycles.
 When using ICP tokens, `dfx` automatically converts the necessary amount of tokens to cycles since all operations with smart contracts require payment in cycles.
 See this [guide](/docs/current/developer-docs/getting-started/cycles/cycles-faucet) for more information on how to obtain cycles.
 

docs/developer-docs/getting-started/install/index.mdx

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ Currently supported CDKs include:
 
 If you use GitHub Codespaces or [Gitpod](/docs/current/developer-docs/developer-tools/ide/gitpod) to deploy your project, installing these dependencies is not necessary.
 
+:::info
 Links to available Codespaces and Gitpod examples can be found in the [hello world example](/docs/current/developer-docs/getting-started/hello-world#create-a-new-project).
 :::