There are IDEs for Linux as well and IMO it is unfair to compare IDE vs non-IDE workflows without also looking at the advantage in terms of automation, flexibility and the sheer endlessnes of customization options (e.g. through NeoVIM or Emacs).
You do not have to switch to Linux to get a hang of your Linux development though. Download a 30 day trial of CLion and develop a simple application that can be run in a Linux based container.
Regarding CMake, modern CMake not half as bad. CMake is also cross platform, you actually use it to generate your build files, your target could even be Visual Studio. For Linux it will most likely be a Makefile that you will then use to compile (with GCC or Clang) your code to objects which it will then link to create the binary.
There are also alternatives to CMake, namely Bazel and Meson, but I haven’t used them yet.
Once you get the hang of it, you will have a deeper understanding of the language and that will help you in the long run.
CMake will also allow you to use Conan, that makes dependency management even easier.
What? SMS is a proven standard that works reliably. Why do we need to replace that? I tried RCS twice, in both cases the other end did not receive my message or at a later time. Even if SMS needed replacement, RCS is not it.