From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Hold on here how is Linux Desktop beating out chrome OS? Don't get me wrong I am totally onboard with Linux winning over chrome OS. But I just don't believe it.
I can got to any local store right now and buy a Chrome OS computer. I can't say the same for Linux.
Linux also surpassed 10% in my country, Greece (10.72%).
I prepared a couple of old laptops I had around recently, to gift to my niece and cousin, and I put Debian with XFce in both of them. Worked great. And I think that's why Linux is big in Greece. Consider that when someone buys a car here, they use it until the end of its life. Very rarely they sell cars to get something new. The average car is 15 years old in Greece. I think that's the deal with old laptops and computers too: people try to extend the lives of their machines.
How do they know the percentage, does Linux send info back to somewhere?
This year I went back to 100% Linux for my computers. Iβve kept my primary PC with Windows just for games but with the advancements that Proton has made to WINE it hasnβt been necessary. The only thing I miss in being able to use Affinity Publisher and Designer on the computer and not just my tablet.
Same here. Thanks to Proton and SteamDeck, things have reached a point where I can find plenty of things to play without keeping a Windows license around.
Last time I did it was 2008 or 2009, the only game I played much was World of Warcraft and it ran great under WINE at the time. I donβt remember exactly why I switched back to windows back then but it was probably games. I know I needed it when I got my VR headset back in 2016 but itβs been a while since I sold that. I donβt know if Steam VR works on Linux or not, I want to have a headset again.
I've never understood how this is good for Linux. Why is having more users so important?
You've never understood how support works? It doesn't matter that it's harder to find apps that work on Linux than windows and Mac? It matters less to me than most people but it definitely still matters
I would certainly benefit if more hardware supported Linux out-of-the-box.
Many people will benefit if that one key application they need is supported on Linux.
We all benefit from the paid developers working on Linux. The number of such people are linked to the profitability of Linux for companies which is a function of popularity.
More users means there is more interest from private companies to reach these users and to port their software/products to Linux. Ie Adobe, Games, AutoCAD Suit, etc.
But why do we want more proprietary software running on Linux? Wouldn't we be recreating the same situation that Windows has?
Edit: Why downvote me instead of replying with a reason why I'm "wrong" or discussing further? Is Lemmy turning into Reddit already?
The difference is that, with a base FOSS OS, you're not locked in to an flavor you don't like. Dislike the way Ubuntu is headed? Switch to Debian, Pop, or Mint and use the same exact programs you're used to. If you dislike Windows 11, you've only got a few years before you're forced to switch to it. Makes it much easier for them to force shitty decisions.
More adoption of Linux also means more incentive for FOSS projects to support it. Yes, it also means more proprietary software, but the truth is that most people don't care what kind of software they use as long as it works for them. At least Linux can't become beholden to the demands of that software.
There's also more chances of FOSS being developed for Linux if more people use it. FOSS is better the more popular it gets.
This seems like wishful thinking to me. Is there any data that supports that with more users comes more FOSS developers?
I'm not sure you need data to understand that if more people use a product, there's a greater chance someone will develop FOSS for it, as FOSS developers tend to also be users.
But why do we want more proprietary software running on Linux?
You're right, there's downsides for the FOSS community, but it's much better for many individuals.
Usability, accessibility and privacy for a user is better when any proprietary software, that they cannot avoid, can at least run relatively sandboxed inside an OS they have control over.
Wouldn't we be recreating the same situation that Windows has?
Good point, but thankfully, an open OS mitigates these issues a great deal.
But is the desktop really the most relevant measurement? Wouldn't it be more relevant to talk about "primary" devices? When I grew up, the desktop was what people used to connect with Internet and everything that comes with that. Hence, Linux on the desktop seemed to be relevant. Now, that is still relevant in relation to work and gaming, but for general use people use other devices. So instead of "on the desktop" I think we should talk about "for work", "for gaming" and "for programming".
Haven't we celebrated 3% just a few months ago?
year of the linux desktop!!!!
Don't panic, thats just me running it on PC, laptop, worklaptop, pinenote, pinephone, steamdeck and in multiple VMs for experimentation. (and don't forget my randomized fingerprinting setup in the browser)
How are you randomising your fingerprint? I'm very interested
Edit: ah, in your browser
Was gonna ask if this stat included the Steam Deck, as that's also accounting for the vast majority of Linux gaming numbers. Whether it does include the Deck or not, it's a nice rise, but all the better if it doesn't include the Deck. I wonder if the popularity of using Linux on the Raspberry Pi is helping too.
How many people are reading blogs on their steam decks though? I don't think it's having much of an effect for statcounter
You never know, given the Deck has desktop mode. That said, still is a good thing with or without the Deck bolstering the numbers.
With MS enshitifying Windows at an ever increasing pace and the hard work of open source developers, volunteers, advocates, to make Linux better and more approachable, I won't be surprised at all to see that percentage move up.
"You mean its free and doesn't try to sell me other products the whole time I'm using it?"
And Microsoft keeps enshitifying Windows because they know they can get away with it. So many businesses are backed into a corner and have essential parts of their business that are only compatible with Microsoft's tech. They can't switch, they won't even entertain the idea (much less the time/energy required to test it out). The folks at Microsoft know they've won. I won't be surprised when they make Windows 12's compatibility even more egregious than 11's.
There is the psychological factor that Windows behaves more like malware with their forced full screen overlays to shove the Edge into your ass. Over and over again. Microsoft doesn't take No for an answer like an abusive partner.
You put words to the feeling I get whenever I turn on my work PC. It has relatively little to do with my actual work. It's the dread of the psychological abuse of everything asking me to update, upgrade, and look at how cool our AI is, try all of our other products, share your opinion, etc. etc. etc. I would be twice as productive if they let me BYOOS (bring your own OS) and if my day to day tools were Linux compatible. There are best practices for this kind of thing, but many of the most "reputable" tech companies willingly disregard them in favor of mind games and dark psychology.