https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYOpwZJapbs
Linux hit 4% desktop OS marketshare not too long ago. But it's still far away from competing with Windows or macOS. Question is - how do you make Linux more ...
The original image said windows where this would be accurate but I doubt it applies to the average linux user
I'm confused, is the image about Linux? I don't see it says Linux anywhere in the red circles. /s
I actually do. All the time. And I think you should too. Don't understand why people seem to think there's something wrong with that.
When you tell people to use Linux and they have any issues or something is unclear, they'll ask you every time. Not sure how many people I could support simultaneously.
If they do that, support them in fixing it themselves, instead of just fixing it for them. Give a person a fish, feed them for a day or something...
Well, I do. In fact I've installed Linux on 4 classmate's laptops, after insisting for some time.
People don't have any reason to recommend Windows because it's the regular OS everyone already uses.
Linux may be an improvement for a lot of people's use cases but a vast majority of them don't even know it exists and its not just for servers and stuff. Mac people probably do this too.
With the amount of fuck-ups from Microsoft, this might not be necessary, but:
The average user doesn't want to install the operating system or doesn't care about it as long as they can do their things, and those who care can easily do so today. Thus, IMO, advertising to the end user is a waste of resources.
Focus on permeating it in governments, institutions, and OEMs to increase market share and break the "Linux is complicated / incompatible / for developers" stigma, then organic adoption out of these environments will grow - at least among people who can actually use it with the supported software.
Really, this seems to be the best way to spread Linux adoption to me. I would bet that Linux got at least a good few users from the Steam Deck coming with it pre-installed. Big way to show people that for most things the average user doesn't need to go into the command line to use their system for what they need as well. Of course, continued improvement in the software included in the most popular distros would really boost Linux adoption as well. I've seen plenty of people say they'd make the switch - if only they could use MS Office or Adobe software on it. Alternatives like LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Kdenlive and the GIMP have come a LONG way since I first made the switch around 2009, but especially the Adobe software still outclasses the competition when it comes to features. MS Office isn't as hard to let go of, especially since you can still use Office 365 Online on Linux and LibreOffice is closer to having all the OOTB features of MS Office than the other programs are to Adobe, but you have to convince people to give it a try first and a lot of employers still require MS Office for work.
I will also say, though, that it was only due to Windows Vista otherwise bricking my laptop back then that I even made the switch. I'd heard of this mysterious OS named Ubuntu so I thought I'd give it a try to save my laptop before I bought a new one, especially since I was living abroad at the time and didn't want to deal with the hassle of buying a computer with a foreign language version of Windows on it. So I had a friend burn me a copy of Ubuntu 8.10, it worked like a charm, and I only ever since ran Windows at home when dual-booting for a couple years for gaming purposes before Proton became a thing. I didn't even know Ubuntu was Linux until I'd installed it and started learning how to use it in earnest. Really showed me how even then Linux wasn't so difficult to use for the average computer user.
break the "Linux is complicated / incompatible / for developers" stigma
This is entirely on Linux developers and users.
Try searching "how to x on Linux" and tell me you're not immediately sent into the CLI.
The thing is, without a unified GUI it's impossible to get an answer to "how to X on Linux" that doesn't involve the CLI (and that'll work for everyone). Even the ones that do are often distro-dependent.
People can still get things done by searching for "how to X on <distro> using the GUI".
without a unified GUI it's impossible to get an answer to "how to X on Linux" that doesn't involve the CLI
I mean the same goes for different distros or package managers.
CLI can be good. The benefit of CLI is that it is fairly easy to build GUI front ends on top of a solid based.
Not to mention CLI makes "quick fixes" easier.
That's what a lot of GUI apps are. They either call the CLI program directly or make calls to a library provided by or for CLI.
Compare that to a GUI focused OS like Windows were the GUI is built into the low level architecture.
Your partially missing the point. Linux is unlikely to be something someone who doesn't like computers is going to use. It is something people who are power users and computer lovers will use. Its stolen the market share from the old school windows power users.
I'm a die hard Linux user. I don't spend much time telling people about it outside of actual tech conversations that should include the topic. I did raise my kids with a lot of Linux desktop use on their machines. They uniformly find the Windows 10/11 experience to be horrible, so I guess I've managed success on that front.
I'm happy your kids are into Linux! It's better to raise on then windows in my opinion.
The crazy moment was when one kid was about 10 years old and he busted open the terminal without promoting to get something done. He already knew it was faster and more powerful so he just started learning the tools.
I danced a little jig in my head once I realized what had just happened.
@azimir
All I will say is your kid is smart and you should be a very proud man :)
I suggest as a linux dude myself, keep encouraging him :D and as an extra suggestion if he wants to learn more about Linux see if he wants to try out arch linux because that has taught me a lot over the time I have used it :D
Thank you. I'm very proud of all of my kids (even the Windows user).
I haven't put anyone on the Arch path yet. So far, apt, video drivers, and Steam have been giving the crew enough trouble.
If nothing else, just keeping Discord patched is getting them lots of experience with sudo and dpkg tools. Why doesn't Discord have a repo?
@azimir
Good :)
Hm what distro do most of them use ?
I'm not sure why it isn't on their repo I know there is a .deb for it, maybe there is any other Linux launcher for Discord but for me discord just works whenever there is an update because I'm on a rolling release distro
Also steam can be a bit frustrating I brought watch dogs because it was on sale and it won't run with proton, I believe it works on lutris but I dont wanna install it just to play one game :0
Discord does provide a .deb, but I've never found a repo that carries updated versions. I've found plenty of hacks that download the latest one and install it every night, but for whatever reason, it's not kept in the various Debian repos out there.
The kids mostly use Mint with one Ubuntu machine (driver issues that worked on Ubuntu, but not Mint).
I've only barely used steam myself (no time for games: see having many kids), but I know the kids often do have to do various tweaks for games at times. I let them have full sudo on their own machines with a scorched earth policy if something goes wrong. Mostly, it seems to work and they don't bug me much.
@azimir
I know the arch repos do since I'm on it, but if they ever check out a hacked one make sure it is safe just in case!
Ive had issues with mint before, I belive I was using an Intel laptop when I faced the issue, are they on Intel ?
Games can be very annoying and yoi gotta then graphics down at least in my case :0 but in the future it will get a lot better :D have you tried the custom proton ?
Also sorry for the late reply, I have been busy ^^
There's a circular reasoning happening that's causing Windows to stay dominant. Why isn't professional software being developed for Linux more? Because it doesn't get used in the workplace. Why doesn't Linux get used in the workplace? Because it doesn't have professional software support.
You need to break one of these things to succeed.
Agreed. Both things need to happen when they can.
If you live with the applications available on Linux ( or prefer them as I do ) then you can use Linux in the workplace.
At the same time, some “professional” applications are going to need to start targeting Linux. Some do. More need to.
There is an implied contract above. If you need professional applications and they become available on Linux, you have to use them ( and pay for them ).
Yes I've observed small examples of this at various places I've worked where the devs want to use linux but the company want everyone on windows or macOS.
The problem is that enterprise software like RMM which the companies usually need for compliance/security/insurance reasons don't have working linux versions. It's particularly intractable because most devs think of this software as basically being malware so you're never going to get a coordinated effort to assist the SAAS companies with compatibility/integration.
Do we need to do anything? Microsoft updates do the bulk of the work - surely everyone has a last straw?
This is an extremely sheltered view. Most people don't even know what an operating system is, and they assume that it is an unalterable component of the computer they purchased at Best Buy. They don't have a last straw because as far as they're concerned there isn't anything they can do about it other than perhaps switching to a Mac.
Hopefully most have a tech literate friend within their circle, and the wherewithal to test their assumptions. It falls to the tech literate create the alternatives and preach the values of software freedom.
...and yet Linux is a thing
Linux was very obscure for a long time and now has moved to less popular. Honestly I think many tech savvy people will switch and the rest will be supported by some company making a product based on Linux.
Linux isn't competing with Windows or MacOS.
It doesn't follow the capitalist model of a market, and that's a good thing.
I think I don't even want Linux to become too popular. It will attract the wrong kind of attention. First, being more targeted by attackers it may become less safe. Most importantly, I don't even know how but I know that if Linux becomes a huge market for home users, corporations will look at it and go "uh, big market sitting there let's monetize it" and there is absolutely no way Linux won't become shittier in more ways than one when thousands of big corporations out there are trying to get their hands on Linux users and our data in multiple different ways. Again, I don't know how it will happen but I don't like having this kind of attention on Linux.
I don't see how that could happen. You can always choose another distro, or make your own if absolutely necessary. But I understand why you're concerned.
Idk, where there is potential for data mining and money there is a will and a way.
I am worried about stuff that is widespread like systemd, KDE, GNOME, flatpak, a bunch of stuff which is mantained by companies like redhat and canonical, etc. I also worry stuff like what was attempted with the XZ backdoor becomes more common.
We can always hop to other distros but if the high level polished stuff that we've taken a long time to achieve gets compromised these safer distros may end up being a worse experience and set us back years or decades.
I think I am fine with home use Linux growing a little bit, maybe if we get just under 10% or so that can be good in terms of software availability and just more people working on open source projects. Too much popularity idk, I am not onboard with that rn.
Exactly. If critical mass is achieved inorganically, it would result with a reverse in uptake & possibly even a revolt against it.
You can lead a horse to water... (but a pencil must be lead)
Hm it's probably "bundle with the hardware, make sure the hardware really works and there's a price incentive vs Windows".
As long as you have to actively migrate (including backing up, losing access to several commercial apps) and could end up in the situation that your hardware isn't 100% working or you're workflow isn't really supported?
make sure the hardware really works
Also make sure the software really works, one of the main issues with Linux adoption by hardware manufacturers is their lack of dedication to it. In Brazil, for example, most brands that ship with a Linux distro (except for DELL, which ships with Ubuntu) ship with basically digital waste (unmantained, poorly developed distros) just to make the hardware cheaper, because they know people will get it to just install a pirated copy of Windows in it.
Why does Linux need to be more popular? This isn't some NRM with a proselytizing mandate. Use whichever OS you prefer and let others do the same.
Linux being more popular means more applications of higher quality. I guess this does not matter to you. For those of us that would prefer more high-quality applications, Linux popularity matters.
Linux is the most used kernel on the planet - and it’s not close. Just the Android phones are enough to get a comfortable lead. Add the embedded systems. Add the servers. The competition is severely trounced.
The few desktops left and right are just slivers of the complete domination that Linux exerts over commercial operating systems.
That's kind of why it is so good. It comes from a solid base that's well used and tested. Compare that to GUI first.
I guess they mean "how to make buggy messy often usermade Desktop distributions more popular."
As Linux itself is insanely popular, it's everywhere and runs everything. From the vast majority of server and network infrastructure to most phones.
The Linux desktop is great for people who need a system that works with them. It is a little trickier explaining that to someone.
System76 (a laptop maker "rebrander") is making their own desktop. Can't think why ASUS, Lenovo or Dell could not contribute to some desktop or maintain their version.
Because they'd need to support it or hire an assload of developers to bugfix and contribute to the projects they include in their distro.
And that's something those companies don't like doing.
System76 is a hardware vendor specifically created to cater to the Linux sphere.
but they already do for their buggy ass apps like armory crate. I think that they are afraid to commit ressources for an OS that is barely used on desktop.
Might we considered there may be a tiny difference in scope between an OS and an app like Armory Crate.
Yeah an OS from Asus would probably just blow up. Even on Android they basically keep it close to AOSP with only a function here and there.
Pretty much the entire internet runs on Linux already.
For personal users I think a stable, well supported, secure and privacy focused version will help. Also, it helps if this is the version your "computer-guy" uses, the guy that you (or your mom) call(s) when your computer is broken.
As someone who uses Linux as a daily driver for both work and home, I have this very easy trick on making Linux more popular:
I don't.
I want it to be better for me. Everything else just happens to benefit others. Do to others as you would want to be treated or something like that.
The more people, the more donations, the more devs, the more user bug reports, the bigger communities, more communities, more brains, more software support, more game support, more likelihood of using linux at work, less microsoft and apple bullshit, ...
Here is an alternative Piped link(s):
https://piped.video/watch?v=WYOpwZJapbs
Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.
I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.
It’s 2006 and the year of the Linux Desktop
https://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/articles/Ah_the_change/2006_The_Year_of_the_Linux_Desktop
All jokes aside Linux has grown a lot since the. Just need to keep pumping out good releases, integration and reducing the jank that used to be a thing
I absolutely recommend my preferred flavor of Linux to friends that don't run the same distro I do.
