The true year of linux is not any specific year or a userbase percentage but when linux is widely preinstalled on consumer hardware without nerds needing to recommend to people to install it themselves
The steamdeck is the first step to that future
In my region (India), for a while, there seemed to be plenty of laptops available with Linux installed as an option. Then again in the last few years that seems to have withered down to almost none, sometimes even if the same model is available with Linux in some other regions. I am not sure what changed. Perhaps some deal with Microsoft. The good part is that the fact that they do support Linux elsewhere on the same laptop configuration generally means its easy to get it up and running yourself even if it does not come pre-installed.
In any case, as an old-timer, it’s very impressive to me how much hardware Linux supports nowadays without any drama at all. Not to mention all the progress made in software especially in supporting Windows-only games, which is truly magical work by the Wine / Proton teams. As far as I am concerned the “Year of Linux Desktop” is here already since I can use it daily without missing absolutely anything at all from Windows.
That was the same in Brazil, where I live. This scared the beejesus out of Microsoft, so they created special, cheaper version for developing countries to counter it.
The steamdeck is the first step to that future
I’m sure people said the same about android
I get that SteamOS is an actual desktop distro, and that’s closer to a daily driver than any android or bespoke *nix compatible SOC OS, but I doubt we’ll see this spread from steamdeck to daily drivers, unless…
Unless linux can offer some feature windows/mac/ios do not, or at least market itself as doing so the way that Apple does, and get the overwhelming majority of tech consumers—who want nothing more than to keep up with the joneses and see the hardware specs numbers get bigger—to FOMO into it
Unfortunately that would conflict with the most enticing features it does have that no one else does: a code of ethics that are inherently anti-capitalist and anti-authoritarian. And honestly, who wants every Linux community, online or off, flooded with consumers who only care about the newest Feature™ and have no care about maintaining software freedom?
The only thing I see holding people back is software availability. If it could run adobe and games natively I don’t see why anyone would want to pay for windows.
run adobe and games natively
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adobe sucks for the same reasons I alluded to in my last paragraph. Money-grubbing corporation company hurts developers by patenting, trademarking, and copyrighting every minor feature in their programs to the point where FOSS alternatives have to bend over backwards to find ways to implement some of the same functionality. The problem isn’t linux, the problem is adobe, the problem is profit-motive, the problem is capitalism.
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IDK what distro you use, but I’m using Debian, and it does run games natively–nearly half of the ones I own on steam. Not all of them, but that’s not Linux’s fault, that’s not Gnu’s fault, that’s not Debian’s fault: they already offer compatibility layers and yet that’s not good enough for everyone, and there’s not much they can do beyond that outside of building a windows clone (or at least a partial clone) that would probably get them sued. To run natively, the devs would have to compile it to run on Linux and the ones that don’t are making the choice to not do so–consciously or not, because of profits or not; it’s hard to say why, even indie devs who make free games as a hobby sometimes choose not to, so it’s not as easily dismissed with “because capitalism”
That all being said, the “software availability” criticism can cut both ways. I’ve found so many tools and utilities and apps and FOSS programs that are only made available for linux (unless one is willing to port them oneself), and there isn’t an app or program I use everyday that I haven’t found a linux-compatible alternative for. The glaring exception being games; to me that wasn’t a huge deal, I’ll bite that bullet because I’d rather go without kernel-privileged spyware for an OS–and the same for an anti-cheat engine–than play a triple-A on maximum graphics, play online multiplayers that require microsecond reaction time, or other such use cases where Proton actively hinders UX. Like I said, I’d rather have anti-authoritarian computers than worry about keeping up with the performance spec joneses
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i love how the whole population is apparently a graphic designer XD not a dig on you but i always find hilarious this argument from non-professionals like " i need PHOTOSHOp to edit my grandmas pictures!"
Tbf I am a graphic designer haha.
Unless linux can offer some feature windows/mac/ios do not,
doesnt spy on you, its a nice feature
True, but Apple has already pivoted to being the “privacy-friendly” OS/devices. Whether or not that’s true–I don’t know for certain (I have a hunch, though)–they have much more visibility and influence and marketing, and therefore will cement themselves in people’s minds that way.
Besides, I like the idea of Linux existing outside the capitalist paradigm; instead of competing with the big names in the market, it’s on the outskirts playing its own game and absolutely crushing it. It has survived decades based almost entirely on word of mouth between computer nerds instead of vying for attention in the mainstream. As a technology it has achieved the platonic ideal: it is so good at what it does that it doesn’t need marketing, it survives solely on reputation and quality and user upkeep.
True, but Apple has already pivoted to being the “privacy-friendly” OS/devices.
i mean… for idiots… anybody with any knowledge in the fields knows its bullshit. So im not sure how is that a point… people are too stupid for their own good? yeah we knew that already
about the second part i think you just have no idea what you are talking about linux is capitalist as fuck sadly and its corporate as it gets.
Steam Deck is the first taste I get of Linux. I’ve always had this fear of not being able to fully utilize a Linux OS due to my lack of skills in coding, but I find myself looking into it more ever since I got a Steam Deck. It may just be the right excuse I need to git gud in coding.
Edit: Thanks for the clarification and encouragement guys. I’m going to make it a mission to move to Linux ASAP since it feels like Windows has been really pushing the limits of privacy these days.
you don’t have to know coding to enjoy Linux! it’s got a reputation of being techie-oriented thanks to users of Arch Linux (a very techie distribution of Linux) dominating the Linux community, but there are plenty of distributions for everyday users, like Zorin OS and Elementary
So… About 2010? When Android phones became widespread.
android is not linux for all the reasons that really matter.
The reddit API debacle sent me down a Lemmy, FOSS, Linux, privacy, hacker rabbit hole that I will hopefully and happily never have to leave. My eyes are opened to a better future. I’ll probably be duel booting windows for awhile still to keep up for my job, but I have been able to start transitioning away pretty easily thanks to the hard work of linux desktop devs. I am so grateful for the FOSS community and hope to contribute myself someday.
One of us, one of us ! Proxmox vaultwarden owncloud openmediavault docker-mailserver openwrt syncthing
why syncthing and not nextcloud
Why a screwdriver and not a driver drill?
Mostly vibes
Syncthing seems really good at filesync and backup
Owncloud vs nextcloud
Nextcloud seems just a tad too popular
if its anything like me fast forward 10 years and using Windows will give you a skin rash.
life is good
I’ve been mostly using Windows in a VM. I’ve not booted into my Windows partition for months now while sitting there almost untouched for 2 and an half years, and in one week or two I am getting rid of it. And with my Steam Deck coming I will install Windows on that on an SD Card, so in case I ever need a physical Windows system for something (likely some anti-cheat crippled game, or Microsoft Store exclusive game, or a software that for some reason doesn’t work on Wine or in the VM) I have one ready.
i remember doing that, now i just play something else.
Yeah, if they can’t even bother making it work with Proton then I can’t bother giving them money.
The only game I needed to boot in Windows was to try Valorant. I didn’t like the game :P
I know it’s not a very Linuxy distro, but Linux Mint (Cinnamon) is so easy to use, especially for Windows users. I’ve completely replaced Windows (and with better software), aside from using Windows for a few games that require it. I used Ubuntu, Suse, and Fedora long ago, but for me, Mint takes the proverbial cake.
My favorite is fedora. Ubuntu second. It’s alright but it’s bloated. I have a thing for gnome.
Kde plasma and other kde stuff seems promising too.
Eventually id like to use arch.
I’m a linux user in the past 20years, and used to work with high maintenance / cutting edge distros like arch but grew tired and now use exclusively mint. Very stable, quiet, beautiful ux (tho cinnamon can look more modern).
Ah yes, like last year. And the year before. And …
Isn’t that the joke tho?
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I dont think the universe will exist in 2024!(or 6.460263446 E+5814) years
Perhaps. But by then it certainly would be the year of the Linux desktop by then. What other operating system can handle years that long, starting from Jan 1, 1970 to Jan 1, 6.460263446E+5814. Linux, that’s what.
Well what if I install Linux on my “free school Chromebook/Windows laptop/MacBook”?
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At this rate, we’ll be 30% in 300 years!
this stuff is exponential, getting to 0% to 3% is harder than 10% to 30%
I love Linux but I’ve been hearing this song since 2002. I’d love for it to grow bigger but we should stop framing it as the year of Linux.
I’ve been hearing this song since 2002
That’s the joke, my guy. THIS TIME IS REAL!
i hope that day never comes
We used to be the 1%…
angry bernie sanders screaming
🍲
time to move to freebsd linux is too mainstream now
I’d just like to interject for a moment. What you’re refering to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.
Many computer users run a modified version of the GNU system every day, without realizing it. Through a peculiar turn of events, the version of GNU which is widely used today is often called Linux, and many of its users are not aware that it is basically the GNU system, developed by the GNU Project.
There really is a Linux, and these people are using it, but it is just a part of the system they use. Linux is the kernel: the program in the system that allocates the machine’s resources to the other programs that you run. The kernel is an essential part of an operating system, but useless by itself; it can only function in the context of a complete operating system. Linux is normally used in combination with the GNU operating system: the whole system is basically GNU with Linux added, or GNU/Linux. All the so-called Linux distributions are really distributions of GNU/Linux!
There are some OS like Alipine Linux that relay on the Linux kernel but don’t use GNU userland.
Alpine uses musl libc + busybox as GNU replacements. They have less code base and they are more lighweight. GNU code is really old and some power users say the code is bloated and poorly maintained.
Not this year, but the next one
If not, surely the one after that.
Laughs in Linux web server market share.
Android sits on top of linux so linux is already by far the most widely used operating system in the world in consumer devices.
Maybe next year! :)
Just waiting for my AMD gpu to get here and I’m making the switch on desktop. Been running linux on my laptop for a year already. Few minor issues here or there, but for the most part been super reliable.
Removed by mod
Check out protondb.
Pretty much the only thing you cant play are games with really nasty AntiCheat/DRM.
Everything else, if its not good now? It’ll probably be good in a update or two from proton/GE
Removed by mod
I’ve been playing most of my games on Linux since, well, years. When Valve introduced Proton it made things even easier, and currently I just enable Proton Experimental on Windows games and it just, works…really impressive when you think about it :)
How is the experience with online multiplayer?
I’ve enjoyed using my steamdeck and that OS. Would happily install a desktop variant of SteamOS when available but I mainly play single player games on the deck, I worry I won’t be able to enjoy a number of multiplayer games.
Depends on the game’s anticheat. ProtonDB is a site that tracks Steam Deck (and Linux in general) support for games. You can check what you play to see if it would run on Linux with Proton, the tool Steam uses to run Windows games on Linux. If you want a desktop similar to SteamOS, any distro that supports KDE Plasma will have the same desktop as SteamOS’ desktop mode, with the new Big Picture Mode on Steam being the Steam Deck’s game mode
I’ve dabbled in linux for years but could never break my reliance on windows. I got a Steam deck and realized there was enough compatibility to justify moving to linux. So I just recently gave a flavor of linux called Nobara a shot. It’s by a Red Hat engineer that contributes heavily to getting games working in linux through Proton. My experience has been way better but I wouldn’t say perfect. I think it’s worth checking out to see if it works for you.
Sound like you are addicted to videogames
you can play most of your games. considering the pros its worth letting a few games go. its not like you dont even enough to play with…
What if we count WSL and Android?
Counting Android is just lying. ChromeOS and WSL are a stretch, but you can make an argument for them.
“3 billion devices run Java”
Linux kernel is Linux kernel. Few desktops run Android, though.
completely useless if its locked behind a locked bootloader. having a linux that you cant modify is losing the reason to use linux.
Linux market share is not the same as Grub market share. Torvalds is against the GPL v3 because he explicitly does not mind locked bootloaders and signed kernels.
He can go get fucked too
they dont count tho.
