Source: WeChat Official Account 51CTO Technology StackWritten by | Yan Zheng, Wang Ruiping
A market share of 3% may seem insignificant, but for desktop Linux systems like Ubuntu and Fedora, it has sparked excitement among enthusiasts.
According to the latest data from traffic monitoring agency StatCounter, as of June 2023, the desktop market share of Linux has surpassed 3% for the first time, while other operating systems hold the following shares: Windows (68.15%), macOS (21.38%), and Chrome OS (4.15%).
Linux (referring to GNU/Linux here) was originally designed for servers and has had a tumultuous journey on the desktop, facing continuous criticism over the years.
No one expected this number to actually exceed 3%, especially since the previously popular ChromeOS only holds a market share of 4.15%.
Why is Linux Desktop Struggling to Gain Popularity?
In the past decade, emerging fields such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things have significantly promoted the development of Linux. Many manufacturers have made considerable investments in Linux, establishing its dominant position in the server domain. However, it is surprising that desktop Linux has remained largely unnoticed by the general public.There are many desktop Linux distributions, such as Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora, but popularity does not equate to widespread usage. In terms of market share, they all face a dismal reality.
The most criticized aspect remains the application ecosystem. Without suitable applications for the general public, a system is akin to running naked; no matter how fast or good it is, it ultimately cannot be used, as not everyone is comfortable using the command line.As for why people are still unwilling to pay for Linux desktop applications after all this time, the reason is quite straightforward: “There is no software I am used to on Windows, and none of the alternatives are better than the originals.”This reflects the insufficient investment and enthusiasm of Linux desktop developers in application software. A highly upvoted post on Zhihu states: “Linux enthusiasts disdain serving the general public and are reluctant to promote it; meanwhile, large companies are hesitant to venture into the murky waters of desktop Linux for various reasons.”Another example illustrates this indifferent response from the “tech elite”:On one side, newcomers in the community are shouting, “We need WeChat.” On the other side, the resolute response is, “You can use the web version of WeChat,” or “If that doesn’t work, try Wine.”More commonly known, the changes in desktop Linux over the years have been limited to aesthetic improvements.
It must be said that with so much room for improvement, the focus has been on superficial enhancements!Here, I cite a comment from a heavy Linux user: “This cannot be attributed to whether it is open-source or commercial. The issues lie in these three persistent problems:1) It is not suitable for non-IT personnel. There are still too many dependencies on using the command line to accomplish tasks that can be done with clicks in iOS and Windows.2) The community is hostile. Even if you are in the IT industry, you need to learn how to seek support within the community. Finding answers to problems in the community is particularly difficult compared to Windows and iOS.3) Problems that should have been solved 30 years ago still exist. Especially regarding locale settings. I cannot transfer Excel files from a Windows machine to a Linux machine because my Windows machine uses a dot for decimals, while Linux strictly adheres to the document standard that uses a comma for decimals. This corrupts my files, making it impossible to perform calculations on Excel files.Thus, we can see a glimpse of the issues!
Opportunities for Linux Desktop to Shine
Despite the persistent issues, it does not mean there are no opportunities for Linux to shine. Foreign media outlet linuxiac believes that “considering the fierce competition with other operating systems, achieving a 3% market share is a remarkable accomplishment for Linux,” indicating that the public is increasingly accepting and recognizing the powerful capabilities and versatility of Linux, as well as the efforts to “shed historical baggage.”This proves that “Linux is no longer what it was 20 years ago, a complex equation that only highly skilled hackers could use.”Firstly, it is commendable that the Linux community has undergone a significant change in awareness; they have realized that the desktop version needs to be entirely user-centric to thrive in the long run.Secondly, the advantages of Linux remain “online”:1) Free, lightweight, and customizable.For desktop users, the main attraction of Linux lies in its lightweight nature, unaffected by bloated enterprise software, especially with its endless customization options. It allows users to tailor their desktop environment to fit their preferences and workflows. With numerous desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, and Xfce, users can choose the one that best meets their needs.2) Linux values user privacy.Another significant factor driving the increasing popularity of Linux among desktop users is privacy. Compared to other mainstream operating systems, Linux generally does not collect user data. While some distributions may attempt to collect basic telemetry data for improvement, the level of data collection is usually minimal and can be disabled or completely opted out of. This aspect attracts individuals who prioritize privacy and wish to have more control over their personal information.3) Linux is the ideal choice for developers.Linux has long been the preferred operating system for developers worldwide, and its appeal continues to grow.Firstly, the open-source nature of Linux grants developers unparalleled freedom. They can access and modify the source code, customize their environment, and contribute to the community, fostering collaboration and innovation. Additionally, performance is a key factor. The efficiency, scalability, and ability to run on various hardware architectures make Linux an ideal choice for resource-intensive tasks.At the same time, its command-line interface and powerful scripting capabilities provide flexibility and automation, streamlining the development workflow.
The Rise of ChromeOS
In this report, we note the rapidly growing “non-Linux” Linux desktop system: ChromeOS. If desktop Linux wants to grow quickly, it may find some inspiration from it.Google has two Linux-based operating systems, both designed as GUI systems for non-technical users, achieving massive commercial success. One is the well-known Android, which has billions of users, and the other is ChromeOS, which gained popularity through educational hardware in American primary and secondary schools (officially released in 2010).The concept of ChromeOS is quite forward-thinking: “No local file system, everything is a web application“; speed, simplicity, and security are its three emphasized features.There are two versions of ChromeOS: one is the standard ChromeOS, which can only be obtained by purchasing hardware that runs it (similar to Apple’s macOS), and the other is ChromeOS Flex, which is suitable for regular personal computers. Notably, Flex is lightweight, free, and open-source, and can run any Linux applications.The latter’s popularity stems from its low hardware requirements and the vast array of functional applications based on the Chrome browser ecosystem, allowing users to freely build a suitable usage environment. Subsequently, Google also added support for Android and Linux application environments, further increasing its appeal.Of course, many believe that ChromeOS should not be considered Linux, which is another topic that will not be discussed here.
In Conclusion: Understanding Humility to Achieve Success
When it comes to Linux, it is the absolute ruler as a server operating system. Now, Linux is beginning to show its confidence in challenging Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS in the PC domain, but there is still a long way to go.This requires not only focusing on the user experience of Linux applications but also changing the community atmosphere; the “command line” culture needs to evolve, and there are many software and hardware-related challenges ahead. For instance, Linus has harshly criticized the Linux desktop, stating that different versions of Linux should avoid altering the core and must not disrupt the user space, as these are serious compatibility issues. He also emphasized that it is too unfriendly to ordinary users who are not developers.Rome wasn’t built in a day; to attract more mainstream users and break through single-digit market shares, it is essential to listen to their voices and learn from the successful players in the field.References:https://www.zhihu.com/question/19577042/answer/606897364https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/18/linux_desktop_debate