It's not a typo. Linux's desktop share is growing, according to the US government's records.

Clickbaity title on the original article, but I think this is the most important point to consider from it:

After getting to 1% in approximately 2011, it took about a decade to double that to 2%. The jump from 2% to 3% took just over two years, and 3% to 4% took less than a year.

Get the picture? The Linux desktop is growing, and it’s growing fast.

  • Darren@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    22·
    7 days ago

    Does it count that I have four computers running Linux because I can’t help myself?

    • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
      8·
      6 days ago

      It makes perfect sense, the resistance of having Windows legacy software etc becomes smaller the more of that goes out of use, the resistance of everyone only knowing Windows becomes smaller with nobody even knowing Windows, and the resistance of corporate interests becomes smaller because it’s all in the Web, and the Web has been corrupted and Chrome works on Linux.

      So. Listen to me carefully. If Linux domination happens without FreeBSD and Haiku normalization, then things are bad.

    • Scrollone@feddit.it
      2·
      6 days ago

      KDE Plasma is so good, I love it. But I think that Cinnamon (the default environment for Linux Mint) is also super user-friendly.

      There’s no good excuse not to use Linux in 2025 if you’re a home user. Except maybe if you rely on some software such as SharePoint, the Adobe or the Serif Affinity suites.

    • PastafARRian@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      2·
      6 days ago

      I wonder what percentage of people given a Kubuntu laptop, when asked what OS they’re using, would say “Windows?”. I’m going to guess 20%

    • dil@lemmy.zip
      1·
      6 days ago

      If you game Cachyos (just installs everything relevant for you, coming to linux itll help you figure out whats commonly used), endeavoros if you wanna set up arch quickly, grab stuff for yourself and build your own desktop, bazzite if you game and are scared to break shit, idk if I would reccomend ubuntu just because I don’t like snaps or the snap store, just comparing it to flathub, flathubs missing a few games/apps like rexuiz but nothing important.

      Bazaar is pretty nice to use (new bazzite default), one thing I disliked coming to linux was lack of gui download manager and progress in the appstores, tried them all and hated them, while Bazaar feels great and comparing the search to others it actually works, like if I search fps all the fps games pop up, while on others maybe one or two that have it in the title.

  • मुक्त@lemmy.ml
    5·
    6 days ago

    The key point is that Europe’s governments are ditching MS one by one. One of the state governments of India, that of Kerala, is also fostering a local chapter for open source and Linux.

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
      21·
      6 days ago

      That’s a thing, but the biggest thing is that PCs as a class have been falling in numbers. As media consumption devices, they’re outmoded. Phones, tablets, and cheap smart TVs have taken their place.

      A typical family of 4 might have 1 laptop for when one is actually needed, whereas a few years ago every member of a suburban household would have their own computer.

      So a larger part of the market is enthusiasts and techies, who are more likely to be using Linux, and gamers, who are using devices like the Steam Deck and Legion Go that run on SteamOS.

      • LeFantome@programming.dev
        1·
        6 days ago

        That is an interesting take.

        Surely the largest source of laptops is still for work though, many bought by the employer.

  • Sina@beehaw.org
    14·
    7 days ago

    Statcounter considers me a Win user due to the Win user agent I’m using, this is not a rare behavior in the Linux space…

  • dil@lemmy.zip
    4·
    6 days ago

    I think ppl get terminal anxiety but thats less and less of an issue, like you don’t need to ever touch it because of stuff like octopi, software/discover/bazaar,etc. I remember just getting anxious thinking id forget a command I really need to remember and I wouldn’t have internet axis and id be fked (not an issue lol)

  • SneakyWeasel@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    Been working with linux for the last 2 years. Had to use windows for my laptop for work but now its a full linux mint machine

  • squid64@lemmy.ca
    2·
    7 days ago

    That’s good, I don’t care much about the OS people use but yeah as long as they use something that they like and that doesn’t exploit them that’s great.

    I use Guix System as my distro and it’s great, just goes to show the power of free software, you won’t get something like that anywhere else.

    • comfy@lemmy.ml
      1·
      7 days ago

      I don’t care much about the OS people use

      On a surface level, same. On the other hand, I do believe that more users, if combined with certain design and documentation choices, can enable more contributions and fixes and software support, and I believe this has already been a huge factor in recent improvements to the Linux experience like Proton.

  • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
    21·
    6 days ago

    OK, so now it’s important to create collegial democratic project government for Linux, and freeze Linus in carbonite as a memorial. Before Linux has become too important, and before Linus lost his marbles to become a geriatric dictator.

    Actually in the age of Android I think it’s already too late, but this should be done regardless.

  • Ptsf@lemmy.world
    1851·
    8 days ago

    About to be 6.0000001% when my Kubuntu download finishes. I’m finally taking the dive boys, linux on main here we go.

    • Scrollone@feddit.it
      1·
      6 days ago

      Congratulations, and welcome to the Linux world. You won’t regret it. But also don’t get scared if something doesn’t work right away!

    • expr@programming.dev
      14·
      8 days ago

      I think kubuntu was the very first distro I ever installed in a VM when trying out Linux 10 years ago. I’ve since moved on (an aging Arch install right now, which will eventually be replaced by a NixOS install whenever I get around to it), but just wanted to say that a whole new world lies at your footsteps, my friend. Enjoy it. It’s like discovering the wonder of computing for the first time.

    • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
      11·
      8 days ago

      welcome!

      i use ubuntu and its a good choice, but id recommend installing gnome-software and its flatpak plugin and using that instead of the slower snaps. its perfect otherwise, enjoy!

        • caseyweederman@lemmy.ca
          2·
          7 days ago

          You still need the underlying package manager installed (it’ll prompt you to do so), and on Plasma 5.0 you also need a special integration plugin for each package manager (merged into Discover since I think Plasma 6.0).
          Discover is a joy to use.

    • Harvey656@lemmy.world
      8·
      8 days ago

      Nice! That’s what I use. Don’t see alot of others talk about Kubuntu. I enjoy the heck out of it. It doesn’t play games all that well, but that could also be user error as well. Still, so far it’s my favorite distro. Good luck on your journey!

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      5·
      7 days ago

      FWIW, Fedora with KDE is fantastic - been using that as my distro of choice (for systems I want a UI on at least) for a few years now and I love it.

    • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
      3·
      7 days ago

      Cool, welcome! I assume you’re aware that it won’t be all sunshine and rainbows from day 1, but give it time and leverage the community to solve any issues you run into. Effective bug reports and knowledge sharing make the experience better for everyone.

      To me it’s worth having control over my hardware, and an OS that’s designed to work for me and not some corpo against me.

  • sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.todayEnglish
    79·
    8 days ago

    SteamOS, Bazzite, and the Plasma DE I think are what’s driving Linux to be more popular. They are all very streamlined experiences.

    • freeman@feddit.org
      411·
      8 days ago

      I tested Gnome and KDE Plasma5 in the last year. KDE Plasma is in my opinion the first DE which is comparable with Win/MacOS. It looks modern, is pretty much feature complete and as an average user its nice to have useful apps preinstalled (calculator, libreoffice, firefox and so on), but no bloatware.

      Its just a bit more customizable than windows, which is perfect and also not fiddly and a pain. It certainly has a handful of quirks, like Windows does, but you get used to them.

      If I have to set up elderly relatives with a computer, I’d strongly consider a KDE Plasma Desktop

      • Matriks404@lemmy.world
        2·
        6 days ago

        I can’t believe I have been running python3 for simple calculations lately instead of running KCalc, lol.

      • aksdb@lemmy.world
        29·
        7 days ago

        The preinstalled apps are not a feature of KDE (or Gnome, XFCE, etc.). Actually they all are structured in a very modular way where you can use or omit individual components. Firefox and LibreOffice are completely independent of it even; they merely add compatibility layers to make the integration more seamless.

        What you experienced was something to attribute to the distribution you chose. They are the ones to decide which components to bundle and preinstall. That is also the reason why so many distributions exist in the first place, because different teams/devs have different visions about what the desktop should look and feel like after install.

        • freeman@feddit.org
          3·
          6 days ago

          So the preinstallation of all the KDE apps is a choice of the distro?

          On both Linux Mint and Debian+Plasma I got some apps preinstalled. That I can uninstall and that they arent developed by the same people doesnt play a role. For the user they come with the OS, like Win10 preinstalls the calculator and Candy Crush

          • aksdb@lemmy.world
            3·
            6 days ago

            For the user they come with the OS

            That’s my point, though. Plasma isn’t an OS. You can can have a OS that ships Plasma with Calligra instead of LibreOffice and Falkon instead of Firefox. Or neither, and instead they give you a greeter with the choice to pick your browser. Or the OS is minimal and doesn’t bundle any of them. In Arch for example you normally don’t even get Konsole or Dolphin unless you install them (or you pick the nuclear option and install _all _ KDE packages which also includes a ton of stuff you likely never need).

      • neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        11·
        8 days ago

        I never got gnome, it’s like macOS, but I never enjoyed using it even after being a Mac user.

        Plasma and cinnamon are my top desktop recommendations.

        • somenonewho@feddit.org
          11·
          7 days ago

          Well as someone who’s been using gnome since about 3.10 I might be able to explain my view:
          Before that I’ve used plasma and Unity and a whole lot of Mate but then I started using Gnome for a pretty and smooth experience right out of the Box.
          Now I’ve simply been using it for so long that it’s muscle memory all the way.
          I don’t agree with everything the gnome devs decide and I definitely am annoyed that I have to use extension for small things that should just be a toogle in the settings but I’ve realized some time ago that if I did switch to plasma I would use all the customizability to make it work like Gnome … so I stay on Gnome.

          • freeman@feddit.org
            1·
            6 days ago

            Short question because thats what made me swap to KDE: How do you quickly open an app, without navigating through the categories with your mouse?

            Now make me look stupid :D

            • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
              3·
              6 days ago

              It depends on the version of gnome/distro but typically the windows key opens a spotlight-esque search box that also has recent and commonly used apps which you can click without typing. I think some distros may change that shortcut key

            • somenonewho@feddit.org
              2·
              6 days ago

              I never use the “App Menu” on my laptop I don’t even have any favorites.

              I hit the super button (windows key) to open the app overview and type the first few letters and hit enter.

              So e.g. SUPER fi Enter Firefox opens with just 4 key strokes in 1 second

              • freeman@feddit.org
                1·
                5 days ago

                I instinctively do that as well, on Windows, Cinnamon and Plasma and it didnt work on Gnome, Superkey opened the Startmenu but then typing didnt search. Thats what I wanted to ask, if I miss something obvious or if Gnome doesnt offer that feature out of the box.

                Debian probably changed the Key for the Spotlight-like search.

      • pineapple@lemmy.mlEnglish
        5·
        7 days ago

        I think generally macos users would feel more at home in gnome where as windows users more in kde.

        • oaklandnative@lemmy.world
          1·
          6 days ago

          I am very familiar/comfortable with Windows and very confused by MacOS. Yet I much prefer Gnome over Plasma.

          Not to say you are wrong or anything, maybe I’m just an outlier.

          That said, I’ve been using Cosmic DE for about the past month and it’s pretty great. I think I might stick with it. Gotta love all the options we have!

        • actionjbone@sh.itjust.works
          17·
          8 days ago

          What’s great is neither of you are wrong from your own perspectives - and both of you are free to share your message and preferences.

          • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
            51·
            7 days ago

            Apparently not without ire, unfortunately. Somehow got downvoted for what I wrote…

            People HATE Gnome and I don’t get it. I’ve heard the arguments but in all practicality I have tried KDE too and then minutes into trying the complicated customization features I just wanna go back to gnome. Give me a somewhat new version of gnome and 30 minutes and I’ll have it configured how I want and it looks and runs nice. I recently spent 30 minutes trying to understand customization of the bottom bar in KDE and gave up

            • freeman@feddit.org
              2·
              6 days ago

              I upvoted you. <3 My experience was very similar but with the two swapped: After I used Linux Mint (with Cinnamon) I tried Debian, it came with Gnome.

              I struggeled to find the apps (I dont know what they are called on a new OS) but I didnt find out how to search for them. Win+Type didnt search, I didnt see an obvious Spotlight feature like on apple.

              Then I wanted to change some settings and couldnt change them (I dont remember what). I felt like customisation wise I’m using macOS, and thats a bad thing. So like you I reinstalled Debian with KDE after less than 1h in gnome.

              Thats why we need different DEs, maybe they and their variations are more important than the huge selection of distros.

              • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
                2·
                4 days ago

                I think you are right. Choice is good. My dislike of KDE is partially because I liken it more to windows. I have thought windows has an atrocious UI for a long time so by default Mac seems better to me, even despite it lacking a lot of customization.

                Gnome definitely has a search function which normally I think is defaulted to the windows key, so that’s interesting you couldn’t find anything. I actually always turn off a couple UI things which let me navigate to apps that are shown by default because to me it’s clutter. Just because I like the cleanness of the UI, I use uLauncher for finding apps. It’s similar to spotlight or Alfred.

        • juipeltje@lemmy.world
          5·
          7 days ago

          Gnome really tends to drag their feet when it comes to new features/wayland protocols to implement. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even have adaptive sync for the longest time, when even smaller wlroots projects already supported it. I don’t hate gnome though, i actually kinda dig their design, but unfortunately i can’t stand using floating window managers anymore, i only use tiling.

          • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
            4·
            7 days ago

            Yeah, I’ve heard this before. I don’t believe though, that I’ve yet been a user of those still-unsupported features though, so I haven’t noticed anything affecting me yet.

    • railcar@midwest.socialEnglish
      6·
      7 days ago

      As more people learn bazzite just works, it’s going to grow. If I hadn’t rescued my son’s windows license he would have switched.

    • ProfessorOwl_PhD [any]@hexbear.net
      4·
      7 days ago

      SteamOS and Bazzite are certainly contributing among gamers, but there also seem to be a lot of casual users moving to Mint and pop!_os. I’ve seen quite a few people using them to extend the life of older hardware.