According to the StatCounter, Linux on the desktop has continued to rise and remains above 4%, with this being the healthiest it's ever looked on the desktop.
First hitting over 4% in February, their March data is now in showing not just staying above 4% but rising a little once again showing the trend is clear that Linux use is rising. Slow and steady wins the race as they say.
Here's how things have looked over the last year+
- January 23 - 2.91%
- February 23 - 2.94%
- March 23 - 2.85%
- April 23 - 2.83%
- May 23 - 2.7%
- June 23 - 3.07%
- July 23 - 3.12%
- August 23 - 3.18%
- September 23 - 3.02%
- October 23 - 2.92%
- November 23 - 3.22%
- December 23 - 3.82%
- January 24 - 3.77%
- February 24 - 4.03%
- March 24 - 4.05%
Technically, ChromeOS is also Linux, and while people like to debate that if you do include Linux and ChromeOS together it would actually be 6.32%. A number that is getting steadily harder for developers of all kinds to ignore. It terms of overall percentage, it's still relatively small but when you think about how many people that actually is, it's a lot.
Another look since 2009:
For those thinking it may be due to Steam Deck with SteamOS, it's unlikely, at least not directly. StatCounter gather their info from web traffic across over 1.5 million sites globally. I doubt all that many browse the web regularly on Deck. However, indirectly? Possible, I've seen lots and lots of posts about people enjoying Linux thanks to the Desktop Mode on the Steam Deck. There's going to be various other bigger factors at play here though, like Linux nowadays actually being properly good on the desktop.
See the stats on StatCounter.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: PenglingSee also, "twunt", which Spider also picked up from me and seemed most amused by.Oh dear, a bit more on the vulgar side that one, but I'll stick it in the old vocab for later use!
Quoting: whizseOh dear, a bit more on the vulgar side that one, but I'll stick it in the old vocab for later use!It's not a real word - it's only as vulgar as you imagine it to be, hehehehe!
Quoting: Vortex_AcheronticQuoting: rustigsmedwith win10 support ending for home users late next year combined with win11 high system requirements we could see a continued or slight jump. anyone want to predict Jan 2026? will 6% or higher be possible? It will be interesting and fun to watch.
I suspect not. Most users are lazy and instead will just buy new hardware. Especially since Windows has established the "well known fact" that PCs slow down over time and you have to either re-install the OS or just get a new computer. Most ppl will do the later I suspect.
Even at the company where I work they downgraded to Windows 11 in the past few months and oh boi ... the amount of PCs which where ripped out of the office was stellar maybe like 30 PCs just from our department. Considering companies try to keep costs low it seemed not be the an issue to trash alls those still wonderfully working systems.
I think you are right: most people won't switch, but even if a small fraction of Windows users switch, it will have a noticable effect on growth I think.
Last edited by Adutchman on 2 May 2024 at 6:09 pm UTC
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