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.
Quoting: Purple Library GuyFor people without big budgets, you can actually be limited in what you can use your computer for just because you don't want to buy (or bloody rent!) the software and you don't know there's another way.Don't forget about piracy. Most Windows users I know don't care about legality and just pirate whatever they can for their home PCs. Not sure how much this experience can be generalized though.
Quoting: soulsourceYou have a point.Quoting: Purple Library GuyFor people without big budgets, you can actually be limited in what you can use your computer for just because you don't want to buy (or bloody rent!) the software and you don't know there's another way.Don't forget about piracy. Most Windows users I know don't care about legality and just pirate whatever they can for their home PCs. Not sure how much this experience can be generalized though.
Well anyway, 4% is nice.
Last edited by Solarwing on 10 April 2024 at 6:45 pm UTC
Quoting: SolarwingRaise Excalibur, the Holy SwordStrange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!
Quoting: BlackBloodRumI might have to find a less mainstream OS, this is becoming uncomfortable.
There's plenty of obscure ones to try out, HaikuOS has even some recent activity. Didn't check what software actually runs on it.
BSD:s might be boring as there's plenty of software already patched to run on it. Might be too similar to Linux though, so it's better to stick with the obscure ones.
Maybe we'll see 5% before Microsoft drops Windows 10, and then see it surge up after they drop it.
Quoting: Purple Library GuyStrange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!
Quoting: PenglingbintOh! New word learned!
Quoting: whizseOh! New word learned!See also, "twunt", which Spider also picked up from me and seemed most amused by.
See more from me