Linux Crosses 4% Market Share Worldwide

linuxiac ^ | 3 March 20224 | Bobby Borisov

[ShadowAce]

Linux has surpassed a 4% share in the desktop operating system market as of the end of February 2024. According to the latest data from StatCounter, a leading web traffic analysis tool, Linux’s market share has reached 4.03%.

At first glance, the number might seem modest, but it represents a significant leap. Let’s break it down. It took Linux 30 years to secure a 3% share of desktop operating systems, a milestone reached last June.

Impressively, the open-source operating system has surged by an additional 1% in the last eight months.

Linux desktop market share, February 2024

Now, we’re all curious about the journey Linux is on and where it’ll end up by the year’s end. Will we be celebrating a milestone of surpassing 5% market share? It’s a goal many of us who champion open source are eagerly hoping to achieve.

The rise in Linux’s popularity can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the open-source nature of Linux has made it a favored choice among developers, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts who appreciate the flexibility and control it offers.

Additionally, the security and stability of Linux have been key selling points, making it an attractive option for both personal and professional use.

However, while having great features is important, an attractive presentation often captures attention first, something both Windows and macOS understand well. This is precisely where the top Linux desktop distros have made remarkable strides, significantly enhancing their appearance and user-friendliness in recent years.

With the continuous improvement and user-friendly designs of distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and many others, Linux has become more accessible to a broader audience, including those who may not be as technically inclined.

Is the much-anticipated “Linux on the Desktop” year upon us? Well, not exactly. The truth is, seeing Linux dominate desktops any time soon is quite unlikely, but then again, achieving widespread desktop dominance was never the primary aim of Linux. It’s more of an ongoing, lighthearted debate among enthusiasts than a serious expectation.

However, it’s worth noting and celebrating that Linux’s desktop usage has surpassed 4% and even saw a growth of 1% in just the last eight months – a feat that was beyond the expectations of many. So, let’s take a moment to appreciate this achievement. It may seem small to some, but it’s a significant stride forward for those who hold Linux dear.

[ShadowAce]

[Noumenon]

Linux - the upraised middle finger upgrade to Microsoft Win 11.

[wildcard_redneck]

People are tired of constant microsoft updates.

[ShadowAce]

People are tired of constant microsoft updates.

To be fair, Linux has a lot of updates also.

The difference is that the control on when and which updates to apply lies entirely with the user--not the OS.

[NorthMountain]

Ubuntu is constantly updating something ...

[dayglored]

No, really!! It's the Year of the Linux Desktop (again)!!

:-)

So what's that bump of "Unknown" from Mar '23 through May '23?

[Gideon300]

“People are tired of constant microsoft updates.”

ABSOLUTELY! I use a number of applications, some rather osbcure, on Windows 11. Seems many times after a Windows “update”, SOMETHING I depend on doesn’t work right anymore.

I have a dedicated Linux system on a laptop but it’s easier to boot from a USB drive to Linux on the Windows PC. Linux is more stable and has few problems.

Only major problem for me is that most programs I use daily only work on Windows, but there are workarounds for that, too.

[Paal Gulli]

"Ubuntu is constantly updating something ..."

Only because you let it (or have told it to) do so.

It took extreme measures to prevent to prevent Win10 accepting updates, whether you wanted them or not. Win11 is worse still.

Preventing any Linux updating is a simple matter (and Linus won't give a fig if you do).

[Paal Gulli]

"...Linux has surpassed a 4% share in the desktop operating system market...."

I say again, "...[I]n the desktop operating system market...", Linux might be only 4%. But among all digital devices, Linux runs the world.

Android, iOS, OSX, and Chrome OS all are "Linux-based" or "UNIX-like."

[daniel1212]

While I am not aware of much improvement in the Linux desktop that I would need to warrant changing, I think the more Windows becomes changeable and actually more security focused, then paradoxically the more Linux will gain users. Read what I went and many thru just because I upgraded memory. Could not login, not way to do so, thus requiring a reset. Thank God it worked out though.

[daniel1212]

To be fair, Linux has a lot of updates also. The difference is that the control on when and which updates to apply lies entirely with the user--not the OS.

To be fair, what updates, if any, can be controlled by a Windows user, but unlike most Linux users, most do not care to find out.

How to stop windows 10 updates

How to Stop Automatic Driver Updates (for the first option, Windows key and Pause break together, then hit Advanced System Settings, hit the Hardware tab and click the Device Installation Settings button. Select No and Save Changes.

Group Policy Editor for Windows 10 & 11 Home Edition

With AutoHotKey then Local Group Policy Editor and regedit (etc.) can be hot keyed.

[ShadowAce]

I think the fact that Windows users need to How-To to stop updates kinda makes my point.

[daniel1212]

I think the fact that Windows users need to How-To to stop updates kinda makes my point.

Rather, How-To do things in Linux can be far harder to find, esp. since often such depends upon the particular distros which are multitudinous. If I want to do some customization in Windows - which is almost always restricted to 3 versions, such as mainly two, then such are usually easy to find, often with safe, tested freeware. Having tried every major and many minor Linux distros, and a Windows user for over 20 years, I know the difference. Trying to remap the CapLock key to t I can only imagine how many forums I would have to post on to find how to customize a Linux distro for efficiency as with Windows.

Meaning that I have been able to quite easily and freely customize Windows, effecting improvements in efficiency (which Windows as well as Linux much warrant), via enhancements and quick access to applications and features but without much of a learning curve.

I am the type of person who wants compact yet expansive menus and quick access and having the ability to quickly customize certain aspects of the OS, from enabling quick access to programs and places and improve layout without needing to learn much coding (though I have edited the Windows registry a few times, and I have been the sole user), nor often run a terminal to accomplish such. herefore I like the the over 200 tweaks available in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 (quicker download here from Major Geeks) for Windows 11 from the Windows club (Windows 10 users should use Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4.8).

Add to this Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus),

Also, there are the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker (but best to leave those dealing with color alone).

Plus Open Shell (click on Releases>Latest on middle right side) to replace the Windows 11 start menu (though in W/11 22H2 right clicking for properties in the start menu stopped working for me), and Explorer Patcher (look for Releases on the right here) that restores the Windows 11 taskbar to be exactly like Windows 10, and with it I use the Windows 7+ Taskbar Tweaker which provides more customization.

Resulting in these expansive quickly accessible layouts (composite image of desktop view in Windows 11: Start and Right-Click menus, default Device manager; task bar via Explorer Patcher. Thank God for such — to be used for good — and those who provide them):

Versus these examples of more limited, less compact, if scrollable, menus (and the sparsity of the Mint right click is not worth showing - Puppy is better) of Mint (equivalent start “Menu’ and ‘System Settings”)

But which is far better than the Windows 11 default Start menu

Then there are free utilities such as AutoHotKey which does involve finding out some basic coding to create scripts which will do such things as remap (due to much typing and operations with stiff arthritic fingers) Caps Lock to ctrl+c (which I found hard to accomplish past sessions in Linux despite many many requests and "try this"), and Esc to ctrl+v ; NumLock to Esc and the middle mouse button to ctrl+x:

CapsLock::^c

(NumLock::Esc

Esc::^v

mbutton::^x

Also, I like more right click options on files, and even menu shortcuts:

And being able to quickly see and actually go the source of program executables in Windows via a right click on the menu icon, hit Properties and Open file location and go there.

Why? For one, because we should be able to. One of the first things I do in Windows is go to folder options and select Show hidden… and deselect Hide extensions… And I also sometimes want to edit something in the folder of programs. Here, I have found the extra security of Linux to a hindrance with my slow arthritic finders. I do not want to have to run a terminal to do many things I can do as a Admin in Windows, being the only user.

Note that you can also create a Quick launch menu for your taskbar, either for a custom folders or the default Quick launch (buried in %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch) . Right click on your taskbar and hit Toolbars and then New Toolbars and navigate you the folder of your choice,

You can also make and send folder or program shortcuts to the Send to folder (%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo), whereby you can send files as images or documents (such as web pages) to be opened by these programs, which may be better than the default Open with or navigating dialogs.

To do so, click on the Send to folder in %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\ and then place that shortcut in the folder itself. Then you can right click on program shortcuts such as to image viewers, editors, and send them to the Send to folder, and then if you want to open up an image or document in one of a program designed for it other than the default then you can right click on it and point to Send to and one of the programs you placed there for such.

[bert]

Wow...... 4%

Can a Linux 365 be far behind?

[daniel1212]

Also, many Linux users ask how to fully prevent any updates, and with different answers, some frustration.

[ShadowAce]

That's a rather disingenuous comment, and your link does not mention anything about turning off automatic updates.

It DOES talk about how to turn off update REMINDERS, though. Updates are never automatic in Linux.

[zeugma]

Ubuntu is constantly updating something ...

... and if you're not updating your kernel, you just update if you want, and move on without rebooting. Future versions won't even require reboots for kernel upgrades. That is experimental now.

[zeugma]

I think the fact that Windows users need to How-To to stop updates kinda makes my point.

LOL! Indeed sir.

[daniel1212]

That's a rather disingenuous comment, and your link does not mention anything about turning off automatic updates. It DOES talk about how to turn off update REMINDERS, though. Updates are never automatic in Linux

No, rather than being disingenuous, giving a false appearance, if you read the results you would see requests such as,

Ubuntu let me down again. How do I ABSOLUTELY DISABLE automatic updates???

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1322292/how-do-i-turn-off-automatic-updates-completely-and-for-real Running Ubuntu 18.04 on x64.I need to COMPLETELY turn off the "automatic updates reminder" stuff on my Ubuntu system. The problem is that the machine is doing some unattended processing and the updates reminders interfere with it.

How to disable automatic updates on Ubuntu On Ubuntu, automatic updates are managed by a package called unattended-upgrades which is installed by default.

How to Disable Automatic Updates in Ubuntu . By default, Ubuntu is configured to automatically download and install updates.

Disable Automatic Update/Upgrade on Debian/Ubuntu through SSH or Desktop I logged into my remote machine through ssh today and saw the message System restart required, which is very weird since I did not upgrade anything. Then I realized my Ubuntu Server has automatic upgrade enabled by default.

My objection is that I see a lack of objectively in what I see as overall hype for Linux against Windows.