this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Are we actually converting people or is the desktop platform just less popular for other OSs in favor of phones etc?
That's already been happening for the last 15+ years, but Linux growth is primarily in the last 3. People are definitely moving to mobile, but the ones on desktop seem to be preferring Linux more than they did even 5-10 years ago (Note that laptops are included in "desktop" here).
People are converting. Not entirely on its own merit, of course: Its competition repeatedly is enshitifying the user experience and pushing people to try other options. Combine that with steam and their work on linux's compatibility layer and you get most of the movement.
That said once you hit a certain market share developers become more willing to port or provide binaries for the growing platform. It can accelerate further from there. Linux mainstream isn't there yet but it's starting to get in striking distance of its competition.
I hate to say it but having a full desktop is becoming more and more of an enthusiast setup.
Even laptops are becoming somewhat niche as people more just use their phone for all web browsing.
They don't even do web browsing they just download the dedicated app like Facebook or Instagram