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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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Why don't more people use desktop Linux? I have a theory you might not like (www.zdnet.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm curious to hear thoughts on this. I agree for the most part, I just wish people would see the benefit of choice and be brave enough to try it out.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

I am going to bring it up a level. I don’t really agree with the surface level analysis of ZDNET.

It’s all a bit janky. The jank is really reduced BUT it is there. There are two flavors: distro jank and app jank. And the reason it’s janky is because the maintainers want it that way.

We should applaud the dedication of companies and people to relentlessly improve. Things are as great as they have ever been. This stuff is hard and Linux does make some things really really simple.

But…go to any distro support site, and you will see the usual things. Why does the secondary monitor not turn on. Why did audio stop working, laptop won’t wake. Etc etc. the solutions are better and better, but unique hw cfgs causing distros jank is one hill to climb.

The other are the apps. Again, I am glad they are there. And they are better than ever.

However, sometimes app workflow causes a great app to feel janky. It’s like “good enough” is all the love they get.

Finally, the open source community can be a removed to work with. Anyone who has ever submitted a patch knows that some projects and tools are … interesting.

It’s like…thank you for your time, but your patch to eliminate jank is rejected because … ego.

Not all open source repos are like this. But more are than you’d think. Different ideas are not always welcome, even if end users would appreciate those very same ideas.

And the repos with a more open mind? No surprise that their results are more usable.