Linus Torvalds: Why is Linux not competitive on desktop?
Aalto Talk with Linus Torvalds, hosted by Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship in Otaniemi on June 14, 2012. Will Cardwell interview Linus, followed by a Q&A session with the audience? We had fun!
There are several reasons why Linux is not as competitive on the desktop as Windows or macOS. Some of the most common causes include:
- Lack of software: There are not as many applications available for Linux as for Windows or macOS. This is a significant barrier for many users, as they may be unable to find the software they need for work or school.
- Fragmentation: Many different Linux distributions are available, each with strengths and weaknesses. This can make it difficult for users to choose a distribution and make it difficult for developers to create applications that are compatible with all distributions.
- User-friendliness: Linux is not as user-friendly as Windows or macOS. This can be a barrier for some users, especially those unfamiliar with computers.
- Marketing: Linux is not as well-marketed as Windows or macOS. This means many people are unaware that Linux is an option.
However, there are several reasons to believe that Linux could become more competitive on the desktop. Some of the factors that could contribute to this include:
- The growth of the cloud: As more and more applications move to the cloud, the need for local software will decline. This could make Linux more attractive to users, as it is a more secure and reliable platform for running cloud-based applications.
- The rise of open source: Open-source software is becoming increasingly popular, and Linux is a leading open-source platform. This could help to attract more developers to Linux, which could lead to a broader range of applications being available for the platform.
- The increasing popularity of Linux servers: Linux is already the most popular server operating system, and this trend will likely continue. As more and more businesses adopt Linux servers, they may also start to adopt Linux desktops.
Linux is not as competitive on the desktop as Windows or macOS. However, several factors could contribute to Linux becoming more competitive.