Why is Linux desktop not popular among non-programmers?

[Ralf Mardorf]

On Sat, 2025-02-01 at 16:12 +0530, Amit wrote:
> But what is discouraging is that linux desktop developers themselves
> are not very interested in increasing the user base of linux desktops.

Hi,

then go ahead, fork a desktop environment and become the first developer
interested in "increasing the user base of linux desktops" ;).

One of the things I don't like about Linux is the lack of a standard.

"The Linux Standard Base (LSB) was a joint project by several Linux
distributions under the organizational structure of the Linux Foundation
to standardize the software system structure, including the Filesystem
Hierarchy Standard. LSB was based on the POSIX specification, the Single
UNIX Specification (SUS), and several other open standards, but extended
them in certain areas." -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_Standard_Base .

"Although freedesktop.org produces specifications for interoperability,
it is not a formal standards body." -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedesktop.org .

OTOH there are projects such as https://www.cip-project.org/ ,
Enterprise Linux distros, very special User Linux distros, but there's a
lack of software in some domains.

Apple seems to be pursuing a new strategy, away from quality and towards
garbage mass-products, so I'm trying to get away from Apple completely,
but there are some problems.

I own a Pianoteq Studio Bundle license and can run it on both my Apple
device and my Linux PC,
https://www.modartt.com/pianoteq_overview?ref=cGFnZT1waWFub3RlcSZleHQ9 ,
but high quality software like this rarely offers a Linux port. This is
one of a few exceptions!

I own the Affinity Universal Licence,
https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/universal-licence/ , it doesn't provide
a Linux port, but at least I can run it on Linux in a hypervisor running
Windows. There is nothing on Linux that can keep up with the Affinity
Suite.

I could now list countless programs that are not even available for
Linux and that cannot be replaced by anything under Linux. Then again,
there are some programs that have a Linux port and can replace my Apple
software, but that means relearning and spending 1000s of € that I don't
have.

Under Linux I don't use a desktop environment at all, I've built
everything the way I like it and under Apple I use the crap that is put
in front of me, which in the end is no problem, because when I work with
the software I need, I don't have anything to do with the desktop
anymore.

My guess is that your focus on a desktop is missing the point. I suspect
that other platforms are more popular because there is simply a lack of
specialized, mature desktop computer software on Linux and BSD.

Regards,
Ralf