Why is Linux desktop not popular among non-programmers?

[Bhavani Shankar R]

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 16:09 Amit <amitchoudhary0523 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have been programming since 1998 mostly in C language and Linux. I
> use Debian Linux and my user interface is GNOME Flashback Metacity (I
> don't like the GNOME 3 interface).
>
> Even Linus Torvalds was critical of GNOME 3
> (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME).
>
> According to the following website
> (https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide), linux
> desktop has 4.13% of the desktop market share while Windows has 73.41%
> market share.
>
> So, it looks like non-programmers have not yet embraced Linux desktop.
>
> Some people will say that it is because of marketing by Microsoft and
> Apple but I don't buy this answer.
>
> I am listing the no. 1 reason that I believe is behind the
> un-popularity of Linux desktop among non-programmers (I know some
> people won't like it):
>
> I don't think Linux desktop development teams (GNOME, KDE, etc.) are
> interested in increasing the usage of Linux desktop among
> non-programmers. The main reason for coming to this conclusion is that
> Linux desktop development teams don't ask people (non-programmers)
> what they want, they just go ahead and do what they want to do. An
> example of this is that the GNOME development team went ahead and
> created GNOME 3 without asking the users (non-programmers) whether
> they would want this kind of user interface or not. In my opinion,
> GNOME 3 is less user-friendly than GNOME Flashback Metacity.
>
> Recently, I opened a discussion on Discord to talk to GNOME developers
> and I told them that GNOME Flashback Metacity is more user-friendly
> than GNOME 3. They got hurt and closed the discussion thread. Then I
> also got angry and forced them to delete the whole discussion.
>
> But, if Linux desktop development teams are really interested in
> increasing the share of Linux desktop among non-programmers then they
> have to think from non-programmers point of view. They should also ask
> non-programmers as to what will convince them to use the Linux
> Desktop.
>
> My analysis is - Microsoft Windows is insecure, Apple is costly, so
> Linux desktop(s) should become very popular among non-programmers but
> it is not.
>
> It looks like there is not much will to make Linux desktop popular
> because where there is a will, there is a way.
>


Hello Amit,

While your observations on GNOME maybe valid or may not be, as I am not
representing gnome in anyway here but,

As an Ubuntu developer myself, I can certainly speak on behalf of the
Ubuntu community I guess :)

Our community has a very strict code of conduct and welcomes contributions
from everyone in every walk of life,

You can have a look at the Ubuntu development lifecycle and the Ubuntu
packaging guide to contribute to various areas of Ubuntu development..
similar with the Debian ecosystem ethos too, so you can reach out to us in
assistance with your ubuntu development journey and will be happy to help
always.

Another thing is there's a lot more ways to contribute to the community or
the operating system more than only development efforts or package or app
maintenance, you can contribute in areas like the QA, documentation,
translation etc or even hang out on the IRC or matrix channels helping out
other users on their queries :)

All the very best in your linux journey!

Regards,
Bhavi
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