Linux

The reason is that Linux usually doesn't come preinstalled. I'm pretty sure at least 50% of the users wouldn't even notice they have Mint Cinnamon instead of Windows on their Laptops.

And Linux isn't minimal effort. It's an operating system that demands more of you than does the commercial offerings from Microsoft and Apple. Thus, it serves as a dojo for understanding computers better. With a sensei who keeps demanding you figure problems out on your own in order to learn and level up.

Counterpoint: most people don't use Linux because the people that evangelize Linux talk about it like this.

I don't want to "level up," I want to accomplish my tasks. I'm trying to get shit done, not train for a fucking tournament.

Path of least resistance is at the electronics store and general support from marketed software. So lack of Linux hardware in stores and lack of well marketed software

20 years ago Apple at least had store presence and had their own software as major draws, Final Cut Pro, GarageBand people loved, and really as a brand MacBook's are/were fashionable

Linux is widespread in software development and data science. It's mainstream draw is still developing. Could be games. It could maybe someday be seen as the choice for content creators if the selection of media creation/editing continues to improve and have their Blender/Krita rise. Talking like Kdenlive, Ardour, GIMP, etc

And Linux isn’t minimal effort. It’s an operating system that demands more of you than does the commercial offerings from Microsoft and Apple. Thus, it serves as a dojo for understanding computers better. With a sensei who keeps demanding you figure problems out on your own in order to learn and level up.

I don't think this is true unless you're digging in. For the average person doing everyday things, using a Linux Mint installation isn't going to be any more complicated than using Windows. Just different, with some new patterns to learn. I don't know about MacOS since I've never felt moved to pay the entry fee to use it.

Well yes but also no. There are quite a few distros that are "minimal effort", they just work for the average person without any more knowledge you'd need on Windows or Mac. The last part that's still not so "minimal effort" is gaming, most things just work out of the box, some things don't. Btw Android is Linux.

So I don't think that the problem is that Linux needs a little more knowledge or effort, because it mostly doesn't, but the fact that most people who would switch see a billion different distros and don't know what to do. Having so much choice here actually hinders people from coming to Linux. Doesn't mean it would be better with less choices, it's just one of several reasons why we don't see mass adoption.

Another reason is the outdated thinking that Linux is complicated to use (and this blog fuels just that).

You hit the nail right on the head. Chromebooks got decent enough uptake and many folks just use an ios or android smartphone and don't really use a computer. In some ways its nice things are like this. At least for me. I used to eat fast food way to often but that bout of inflation hit fastfood hard and now I rarely if ever eat it. Even my once in awhile is a non chain burger, hot dog, beef, gyro, burrito type place and not taco bell or mcdonalds since the mom and pop places are like a buck or two more for higher quality. Still pretty rare though.

I think one of the biggest hurdles for Linux is that Windows comes preinstalled. People are lazy, and want things to just work.

If companies could sell systems at a reasonable, competitive price, with Linux preinstalled; I do believe we could see folks use it.

The average user does not see a computer the same way a tech-savvy individual does. They want to push the buttons and the computer do the thing.

Sure steam has helped make it more viable for game enjoying folks to hop on board, even if it isn't just click and play for every game; it has made strides.

We also need support from big entities, but that is likely an uphill battle. For as much as I love open source software, and the entire ecosystem surrounding open software standards; we have players like Microsoft, adobe, and I am sure more that will push back. Including DRM and Anti-Cheat from other companies as well.

The average user isn't going to know, let alone fight things like kernel level anti-cheat, DRM, and closed standards.

Unfortunately not everyone has the will, the time, or the intelligence to learn something new.

And add in many folks inability to deal with change well.

This is just some of my thoughts on the subject...

Worst take ever. Outside of Desktop, Windows gets dominated by Linux. Even on Azure, Linux is the number one OS over MS's Windows Server. Windows is free on IoT and still Linux dominates. So what makes Desktop different? 30 years of Microsoft's vendor lock-in strategy. All the OEMs have to invest into Windows because they have to take the volume licensing deal from Microsoft or be priced out. This ensures Windows engineering efforts for drivers, software, and testing. Because the machines were Windows, 3rd party hardware and software had to invest into Windows as well. When there is no vendor lock-in, Linux receives the money for engineering efforts and dominates Windows. Nobody complains about having Linux on their Smart TV. Right, because the money for engineering efforts are not forced to be put toward Windows. How many people are switching their Steam Deck to Windows 80%? 50%? 10%? 1%,? more like ~0.1% switch. The money is there to make a great experience and so there is almost no reason to switch. It's only the tech nerds that are installing OSes. Average people don't even know what Windows or Linux is. When Microsoft loses it's lock-in strategy, Linux will take over. Nobody is choosing Windows for Desktop. It's just what comes on the machine at the store.

Sysadmin here. I use Linux a lot on the job and in my homelab, but it's true, I don't wasn't firefighting exercises off the clock. I just want to use my computer. Also, my systems are used by the whole family, and they sure as hell don't want to learn Linux and become IT zealots.

dhh isn't advocating for linux for everybody per se; instead it's addressed at programmers and similar folk who regard linux as way too complex for everyday use. the background story being that he was an Apple fanboy for the longest time and recently made the switch and now can't shut up about it. as a result they (basecamp) developed some insane rice setup that has to be seen to be believed, it's beyond ridiculous.

as an aside, I've met those people he's talking at and they regularly blow my mind. like, how can you utilize a modern toolchain for practically every possible development scenario using an OS that actively fights you every step of the way, the abomination called WSL notwithstanding...

so the idea is the brogrammers will become the early adopters and by way of trickle-down-tech linux will make its way to normies, same way e.g. Android did.

I don't think that's gonna happen in the foreseeable future. the options, distros, DEs, whatevers are way too fragmented and fragile and are infested with the most deluded, rabid "fans" there are, each and everyone of them mired in truckloads of "no true scottsman" fallacies.

Apple has a vertically integrated tech stack - there is one DE, one WM, one codebase for every product they sell and they are free to focus their sinister efforts elsewhere, backed by the deepest coffers there are.

contrast this with the myriad of distros, package managers, DEs, WMs, etc. each pulling in a different direction, abandoned paths and duplicated efforts galore, done predominantly with no funds to speak of; and if there are any, they are squandered on... what was it, shamans?

no math in this universe is gonna make team #2 catch up to team #1, let alone surpass it.

I've been wanting to switch to Linux for years, but it was always too intimidating for me since I'm not a computer programmer. In the end, it took a roommate who was tech savvy to help install it and answer a few questions. Took about 10 minutes of his time but I still felt like a burden

good take while I love Linux I must admit it has been quite the struggle sometimes. But everything worthwhile in life takes effort. It's not everybody's cup of tea and I like it that way actually.

If you have other takes then let's discuss here!

Development led me directly to installing Linux because Windows is bad for dev...

I fell into the warm embrace of KDE and GNOME environments in 2022 and have never looked back.

Why don't people use Linux? Fair question. It's because people who don't use Linux are stupid and lazy.

Wow, galaxy brain stuff.

When I told my father, who has been using computers since the MS-DOS days and is by no mean technology-illiterate, that I switched to Linux, his response was "What's Linux?".

I knew it was a lost cause to explain him about privacy, or control and ownership of his own device. He uses Windows 11 and as long as it does what he needs it to do he will never care enough about switching over.

Screen tearing and things not being simple

I can't use Linux because I can't get the medication I need to read through the documentation. I am literally unable to focus on pages of details on my own and it's crippling. If any issues come up, like trying to get an nVidia card to work, I can't get through the help documents.

Linux is unhelpful by being so open. As much as folks don't like rails on their operating system, it helps some of us get work done. I want to like Linux and have a laptop with Mint but it's wireless card needs drivers and finding relief is non-existent.