this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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Linux

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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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In StatCounter's latest US numbers, which cover through October, Linux shows up as only 3.49%. But if you look closer, "unknown" accounts for 4.21%. Allow me to make an educated guess here: I suspect those unknown desktops are actually running Linux. What else could it be? FreeBSD? Unix? OS/2? Unlikely.

In addition, ChromeOS comes in at 3.67%, which strikes me as much too low. Leaving that aside, ChromeOS is a Linux variant. It just uses the Chrome web browser for its interface rather than KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, or another Linux desktop environment. Put all these together, and you get a Linux desktop market share of 11.37%. Now we're talking.

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[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml -5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

It doesn't matter what people "celebrate" (what does that mean?). If the question is if these operating systems are "Linux", then yes, they are. Because they distribute Linux. That's all to it. Just because a system distributes Linux does not mean it is compatible to each other. That is a completely different question, involving other tech and standards.

I am not arguing past that, I answer the question from the reply I answered to.

[–] doodoo_wizard@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

This is what MIT license defenders have to deploy to mimic a fraction of our power.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 day ago

It doesn’t matter what people “celebrate”

Yes it does - because that is the point of this post.

If the question is if these operating systems are “Linux”, then yes, they are.

That is not the question as was pointed out to you.

[–] markz@suppo.fi 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You misunderstood the point of the question. I already said that they are linux.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml -4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You said "might" and asked if it should count. I gave you reason why.

[–] markz@suppo.fi 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not every expression is meant to be read literally. Nobody else seemed to have trouble inferring it, so I think it was clear enough.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml -2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

OK, because you have trouble to understand my reply, here a short one: yes, we should count Android and ChromeOS as Linux. And I explained why. You might not like the answer, but it is what it is.

[–] markz@suppo.fi 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You misunderstood the point of the question. I already said that they are linux.

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml -3 points 1 day ago

You misunderstood the point of the answer. I already explained why we should count them as Linux.