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Linux hits nearly 4% desktop user share on Statcounter

By - | Views: 74,822

According to Statcounter, which should be taken with a pinch of salt of course like any sampling, the Linux share on the desktop hit nearly 4% in December 2023. Last month was a record too and a clear trend over time, as going back a couple of years, it was rarely coming close to 2% but now it's repeatedly nearing 4% so it's quite a good sign overall.

The latest from Statcounter shows for all of 2023 below:

  • January - 2.91%
  • February - 2.94%
  • March - 2.85%
  • April - 2.83%
  • May - 2.7%
  • June - 3.07%
  • July - 3.12%
  • August - 3.18%
  • September - 3.02%
  • October - 2.92%
  • November - 3.22%
  • December - 3.82%

Looking at December it shows Windows rising too, with macOS dropping down. If we actually take ChromeOS directly into the Linux numbers for December 2023 the overall number would actually be 6.24% (ChromeOS is Linux after all).

Here's how just Linux looks over time on Statcounter since early 2009 until now:

Seems like a pretty clear trend over time don't you think? Nice to see this happening elsewhere, just like we've seen over years with the Steam Survey.

You can see their stats over here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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65 comments
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ShabbyX Jan 3
Quoting: pleasereadthemanual
Quoting: CatKillerChromeOS has been able to run Linux applications in a container for around five years.
I know it can run Linux programs through a container, but this is kind of like Linux only being able to run programs in Wine. Like, there being no "native" Linux layer to write programs for. Which is so weird!

My understanding was that the Linux container thing was only for developers, and not for normal Chromebook users.

It's not at all like running programs through wine. It's a Linux system running Linux apps. It may use a container for better security or compatibility, what's wrong with that? Containers basically just use "namespaces" to isolate apps, and that's a Linux kernel feature.
mad_mesa Jan 3
Quoting: pleasereadthemanualMy understanding was that the Linux container thing was only for developers, and not for normal Chromebook users.
The general purpose GNU/Linux container is yes. Although once set up applications installed within it function exactly like other containerized application solutions on other Linux distributions from a users perspective, being able to launch from the ChromeOS panel, and appearing within ChromeOS's window manager. Not really that different from using Flatpaks on other immutable distributions where essentially an application loads in a standardized container environment.

The only real difference is that Google wants containers normal users interact with to be fully self contained. So none of the overlay sharing advantage you get when using a bunch of flatpaks, but I don't think Google expects normal ChromeOS users will be running a bunch of different containers. Most systems will just have a few, namely the pre-installed Android and Chrome containers, plus a small number of systems will add Steam or another major application.
CatKiller Jan 3
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Quoting: mad_mesaSo if Steam is set up to contribute stats to statcounter at least for the public facing pages Deck users would be automatically showing up in large numbers from normal operation, and if not Deck would still not be entirely invisible.

It isn't. Valve have their own tracker and that's it.
Quoting: ShabbyXIt's not at all like running programs through wine. It's a Linux system running Linux apps. It may use a container for better security or compatibility, what's wrong with that? Containers basically just use "namespaces" to isolate apps, and that's a Linux kernel feature.
I'm not a systems engineer or anything; this is just a layman observation.

Is Waydroid a more apt comparison? Imagine if your Linux system could only run Android apps through Waydroid. Google refers to "Linux" in their own documentation as something separate from ChrmoeOS. I've never run a ChromeOS system before, so I can only rely on what I've read.

But this explanation makes sense to me:

Quoting: mad_mesaThe general purpose GNU/Linux container is yes. Although once set up applications installed within it function exactly like other containerized application solutions on other Linux distributions from a users perspective, being able to launch from the ChromeOS panel, and appearing within ChromeOS's window manager. Not really that different from using Flatpaks on other immutable distributions where essentially an application loads in a standardized container environment.

The only real difference is that Google wants containers normal users interact with to be fully self contained. So none of the overlay sharing advantage you get when using a bunch of flatpaks, but I don't think Google expects normal ChromeOS users will be running a bunch of different containers. Most systems will just have a few, namely the pre-installed Android and Chrome containers, plus a small number of systems will add Steam or another major application.
Right, so native applications for ChromeOS can run on Linux, because native applications for ChromeOS are written for Linux, meant to be used in containers.

Well, I guess ChromeOS is a Linux distribution then.
Quoting: pleasereadthemanual
QuoteIf we actually take ChromeOS directly into the Linux numbers for December 2023 the overall number would actually be 6.24% (ChromeOS is Linux after all).
I'm willing to accept this if programs built for ChromeOS work on Linux distributions like Arch, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE. Is that the case?
Hard to say. I don't think there are any programs built for ChromeOS.
mad_mesa Jan 3
Quoting: Purple Library GuyHard to say. I don't think there are any programs built for ChromeOS.
That is a bit like saying there are no applications built for Silverblue.
Quoting: mad_mesa
Quoting: Purple Library GuyHard to say. I don't think there are any programs built for ChromeOS.
That is a bit like saying there are no applications built for Silverblue.
A bit, yes, although not entirely. And your point is?
Quoting: win8linux
Quoting: buonoGonna have to start a new website - gamingonbsd soon.... :)

Too mainstream, BSD is used on the PlayStation 4 and 5. :P

GamingOnHaiku when
Yeah, you need something like gamingonamigaos4.com.
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