Linux – Recreating old problems with new tools
4 days ago
- #Productization
- #Fragmentation
- #Linux Desktop
- Linux desktop market share has historically been around 1%, but recent growth is attributed to Steam's Proton compatibility layer enabling Windows games on Linux.
- The Linux desktop faces fragmentation with new package formats (AppImage, Flatpak, snap), distributions, and atomic models, which complicate productization and user experience.
- Atomic Linux distributions enforce read-only system partitions, limiting user control and relying on app stores, mimicking Chromebooks but without commercial viability.
- Package management remains a major issue due to Linux's extreme fragmentation—300+ distros, multiple formats, and compatibility challenges deter software vendors.
- Linux lacks proper commercial software stores, hindering paid software adoption. Existing stores (Snap Store, Flathub) lack payment integration and trustworthiness.
- The Linux community often misinterprets Google's success, focusing on technology rather than business models, leading to repeated failures in productization.
- Linux's core problem is not technology but productization—lack of cohesive ecosystem, paid software support, and commercial backing.
- Atomic distros introduce complexity without solving fundamental issues like hardware compatibility, QA, documentation, or commercial software availability.
- The solution lies in creating a unified, paid software store (like Canonical's Snap Store) to attract commercial vendors, but community resistance persists.
- Linux needs fewer developers and more testers, documentation, and focus on user experience rather than technical fragmentation.