Why Hasn’t Linux Dominated the World Yet?

People have been waiting for Linux to dominate the computing and programming world since its inception. It was thought to make its biggest splash in the desktop market. However, statistics show that Linux has only managed a 1 or 2% stake. Linux fans have adamantly espoused its advancements and it can only be reasoned that they would be great for the masses too. So what explains the lag in its desktop share? Some have come to wonder whether it has a lot to do with its distributions, especially its most popular one, Ubuntu. Those beneficial advances just may be the same thing keeping Linux from catching on to the rest of the world.

Looking at Ubuntu it can be hard for the Linux enthusiast to understand how people could be discouraged from adopting it. For one, the software is very similar to Windows. In addition, the installation process is a cinch and the support is very helpful. While that seems like it should satisfy the general user, there is the evident issue of its operations still being too technical. Many people simply don’t have the experience using commands and such. But it’s not just the look and performance that is an issue. Many Linux distributions like Ubuntu are updated at too fast of a clip. While this is great for users already in the loop, it can be a turn off for users that aren’t even used to their first version.

This can leave many Linux developers peddling projects only to Linux users, which isn’t a large part of the market. Still, there is hope for Linux domination yet. As generations grow up around computers, the technical know-how will catch up to open source’s operational capabilities. Plus, open source software like Linux is so adaptable it will continue to evolve to weed out any kinks users find unfavorable. And if that doesn’t happen, there is always room for another project to come along that will really craft its software to the needs of average users and potentially take the desktop market.

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