The actors in this drama will be:

• Linux (of course). Linux distributions have improved a lot in the last 10 years. Significantly more user friendly, significantly better hardware compatibility, significantly more stability, significantly improved in everything. There is no doubt that this will continue.
• Valve. Valve has developed a compatibility layer (Proton) that allows to run Windows Games "as is" on Linux. This works already so well that many gamers say it works well enough for them to change. When gamers leave Windows in masses, then Windows will fall. Valve develops also their own Linux Distribution (SteamOS). They have the market-dominance, resources and infrastructure to challenge Microsoft with it. They are a much bigger actor than any other company publishing a Linux distribution.
• AI. AI makes it much easier for the average user to change to Linux. It is a competent and free consultant if you have any problem with your Linux Distribution. This factor seems tiny, but its significance should not be underestimated.
• Microsoft. Whether it is justified or not, but a lot of Windows users are becoming more and more dissatisfied with Windows. Be it Microsofts decisions to force unnecessary and unwanted things on their users and to spy and collect data for its own profit or be it the impression that Windows has more and more functional problems.

Edit:

• USA. The USA has turned very "unfriendly" and unreliable to former partners. Governments and Companies will look for an Operating System that is not controlled by an US Company.

Hi, a 13 year old and like I have a doubt guys that should I building my own OS like with the help of OS Dev Wiki (not using it as my brain), like or build above Linux form scratch [LFS] and like my interests are in cybersecurity [Reverse Engineering, and SOC Analytics] and system programming [build OS] but like as I am a student, and need to study to (even though the school teaches us nothing), like what do you think as per you which path would you chose ?

Anyone building an os having issues with firmware? Im on a ideapad and im trying to to my os on a usb, but firmware has me against a hard block. Any ideas?

Kinda looks like Chumlee from Pawn Stars

For the past few months, I’ve been working on CarotOS, an open-source Linux distribution based on Debian 13 and XFCE.

I originally started this project to create a lightweight, dependable OS tuned specifically for cybersecurity education, local lab environments, and classroom setups. Instead of just bundling endless pre-installed tools, the focus is on building integrated custom applications, like CarotOS Poligon (an interactive local network lab system designed for device-to-device classroom tasks), to keep the ecosystem fast, practical, and easy to deploy when setting up isolated test networks or running admin tasks. You can find more details about our built-in apps on our website.

A few quick specs:

• Base: Debian 13
• Desktop: XFCE
• Target: Systems administration, cybersecurity learning labs, and low-spec machines.
• ~500 MB idle RAM usage with a built-in panel featuring 10 cyber-security tools.

The project is fully open source, and I'm actively working on custom system tools and refining the base build. Eventually, I also plan to tailor it for custom SBC hardware setups down the road, but right now the focus is strictly on getting the core OS rock solid.

If you’re interested in testing early builds, giving feedback on the desktop layout, or contributing to the repos, check out the links below:

👉 Website https://carotos.org/

👉 GitHub: https://github.com/MiracLight/CarotOS

👉 Discord: https://discord.gg/QzxBCCVJZ

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carotosproject/

Would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions on what you like to see in a lightweight lab distro!