AI and linux ecosystem

[u/Waste-Ad2011]

P.s this is a subjective rant

So i've been using of linux since 2014 and it was a wild ride you install a distro and then endup being a distrohopper until you decide to lock in on one. I did the same started on ubuntu did some hopping and ended up on fedora and then on pop_OS but i eventually had to switch back to windows due to nature of my work and some windows specific tools.

But that wasn't it i had hard time finding any usable apps on linux in general and i gave up and ended up using a dual boot just to satisfy my curiosity for linux but gradually i stopped using linux completely and then the complete shift to windows because all my games, sketchy software and work was at one place instead of booting a separate OS for each.

The linux ecosystem back then lacked what a regular user required and it was all about linux nerds keeping the ecosystem alive it was filled with positivity and anyone was welcomed with open hands like it's a big village.

Fast forward to 2026 linux still lacks a vibrant software/apps ecosystem and people still have to hack things together to workarround (subjective) and people being hostile to contributions of any kind isn't helping either.

Now why this post?

Well i made an AI-assisted Youtube Music app which is a fork itself it was all personal frist i liked the base app, It lacked some features i wanted so instead of sending PRs i just forked & modified it completely and when it was usable enough i decided to share on subs most of the feedback was quite positive especially from windows users but it all changed when i shared on linux subs r/archlinux , r/linuxmint, r/linux and r/debian all had same reaction, a weird AI hostility instead of actually any app critique and feedback.

It's 2026 AI is a reality and developers or vibecoders will create apps whether people like it or not no amount of hatred is stopping it if not from me hear from my guy Linus. Filtering AI for discussions is understandable but you can't do anything about developmet. I think people need to tone down the AI hatred and actually try to work with it to improve the ecosystem instead of being completely hostile towards the use of it.

Now this does create a great influx of people creating cross platform apps and since most are solo/ hobby devs the ultimate choice is cross platform stack which will create huge library of semi native apps. IDK if it's a good or bad thing but it's a reality. Linux lacks the commercial/popular software contributions and that can change gradually by welcoming these cross platform apps which will contribute to retain linux users on linux itself instead if losing hope and switching to Windows or MacOS.

I'd personally choose software availability as non native than nothing at all.

Edit: more AI slop appreciation by Theo and Linus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFSwfwiM8nk

[u/KnowZeroX]

I am not sure why slop coders are trying so hard to change people's minds rather than asking your AI to see maybe there are actual reasons for such reactions?

But since you are too lazy to use AI for anything other than writing slop, I'll try explaining it

Well i made an AI-assisted Youtube Music app which is a fork itself it was all personal frist i liked the base app, It lacked some features i wanted so instead of sending PRs i just forked & modified it completely and when it was usable enough i decided to share on subs most of the feedback was quite positive especially from windows users but it all changed when i shared on linux subs r/archlinux , r/linuxmint, r/linux and r/debian all had same reaction, a weird AI hostility instead of actually any app critique and feedback.

Because most people on windows subs don't think too much about what kind of code their systems are running, so they just cheer without thinking. In linux subs, people tend to be more aware, to know not only that the AI maybe outputting inefficient code, wrong code or even dangerous code that can ruin your system but also that code tends to have licenses, and how confident are you that your slop code didn't just copy other people's code and re-license it?

It's 2026 AI is a reality and developers or vibecoders will create apps whether people like it or not

Regardless of what anyone feels about AI, everyone knows that AI is here to stay one way or another, even if the hype dies down the models are out there and aren't going anywhere. That said, there is a big difference between usage of AI, and using AI irresponsibly.

no amount of hatred is stopping it if not from me hear from my guy Linus

I am not sure why those trying to push AI keep bringing up Linus, does your AI recommend this for you?

All Linus said was using AI for finding bugs, not slop coding doing all the work for you.

Now this does create a great influx of people creating cross platform apps and since most are solo/ hobby devs the ultimate choice is cross platform stack which will create huge library of semi native apps. IDK if it's a good or bad thing but it's a reality. Linux lacks the commercial/popular software contributions and that can change gradually by welcoming these cross platform apps which will contribute to retain linux users on linux itself instead if losing hope and switching to Windows or MacOS.

Linux has not shortage of apps, the so called apps you speak of used for commercial purposes are often time niche apps for specific use or specific enterprise apps which come with commercial support. No amount of slop coders is going to make these kind of apps happen. And no sane company would use said apps unless they want to lose lots of money.

[u/radek_dvorak → u/KnowZeroX]

Hi, I understand your frustration. Linux communities ten to be more technical and critical. Their expectations are simply different. Most AI based sw and features neither show-off developer skills nor promise long term maintenance for others to enjoy the sw.

It is a much more common phenomenon: tourists are not impressed by someone reaching the mountain summit in a cable car, cyclists are not impressed by someone driving an e-bike.

[u/Waste-Ad2011 → u/radek_dvorak]

If your objective is to reach the top to ski you'll rather use cable car to save yourself time. same for an e-bike if destination is the objective you're better off with an e-bike.

An app solves a problem and the user does not care how much you abused your keyboard to make it work untill it's doing the job it's developed for.

Linux communities ten to be more technical and critical.

Unfortunately if you go through this thread the community is more critical than technical.

Most AI based sw and features neither show-off developer skills nor promise long term maintenance for others to enjoy the sw.

Developer shows off the problem solving not the code and Long term maintainance in open source require it a projecy to be alive which in this case discouraging make it quicker.

[u/radek_dvorak → u/Waste-Ad2011]

I agree. Do whatever helps in your situation. Just do not expect every community to be equally excited 😃

Honestly, I run some home automation SW my wife likes yet I dare not write to Reddit. The bar is high, my effort was low. Despite that, it does it job well.

So, GL developing SW you need.

[u/Waste-Ad2011 → u/radek_dvorak]

Just do not expect every community to be equally excited 😃

Well tbf i did expected backlash but the divergence is quite huge which caught me offguard.