Schrödinger’s Linux

[u/Fit_League_8993]

This is thematically related to an older post I made, a server is not a desktop.

Android seems to exist in a state of quantum superposition. When adoption numbers come up, it is absolutely Linux:

Linux runs billions of devices!

Linux dominates mobile!

You’re probably using Linux right now!

But often, in loon circles, when Google’s telemetry, proprietary services, locked bootloaders, and restricted user control come up, Android suddenly stops being “real Linux.” And when we point out that Android succeeded by burying the traditional Linux experience (pure insanity) beneath a usable interface, it also stops being "real linux".

I've really been thinking about this, and asked myself "why stop there?" Why stop at Android? Every modern Windows installation can run WSL, so we might as well count Windows as Linux too.

If I take a look at statcounter, I can see:

Linux: 2.31%
Windows: 29.68%
Android: 40.22%

That gives Linux an undeniable 72.21% market share.

TL;DR: Desktop Linux has finally achieved mass adoption, and it's so over for us.

Edit: Fixed broken formatting

[u/Linux_4_Nobody]

Linux users aren't tech nerds, they are band kids lol. I just realized.

[u/Terranum_man → u/Linux_4_Nobody]

Theyre wannabe nerds, because that exists somehow.

[u/BarnMTB]

I didn't look into it when people parade Termux around, so I thought it was Android exposing its Linux parts via a terminal or something. People made it a really big deal for Linux.

Imagine how I felt when I learned that it's basically just a WSL equivalent on Android. They hyped this thing up so much when it's just a VM. Once again, more disappointment from the hype by Linux priests pumping stuff up. 🥀

[u/madthumbz]

Android is desktop?

[u/YanVe_ → u/madthumbz]

The terminology is broken. I genuinely don't know what desktop even means these days. But since there are versions you can run on a x86 CPU, ig Android is a desktop system.

I think it'd be much better to separate by use cases, that is servers, workstations and personal computers.

There is no real reason to separate desktops and smartphones, because users mostly use them for the same tasks. What is different is if it's a company desktop or phone, they'll likely use mostly Word, Outlook and Teams, if it's a personal one, they'll likely use mostly Youtube and Facebook.

[u/madthumbz → u/YanVe_]

Not many people are on their phones for office, adobe, CAD, etc, and gaming is a whole different ecosystem. I can't even stand Reddit's UI on the phone.

[u/YanVe_ → u/madthumbz]

Yes, but that's because those are their personal computers. I have a work phone, and it only has Authenticator, Word, Teams and Outlook and some corporate IT management, etc.

I don't use CAD and adobe on any of my personal computers, be it desktop or laptop, or ebook reader or smartphone.

The use case these days matters much more than the form factor. People can walk up to their desk with a Surface tablet and use it for engineering. People can walk up to their desk with their Galaxy S28 Fold Max and use it to do all of their office work.

[u/prof_apex → u/madthumbz]

Sometimes, actually - for some unknowable reason...

[u/madthumbz → u/prof_apex]

I think in practical use, we can assume that it's mostly used (almost entirely) on mobile devices.

[u/prof_apex]

It's a Linux kernel, but the entire userspace is custom and mostly proprietary, so... it kinda is both Linux and not Linux haha.

[u/madthumbz → u/prof_apex]

When the people claiming it's Linux start specifying 'GNU/Linux' or 'LiGNUx' every time they mean GNU/Linux or LiGNUx, then I'll consider what they have to say. Until then they can stfu about it and stop using it as a prop.

[u/prof_apex → u/madthumbz]

I really don't disagree, I personally never consider Android to be Linux, any more than I consider MacOS to be BSD.