num-pi, by Ayash Rath
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num-pi, by Ayash Rath

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Obstacle to Linux's Desktop Domination

 included in Linux
   741 words   4 minutes 
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Normally Used Terms
  1. Linux OS - Refers to any operating system that consists of Linux Kernel and GNU tools.
  2. Distro - Abbreviation for “distribution”, meaning OSs that use the Linux Kernel with their collection of software and package managers.
  3. Flavours - Refers to different configurations of a Linux distro’s graphical user interface (desktop environment).

Introduction

Recently, I came across an old writing I had written where I compared the performance of “lightweight” distros on a low-spec PC. It was an Intel-powered Mini PC Stick, equipped with an Intel Atom CPU with integrated graphics and 4GB of RAM. At that time, I had minimal experience with Linux, and the PC was unusable with Windows 10 (Windows 11 didn’t exist then), so I decided to run Linux on it. The reason for it is that Linux is known to be better than Windows when it comes to resource consumption. I referred to listicles available to be at the time to get lightweight distros I could test (articles titles were like - “The Most Lightweight Linux Operating Systems (20xx)”), and from these listicles, I tried out some OSs and analyzed my observations to determine which one would be the most appropriate to use.

More Context and Clarification
  1. I didn’t test Linux Server versions, due to a lack of knowledge to get GUI working from CLI (at the time the observations were done).
  2. I didn’t test super lightweight distros like Tiny Core Linux, which can run on MBs of RAM, as I wanted to test more conventional distros.
  3. I wanted to use the PC for light tasks and not run a game like - “Elden Ring” on max settings at 240 fps without any frame drops (it is the most extremely absurd statement that I could come up with at the time of writing). For the sake of accuracy, I must let you know that Elden Ring was not released when the observations were made.
  4. I agree that Linux is more resource efficient than Windows (that is the reason I tested it out), but I must acknowledge the fact the difference diminishes as the hardware improves.

Issues I Want to Highlight

The observations I took did help me learn more about Linux; for example, Kali Linux is very resource efficient or the fact that Ubuntu shipped in various flavours (different desktop environments). Even though the project was a good learning experience, I also developed some misconceptions along the way due to the way the listicles were written. Please note that I don’t intend to criticize the quality of these articles, but I believe that they oversimplify the content and sacrifice accuracy to appeal to the masses. Due to this two problems emerge:

  1. They actively try to reject the fact that there exists unity among Linux Distros. So, most of the popular articles/listicles on Linux Distros treat different each Distro as a separate entity, but that is not the case. In most cases, what you can do in Distro 1, should be replicable in Distro 2.
  2. They don’t acknowledge the fact Linux is a different OS than Windows and so naturally has a different way to do things. By that I don’t dismiss any comparisons that exist, rather I dismiss any statements made where they expect Linux to behave like Windows.

Why These Issues Are Significant

Unlike Windows and MacOS, Linux is not widely used by the general public, and the current user base of Linux in the desktop market is very low. I believe to increase the adoption rate, Linux needs to improve its image and show people how usable it is. The current media coverage of Linux:

  1. Creates the perception that Linux is only for tech-savvy individuals and requires extensive use of the terminal. This deters the common public from trying out Linux.
  2. Creates confusion and misconceptions, which lead people to give up Linux.

I don’t claim that Linux is perfect, as it still has room for improvement to compete with Windows in terms of the volume of applications available tools, gaming compatibility, etc. However, it should be able to satisfy the needs of most people who use computers.

While there are various sources to get information about Linux, few are suitable for beginners. Some sources that helped me gain a better understanding of Linux are:

  1. Chris Titus Tech - Does an excellent job of demystifying Linux distros in general.
  2. The Linux Experiment - Demonstrates that you don’t need the terminal to use Linux.
Updated on 10-03-2023
 linux
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