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Some perspective on distro usage among developers
(survey.stackoverflow.co)
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this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2024
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Interesting how the numbers between "computer pros" and hobbyists (Steam Survey) diverge. Unsurprisingly for Steam gamers the Windows numbers are way higher but for Linux specifically Ubuntu is crashing hard since a few years from absolute domination to all Ubuntu versions + derivatives (Mint + pop_OS) combined barely making up 20% of the Linux user base whereas at Stack Overflow there's a clear lead of Ubuntu over the rest.
Edit:
https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey?platform=linux
I think for games, people need newer kernels and drivers to support the newer hardware needed to play newer games, and they're willing to put up with the bugs that come along with thay. Ubuntu and Debian (stable) aren't strong at that by definition. I always use an older GPU that supported well by the Ubuntu LTS I run. If it doesn't play something, I'll wait till a new driver lands in that LTS or the next.
Latest non-LTS Ubuntu could be high up the Steam Survey list but isn't. The strongest general purpose distribution is Arch Linux.
Probably because everybody with a Steam Desk shows up as Arch in the survey.
Had you looked up the current stats, you would have known that this is completely false. SteamOS is in massive lead and I used the phrase "general purpose distribution" for a reason.
I looked at the August 2024 results and SteamOS was not mentioned anywhere in the OS version section.
https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey?platform=linux
Ah, I didn't expect the results to be different when looking at the overview, this is what I saw..
Any way to break down that "Other" and see what it contains? If it counts Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS as different operating systems there might be some more Ubuntu versions hiding in there.
No, not without lobbying Valve.
Certainly because non-LTS versions are not in the main table as well but neither are Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, NixOS, etc.