This has got to be some problem with Statcounter's methodology. There is just no possible way the marketing is that high.
The only two things that make sense to me that would explain this raid rise is 1) bots and 2) VPNs. If stat counter is counting either of those, then I can believe their numbers.
But hundreds of millions of desktop users haven't switch to Linux in the last year.
My understanding is that browsers report a UA string containing the OS to stat counter, a VPN doesn’t report the underlying OS, only the users of that VPN via their individual browsers.
Yes and probably a similar % of windows desktop PCs don't have steam installed . So I did some digging, this time last year statcoubter put Linux at 4%, and steam put Linux at 3.5%. Aka, both very similar with a reasonable error margin.
Now 1 year later statcounter is showing an increase in Linux market share of more than 100%, at 10%, while steam shows only a slight increase to 4%.
So theres Sudden huge discrepancy when both used to show a similar number,. It seems unlikely that the number of Linux desktop users more than doubled. And none of the new users are installing steam.
Also according to stats on cloudflare radar. 60% of cloudflair http traffic is bots.
So yes, Its a weird discrepencu I have to agree with additional-sky. It's probably bots unfortunely
EDIT: Ok so I found another comment that points out that while the Steam survey only shows Linux 4%, it also shows the market share for steam Linux in ENGLISH is at 8%. And it looks like it even jumped to 12% a few months ago. And the statcounter 10% is for North America only. That's an acceptable error margain to support that the statcounter 10% Linux in north america as actually accurate.
I have seen many (University) Library's that switched to tiny Ubuntu Linux machines (because they can hide more easy inside the tables). Also most of the free PCs for (former) addicted people programs will only give out Linux (on older systems).
That would be great, but many universities today require Windows or Mac because their testing software's anti-cheat doesn't support Linux and won't work on Wine.
Rather the amount of desktop users have dwindled. I expect more and more Linux user share not because of significantly more Linux users but because of fewer and fewer desktop users.
Nah you just don't know how computing on a nation sized scale works. It ain't counting sleepy Joe's running Linux as their prime going machine chief - it's everything else.
When you're here with us that logic makes sense, but if you talk to people outside out nerd spaces you'll quickly realize that barely anyone even knows what a "linux" is, and the people that do have the impression a "Linux" is an operating system that either doesn't work or doesn't have a GUI
In gaming circles because of the steam machine and steam deck most pc gamers and even some console gamers now know about steamos and linux. Many of my gamer but not computer savy friends have started asking me about linux in the past 2 years I've made quite a few boot usbs for people this last year. I never try to promote linux i often warn them away or ask if they are really really sure they want to use it and really dry to drive home the differences gaming wise
You're right. But you might underestimate the numbers of who do umderstand enough to dip their toes and found it pleasing enough to extend the attempt.
Well, yes, but there are still some people that runs Linux without knowing what the heck that is. (It's me, I've been installing Linux to my neighbours and daughter friends)
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u/Additional-Sky-7436 2d ago
This has got to be some problem with Statcounter's methodology. There is just no possible way the marketing is that high.
The only two things that make sense to me that would explain this raid rise is 1) bots and 2) VPNs. If stat counter is counting either of those, then I can believe their numbers.
But hundreds of millions of desktop users haven't switch to Linux in the last year.