Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

The vast majority of AAA titles run seamlessly on Linux. Per protondb[0], ≥80% of the top 10, top 100, and top 1000 are rated "platinum" or "gold" for Linux functioning (by users).

[0] https://www.protondb.com/

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#5

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:54 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#6

Post by the__alchemist » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:54 PM UTC

I've been patiently trying a distro of Linux every other year for the past 20... Someday. The general trend: Things work well from a native install. When you start installing software and drivers, the OS gets totalled, sooner or later.

> What's worse is that software compiled for the current version of Linux X will not necessarily work for the current version of Linux Y. Linux distros insist that all the software must be compiled for their current releases or provided as source code. The problem with source code is that normal users won't bother to compile anything, and secondly, it's not always possible to compile software because it may depend on a specific compiler or dependencies that your distro doesn't provide

This is at the core of it, I think. Forcing a user to compile C code is a bad user experience; it often fails due to linking or other dependency-related errors.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#7

Post by rbanffy » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:54 PM UTC

Again?

I’ve been using Linux on my desktop since 2004 or so.

And lack of games is always brought up as if gaming was one essential feature of a computer. That’s what consoles are for.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#8

Post by gsfdxhchjv » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:55 PM UTC

who is the intended audience of the article?

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#9

Post by EA-3167 » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:56 PM UTC

I don't agree with the author, but fair enough, he makes some good points. Where he really loses me though is in section 7. Now maybe I've just been miraculously fortunate, and found the best part of the Linux/Steam Deck community, but I've literally never been told to fix it myself, that I'm expecting too much, etc. What I have found is that people are almost overwhelmingly friendly and eager to help, they see a new person entering their beloved realm of Linux gaming and they want you to fall in love like they did.

Re: Why Linux is not ready for the desktop, the final edition

#10

Post by coffeebeqn » Mon, Dec 30, 2024, 10:56 PM UTC

rbanffy wrote: post #7

Again? I’ve been using Linux on my desktop since 2004 or so. And lack of games is always brought up as if gaming was one essential feature of a computer. That’s what consoles are for.

With Proton, Wine, Lutris etc you certainly can also game on a Linux if you want. I was just playing Path of Exile 2 on the Steam Deck (a Linux desktop)