While the desktop is not Linux's claim to fame, Linux still offers a huge number of distributions that can make your desktop computer work just like you'd want. Credit: Shutterstock Windows clearly dominates our desktops, but Linux just managed to cross a milestone of its own. According to StatCounter, Linux has a little over 4% (actually 4.03%) of the desktop OS market. Check out StatCounter’s graph, and you’ll notice a slowly rising line near the bottom of the graph that represents Linux. StatCounter StatCounter’s data suggests that more people are using Linux on their desktop systems. Maybe because it’s free (most distributions anyway). Or maybe because there are several hundred distributions to choose from, one is bound to suit your fancy. In any case, this is good news for Linux. At the same time, as most everyone understands, the desktop is not Linux’s claim to fame and likely never will be. Linux runs on network servers, as well as devices that are so small that they don’t seem to fall into the “computer” category (running “Android,” the Linux-based mobile OS). And, of course, Linux is dominant among the world’s fastest supercomputers. (Linux powers all but one of the supercomputers on the most recent Top500 supercomputer ranking). Related content how-to Compressing files using the zip command on Linux The zip command lets you compress files to preserve them or back them up, and you can require a password to extract the contents of a zip file. By Sandra Henry-Stocker May 13, 2024 4 mins Linux opinion NSA, FBI warn of email spoofing threat Email spoofing is acknowledged by experts as a very credible threat. By Sandra Henry-Stocker May 13, 2024 3 mins Linux how-to The logic of && and || on Linux These AND and OR equivalents can be used in scripts to determine next actions. By Sandra Henry-Stocker May 02, 2024 4 mins Linux how-to Using the apropos command on Linux By Sandra Henry-Stocker Apr 24, 2024 3 mins Linux PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe