Linux

Linux is pretty popular tho

Idealism, if Linux was going to take over innately it already would have. 

• depends on where you are in the graph. It took over already except the desktop.

  History (let’s be honest it’s like a discord server if it doesn’t take off all at once it never will)

• Again linux is on sort of golden age of discovery if you really look back at the past.

  It’s inaccessible (terminals cannot replace everything. I’m talking to you if you say “bloat”)

• Agree. It improved a lot but there are things that need to change.

  There’s only corporate funding, so they will appropriate it.

• what?? If you mean profit from linux lots of businesses will disagree with you

  We tolerate people who don’t tolerate others (including the less tech-savvy)

• i don't see the problem.

  Microsoft has way too much power (money).

• how is that a problem? Money can actually be the reason linux desktop will take off. Look at android.

  Few people remember RMS started copyleft as a political goal (too many people are uncomfortable challenging their beliefs, so they want Linux to be “apolitical”)

• apolitical is good for take off.

  No one is doing the political organizing

• this is not required for the take off.

  Copyleft is flawed and needs to be improved (here’s a template example https://thufie.lain.haus/NPL.html) [also mind you that there’s a need to prevent corporate appropriation]

• not related to take off of linux at all..

  People worship RMS instead of realizing he alienates women, people with down syndrome, etc.

• really dude?

To be honest, most people don't give a thought to the OS they use. They haven't considered the ethics/politics. They've probably never even seen a Linux GUI. They bought a device with an OS preinstalled and, so long as it has the apps they want to use : that's fine. Heck! many of them are still on Vista.

The inertia preventing change (anything) is enormous (and even more so if you don't really understand something - like tech) : fundamentally, we're conservative, and lazy, (and frightened) as a species, and if something works... don't mess with it.

I am cautiously optimistic for Linux though, because I can see a couple of catalysts for a sea-change.

Firstly Windows11 - which increasingly relies on an internet connection, and a log in. I think this will bar Micro$oft from poorer communities. And I think it might make governments and businesses wonder what information they're mining.

Secondly the tech trade war - China is one of the biggest producers, if not the biggest producer of electronics, and they constitute 20% of the market too... And they're moving away from US proprietary systems : The electronics which are going to be coming out of China is going to have an Open Source OS.

Oh god what are you even talking about? Use Linux or not. What do you care if it takes off or not? I have no doubt that my family and non-tech friends could use a user friendly distro. Most don't even use computers though as everything is done thru their phones these days it seems.

You are not the only one cursed with ~~knowledge~~ arguments. 😅

• Nothing wrong with idealism, depends on how you define it in such regard. I say the idea of Linux was a success.
• Some distros tying to address your terminal argument there is btw LinuxFX and other Windows closes, which are mainly designed to imitate Windows or for Windows switcher.
• I think the Copyleft thing can be solved with AGPL and other licenses who are more designed to protect xyz, which depends on what you choose. Linux itself is fine here because I see it as community work, I do not see how lets say Microsoft can fake or buy people for their purposes, lots of people work in their free time on the OS or within the community e.g. documentation, forum help and so on. The NPL stuff you linked is just a bad idea in general.

Here is when you are wrong

• Money is not always a deciding factor for success.
• Most super-computers and statistically most devices already run some sort of Linux, even if its just Android or a IoT device because Windows works badly on IoT devices. There are benchmarks etc to support this. Desktop maybe overall - for now - a different story but more because other factors and support reasons, which can be addressed over time.
• There is not only corporate funding, you can get findings via independent contracts and deals, donations and startups. Open Collective is a nice platform some people use, Obs Studio and others to manage their income, or to let them manage by others.
• RMS does not represents the entire Linux community. I think not much oldschool people worship him nor is that an factor why the Desktop system will, according to you, never take off.
• I think Linux does tolerate all people, this is no argument at all. As mentioned there are lots of distros designed for beginners, the are well documented and well-discussed in forums.