r/linux • u/Zodiak1011 • Aug 30 '26

Alternative OS Why does it feel like Linux is suddenly exploding in 2026?

I’ve been seeing more and more people switching to Linux this year, especially gamers. Bazzite, CachyOS, Linux Mint, etc. seem to be getting mentioned everywhere.

Why didn’t we see a massive shift like this earlier? What changed, or what finally pushed people to make the switch?

I know the Steam Deck was probably a big factor in showing people that Linux gaming is actually viable and that Linux isn’t as painful as it used to be.

But what else changed over the last few years that made Linux suddenly feel like a realistic alternative to Windows for so many people?

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u/BlazingBlossom Aug 30 '26

As a European, that was the final push for me. It's in the national interest not to be dependent the #1 most warmongering country in the world

3

u/Bakoro Sep 02 '26

We learned it from watching you!

1

u/BlazingBlossom Sep 02 '26

Oops, guilty ;)

1

u/Merdy1337 25d ago

Canadian here, and same here. I can't fully detach, but I'm doing the best I can. Plus its just a lot of fun to learn about, support, and explore open source software! It feels more ethical.

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/BlazingBlossom Aug 30 '26

dw, I don't blame the people

22

u/GuillotineAuChocolat Aug 30 '26

I do. They elected the guy. Twice.

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u/BlazingBlossom Aug 30 '26

Sure, half of them suck, but a good portion of the people in every country vote for idiots. But I also think their democracy is fundamentally flawed. Too much gerrymandering and they have this ridiculous two party system.

1

u/realmauer01 Aug 31 '26

The two party system comes from winner takes it all voting system, this has as many problems as any other system, just different ones. The actual problem is with how the voting is counted there could be overall more americans for one side while the other gets voted in.

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u/Indolent_Bard Aug 31 '26

I didn't vote for this guy!

-1

u/Technical_Rich_3080 Aug 31 '26

Europeans come from a blood soaked continent that's been perpetrating wars for many centuries, including two recent world wars where they murdered tens of millions of innocent people within the lifetimes of people alive today.

Europeans are the last people on the planet to have any standing to speak against anyone else.

-2

u/alanslc Aug 31 '26

They chose the lesser of two evils.

3

u/pezezin Aug 31 '26

In which twisted world was Trump less evil than Kamala?

-1

u/Indolent_Bard Aug 31 '26

He didn't even win the popular vote the first time!

0

u/lazyboy76 Aug 31 '26

And he won the popular vote the second time, only lose to "No vote".