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The performance of Linux on the desktop has been a controversial topic;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3320859/the-linux-desktop-with-great-success-comes-great-failure.html|title=The Linux desktop: With great success comes great failure |author=Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols|date=2018-11-13|access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref> for example in 2007 [[Con Kolivas]] accused the Linux community of favoring performance on servers. He quit Linux kernel development out of frustration with this lack of focus on the desktop, and then gave a "tell all" interview on the topic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why I quit: kernel developer Con Kolivas|url=http://apcmag.com/node/6735/|access-date=August 15, 2011|date=July 24, 2007|work=APC Magazine|publisher=ACP Magazines|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707151924/http://apcmag.com/why_i_quit_kernel_developer_con_kolivas.htm|archive-date = July 7, 2011}}</ref> Since then a significant amount of development has focused on improving the desktop experience. Projects such as [[systemd]] and [[Upstart (software)|Upstart]] (deprecated in 2014) aim for a faster boot time; the Wayland and Mir projects aim at replacing [[X11]] while enhancing desktop performance, security and appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wayland.freedesktop.org/architecture.html |title=Wayland Architecture |access-date=January 5, 2013 |publisher=freedesktop.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106152733/http://wayland.freedesktop.org/architecture.html |archive-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>
Many popular applications are available for a wide variety of operating systems. For example, [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[OpenOffice.org]]/[[LibreOffice]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]] have downloadable versions for all major operating systems. Furthermore, some applications initially developed for Linux, such as [[Pidgin (software)|Pidgin]], and [[GIMP]], were ported to other operating systems (including [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] and [[macOS]]) due to their popularity. In addition, a growing number of proprietary desktop applications are also supported on Linux,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iist.unu.edu/globaldesktop/ | title = The Global Desktop Project, Building Technology and Communities | access-date = May 7, 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060426223603/http://www.iist.unu.edu/globaldesktop/ | archive-date = April 26, 2006 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> such as [[Maya (software)|Autodesk Maya]] and [[Nuke (software)|The Foundry's Nuke]] in the high-end field of animation and visual effects; see the [[list of proprietary software for Linux]] for more details. There are also [[Linux gaming#Proprietary games|several companies]] that have ported their own or other companies' games to Linux, with Linux also being a supported platform on both the
Many other types of applications available for Microsoft Windows and macOS also run on Linux. Commonly, either a [[free software]] application will exist which does the functions of an application found on another operating system, or that application will have a version that works on Linux, such as with [[Skype]] and some [[Linux gaming#Proprietary games|video games]] like ''[[Dota 2]]'' and ''[[Team Fortress 2]]''. Furthermore, the [[Wine (software)|Wine]] project provides a Windows compatibility layer to run unmodified Windows applications on Linux. It is sponsored by commercial interests including [[CodeWeavers]], which produces a commercial version of the software. Since 2009, Google has also provided funding to the Wine project.<ref>{{cite mailing list |last=Kegel |first=Dan |url=http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.wine.devel/56872 |title=Google's support for Wine in 2007 |date=February 14, 2008 |mailing-list=wine-devel |access-date=January 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106202914/http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.wine.devel/56872 |archive-date=January 6, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://code.google.com/opensource/wine.html | title=Open Source Patches: Wine | access-date=September 7, 2008 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907021012/http://code.google.com/opensource/wine.html | archive-date=September 7, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[CrossOver]], a proprietary solution based on the open-source Wine project, supports running Windows versions of [[Microsoft Office]], [[Intuit]] applications such as [[Quicken]] and [[QuickBooks]], [[Adobe Photoshop]] versions through CS2, and many
=== Components and installation ===
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[[Linux distribution]]s have long been used as [[server (computing)|server]] operating systems, and have risen to prominence in that area; [[Netcraft]] reported in September 2006, that eight of the ten (other two with "unknown" OS<!--may have been Linux-->) most reliable internet hosting companies ran Linux distributions on their [[web server]]s,<ref>{{cite web | title = Rackspace Most Reliable Hoster in September | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/10/07/rackspace_most_reliable_hoster_in_september.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = October 7, 2006 | access-date = November 1, 2006 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061106094411/http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2006/10/07/rackspace_most_reliable_hoster_in_september.html | archive-date = November 6, 2006 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> with Linux in the top position. In June 2008, Linux distributions represented five of the top ten, [[FreeBSD]] three of ten, and [[Microsoft]] two of ten;<ref>{{cite web | title = Aplus.Net is the Most Reliable Hosting Company Site in June 2008 | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2008/07/07/aplusnet_is_the_most_reliable_hosting_company_site_in_june_2008.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = July 7, 2008 | access-date = July 28, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080727094236/http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2008/07/07/aplusnet_is_the_most_reliable_hosting_company_site_in_june_2008.html | archive-date = July 27, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> since February 2010, Linux distributions represented six of the top ten, FreeBSD three of ten, and Microsoft one of ten,<ref>{{cite web | title = Most Reliable Hosting Company Sites in February 2010 | url = http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2010/03/01/most_reliable_hosting_company_sites_in_february_2010.html | publisher = Netcraft | date = March 1, 2010 | access-date = March 23, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305073425/http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2010/03/01/most_reliable_hosting_company_sites_in_february_2010.html | archive-date = March 5, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> with Linux in the top position.
Linux distributions are the cornerstone of the [[LAMP (software bundle)|LAMP]] server-software combination (Linux, [[Apache HTTP Server|Apache]], [[MariaDB]]/[[MySQL]], [[Perl]]/[[PHP]]/[[Python (programming language)|Python]])
Linux distributions have become increasingly
Linux distributions are also dominant as [[operating system]]s for [[supercomputer]]s.<ref name="rules_supercomputers">{{cite news | title = Linux rules supercomputers | url = https://www.forbes.com/home/enterprisetech/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux.html | last = Lyons | first = Daniel | access-date = February 22, 2007 | work = Forbes | date = March 15, 2005 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070224235804/http://www.forbes.com/home/enterprisetech/2005/03/15/cz_dl_0315linux.html | archive-date = February 24, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> As of November 2017, all supercomputers on the [[TOP500|500]] list run some variant of Linux.<ref name=top500stats>{{cite web |url=http://www.top500.org/statistics/details/osfam/1 |title=TOP500 Supercomputer Sites: Operating system Family / Linux |publisher=Top500.org|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> <!-- Linux is also dominant on the [[Green500]] list. seems to be the same one, just rearranged.-->
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Several operating systems for [[smart devices]], such as [[smartphone]]s, [[tablet computer]]s, [[home automation]], [[smart TV]]s ([[Samsung]] and [[LG]] [[Smart TV]]s use [[Tizen]] and [[WebOS]], respectively),<ref name="Linux Smart TVs">{{cite web | title = Linux continues advance in smart TV market | url = http://linuxgizmos.com/linux-continues-advance-in-smart-tv-market/ | website = linuxgizmos.com | author = Eric Brown | date = Mar 29, 2019 | access-date = May 15, 2020 }}</ref> and [[in-vehicle infotainment]] (IVI) systems<ref name="Linux cars">{{cite web|title=It's a Linux-powered car world|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/its-a-linux-powered-car-world/|website=ZDNet|author=Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols|date=January 4, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref> (for example [[Automotive Grade Linux]]), are based on Linux. Major platforms for such systems include [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Firefox OS]], [[Mer (software distribution)|Mer]] and [[Tizen]].
Android has become the dominant mobile operating system for [[smartphone]]s, running on 79.3% of units sold worldwide during the second quarter of 2013.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url = https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/07/android-nears-80-market-share-in-global-smartphone-shipments-as-ios-and-blackberry-share-slides-per-idc/ | title = Android Nears 80% Market Share In Global Smartphone Shipments, As iOS And BlackBerry Share Slides, Per IDC | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170705111948/https://techcrunch.com/2013/08/07/android-nears-80-market-share-in-global-smartphone-shipments-as-ios-and-blackberry-share-slides-per-idc/ | archive-date = July 5, 2017 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Android is also
Although Android is based on a modified version of the Linux kernel, commentators disagree on whether the term "Linux distribution" applies to it, and whether it is "Linux" according to the common usage of the term. Android is a [[Linux distribution]] according to the [[Linux Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/blogs/browse/2012/12/what-year-linux-please-join-us-celebration |title=What a Year for Linux: Please Join us in Celebration |first=Amanda |last=McPherson |publisher=Linux Foundation |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=April 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417232521/http://www.linuxfoundation.org/news-media/blogs/browse/2012/12/what-year-linux-please-join-us-celebration |archive-date=April 17, 2014 }}</ref> Google's open-source chief [[Chris DiBona]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |title=Google: "Android is the Linux desktop dream come true" |first=Andreas |last=Proschofsky |work=derStandard.at |date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=March 14, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422021245/http://derstandard.at/1308186313932/Interview-Google-Android-is-the-Linux-desktop-dream-come-true |archive-date=April 22, 2013 }}</ref> and several journalists.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jerry |last=Hildenbrand |title=Ask AC: Is Android Linux? |url=http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |website=Android Central |publisher=Mobile Nations |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408213437/http://www.androidcentral.com/ask-ac-android-linux |archive-date=April 8, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itworld.com/open-source/369810/android-really-linux-distribution |title=Is Android really a Linux distribution? |first=Jim |last=Lynch |work=ITworld |date=August 20, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205165359/http://www.itworld.com/open-source/369810/android-really-linux-distribution |archive-date=February 5, 2014 }}</ref> Others, such as Google engineer Patrick Brady, say that Android is not Linux in the traditional [[Unix-like]] Linux distribution sense; Android does not include the [[GNU C Library]] (it uses [[Bionic (software)|Bionic]] as an alternative C library) and some of other components typically found in Linux distributions.<ref name="ars introduction developer">{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Paul |title=Dream(sheep++): A developer's introduction to Google Android |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=February 24, 2009 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704115615/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/02/an-introduction-to-google-android-for-developers/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017}}</ref> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' wrote that "Although Android is built on top of the Linux kernel, the platform has very little in common with the conventional desktop Linux stack".<ref name="ars introduction developer" />
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Due to its low cost and ease of customization, [[embedded Linux|Linux]] is often used in [[embedded system]]s. In the non-mobile telecommunications equipment sector, the majority of [[customer-premises equipment]] (CPE) hardware runs some Linux-based operating system. [[OpenWrt]] is a community-driven example upon which many of the OEM firmware releases are based.
For example, the
== Gaming ==
{{Main|Linux gaming}}
In the past, there were few games available for Linux. In recent years, more games have been released with support for Linux (especially [[Indie game]]s), with the exception of a few [[AAA (video game industry)|AAA title]] games. [[Android (operating system)|Android]], a
On February 14, 2013, [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] released a Linux version of [[Steam (service)|Steam]], a
On July 31, 2013, [[Nvidia]] released [[Nvidia Shield|Shield]] as an attempt to use Android as a specialized gaming platform.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.engadget.com/2013/07/21/nvidia-shield-ships-july-31st/|title = NVIDIA Shield|last = Buckley|first = Sean|date = July 21, 2014|access-date = June 13, 2014|publisher = [[Engadget]]|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140708002014/http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/21/nvidia-shield-ships-july-31st/|archive-date = July 8, 2014|df = mdy-all}}</ref>
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