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The Most Popular Linux Desktop Programs (zdnet.com)
The most recent Linux Questions poll results are in. Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, writing for ZDNet: LinuxQuestions, one of the largest internet Linux groups with 550,000 members, has just posted the results from its latest survey of desktop Linux users. In the always hotly-contested Linux desktop environment survey, the winner was the KDE Plasma Desktop. It was followed by the popular lightweight Xfce, Cinnamon, and GNOME. If you want to buy a computer with pre-installed Linux, the Linux Questions crew's favorite vendor by far was System76. Numerous other computer companies offer Linux on their PCs. These include both big names like Dell and dedicated small Linux shops such as ZaReason, Penguin Computing, and Emperor Linux. Many first choices weren't too surprising. For example, Linux users have long stayed loyal to the Firefox web browser, and they're still big fans. Firefox beat out Google Chrome by a five-to-one margin. And, as always, the VLC media player is far more popular than any other Linux media player. For email clients, Mozilla Thunderbird remains on top. That's a bit surprising given how Thunderbird's development has been stuck in neutral for some time now. When it comes to text editors, I was pleased to see vim -- my personal favorite -- win out over its perpetual rival, Emacs. In fact, nano and Kate both came ahead of Emacs.
From: https://www.linuxquestions.org...
Desktop Distribution of the Year - Ubuntu (18.17%)
Server Distribution of the Year - Slackware (22.40%)
Live Distribution of the Year - Knoppix (18.31%)
Lightweight Distribution of the Year - Puppy Linux (29.75%)
Database of the Year - MariaDB (42.22%)
Browser of the Year - Firefox (57.84%)
Desktop Environment of the Year - Plasma Desktop (KDE) (27.83%)
Window Manager of the Year - Openbox (24.22%)
Audio Media Player Application of the Year - VLC (31.13%)
Digital Audio Workstation of the Year - Ardour (42.86%)
Video Media Player Application of the Year - VLC (68.01%)
Video Authoring Application of the Year - KDEnlive (
Network Security Application of the Year - Wireshark (33.33%)
Host Security Application of the Year - SELinux (35.71%)
Network Monitoring Application of the Year - Nagios Core (32.73%)
IDE of the Year - Geany (15.98%)
Text Editor of the Year - vim (28.32%)
File Manager of the Year - Dolphin (25.24%)
Open Source Game of the Year - 0 A.D. (17.31%)
Programming Language of the Year - Python (30.00%)
Backup Application of the Year - rsync (41.30%)
Log Management Tool of the Year - Logwatch (36.96%)
X Terminal Emulator of the Year - Konsole (22.01%)
Browser Privacy Solution of the Year - uBlock Origin (28.13%)
Privacy Solution of the Year - Tor Browser Bundle (37.21%)
Open Source File Sync Application of the Year - Nextcloud (36.92%)
IRC Client of the Year - Hexchat (33.02%)
Universal Packaging Format of the Year - Snap (38.67%)
Single Board Computer of the Year - Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (64.18%)
Virtualization Application of the Year - VirtualBox (64.53%)
Container of the Year - Docker (67.14%)
Orchestrator of the Year - Kubernetes (62.07%)
Linux/Open Source Podcast of the Year - Linux Action Show (16.00%)
Secure Messaging Application of the Year - Telegram/Signal (Tie - 38.46%)
Video Messaging Application of the Year - Skype (54.76%)
Vector Graphics Editor of the Year - Inkscape (68.97%)
Linux Desktop Vendor of the Year - System76 (63.49%)
Email Client of the Year - Thunderbird (63.45%)
You use it whether YOU WANT IT or NOT!
I usually grab the basics right off the bat
gedit for text editing along with gedit-plugins
gimp for photo editing
inkscape to create vector graphics like icons
gigolo to facilitate remote connections
nodejs for web development along with npm for modules and mongodb for database
Steam for gaming
Sort of surprised that the desktop is a thing, quite frankly the desktop is window dressing. The first thing I usually do is set the theme to high contrast and kill anything relating to animated desktop events so that the system doesn't waste time on fluff.
I have yet to see any realistic alternative to Thunderbird. Most other local clients are so bloated I might as well just go to the gmail web panel. Thunderbird is the most lightweight email client that I can see. Too bad it has been abandoned.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Actually this list is rather surprising that there isn't any really popular Linux App, that isn't widely used in other platforms. This list is mostly just rather basic tools for 2018, Web Browser, Video Player, Text editor, and Windows Managers.
Back in the days.
Macintosh had its Adobe Suits for desktop publishing
DOS had its word perfect and Lotus 123
Windows had its Office Suite
Amiga had its video tools
In general the other OS's seems to have a flagship tool that stands for how the product is primary meant to be used for.
Linux doesn't seem to have that. Probably mostly because it is heart it is a server OS. So what really probably should be on the list is Apache MySQL PHP Or whatever is more popular at the moment.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
The most popular Linux desktop applications are the desktop GUIs themselves. I notice a distinct lack of useful applications for actually getting work done or entertainment, etc. on Windows or OSX, Iâ(TM)d expect the most popular applications to be Word, PowerPoint, Steam, etc. since a functional desktop is assumed, they can focus on things that matter
Since TFA brought it up I can't wait for an evidence-based, rational discussion on the best text editor for Linux.
Saying KDE Plasma is the most popular app is like saying that Explorer is the most popular app on Windows. While technically true, it's also the default, and you can't really use the OS without it. Could you use other window managers? Sure, but I'm not sure a window manager counts as an app.
KDE has earned these results. For years now KDE development has been thoughtful and conservative; no iconoclasts have been permitted to blow up everything in another doomed attempt to reinvent the desktop. Small but crucial things have survived incessant pressure from well meaning but short sighted people, such as the fact that you can still turn off fucking compositing. I hope they can stick to this pattern for a few more years and continue earning trust.
Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
Simple as this, "Popular" doesnt mean something is "Better", it just means it is more widely used and marketed. Marketing isn't just for selling products, it is also a way to influence others to be in agreeable with you on a particular idea. In this case, it is the marketing of "use my free software because..." and whoever has the loudest, furthest reaching voice generally wins.
For one huge example, the list has text editors. Emacs? Vim? Nano? And we're talking about desktop distributions? Hands down, none of those compare to the quality of Sublime Text as a text editor.
As others have pointed out in this post already, there isn't any "killer apps" for Linux out there. So the software being ran is all console software with a prettified multi-tasking window manager to organize all of those console windows. This seems to be the current mindset of all Linux is really used for in the desktop space.
But I have since moved to SMPlayer for video. The video quality is night and day better through mplayer. Has a lot of CLI options for streaming too.
You kids don't know how lucky you got it. When I was coming up, we didn't have any fancy Linux to use.
You are welcome on my lawn.
I use both KDE and XFCE, and they are both great in their own way.
KDE gets my nod for the best current desktop on any OS. It is not perfect, no, so it's easy to point out problems with it. Still when you compare it with the alternatives, t's miles ahead. It is one of the only modern desktops that hasn't jumped down the "remove all user configuration so users don't confuse themselves" hole that seems to be the trending design for any and all software now. And unlike recent Windows, KDE Is not primarily spyware, nor is it trying to remove control of the computer from the user.
I use KDE when I want a more capable environment, and XFCE for lighter weight situations like low end hardware, VMS, and dedicated media PCs. LXQT is good for that too.
I'd guess that ffox is preinstalled in more of omnibus desktop packages of the common Linux distros, compared to Chrome. As the world found out 20 years ago, users are lazy and tend to stick with the browser, mail client, etc. that comes with their OS, as long as it's full featured (i.e. not Konqueror).
Apart from that, I find Firefox slightly less annoying than Chrome in the tendency of both to hide useful functionality (bookmarks, privacy controls such as deleting cookies) in favor of the minimalist UX favored by the hipsters.
It's true, Unix has never had a 'killer app': the 'killer app' was always Unix.
Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.
When I install by default, it gives me VLC. So if you are a new user, that is what you learn to use and that is what you will prefer. I still like MPlayer as that is what I started with. The same goes with vim instead of nano.
The same goes with the fact that Firefox is still installed by default. I still have it on my machine, but now use Chrome.I use it to see if it a site does not display how I expect it to display and see if it is the site or the browser. Till now always the site.
It would be nice to know what the least pre-selected software is or what the first is that people remove.
Just as an exte: I use XFCE, because each time you start KDE, a puppy is killed and each time you start GNOME they kill a kitten. True!
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
WindowMaker imho is still one of the best bare window managers (especially if you have dockapps covering your needed sensors/system info and workflow) and e17 (.3, later versions 0.18.0 broke/removed features. .3 has glitchy window ordering however.) plus a subset of kde and dbus compatible apps makes it quite a pleasant work environment, if not quite the 'plug and play' expectation windows/mac convertees expect.
CentOS is nothing more than a free version of RedHat. So, as far as "popularity" goes, they should be counted together. Just like one is bundling up different versions of the same distribution.
That would give us:
RedHat EL (+CentOS) = 33.34%
Slackware = 22.40%
PS: Oracle could also be grouped with RedHat and CentOS, but no one care because no one uses it anyway :)
PS2: Considering the very low total number of votes (366) and the different in votes between CentOS and Slackware, statistically speaking, even if you disconsider RHEL, those two are tied in at 80 and 82 votes each.
morcego
Seriously, can somebody explain to me how can you use vim and say that is better than Visual Studio with the resharper plugin? VS completely destroys every IDE available in the free software world by far. How can you use vim in 2018?
The most popular linux program, desktop or otherwise, is "/bin/login"
I made my own desktop. Two epoxy-glued layers of 3/4 inch plywood, covered and edged with off-white formica. It is supported by 2-drawer file cabinets. Size is 8 ft wide and 3 ft deep. I have 2x4 reinforcements underneath the top. Holes in the back for cables. It is a solid thing you can jump on. From Amazon I got a pull-out drawer unit for pencils, and some other bric-a-brac. I have a keyboard hutch, and the monitor used to be on top of the hutch, but now is on an arm from the wall. I like this desktop, rugged, custom and ample enough to do work, including soldering up things from time to time. www.xalaska.com Nome, Alaska, USA
I couldn't vote for a laptop vendor this year, because when I looked at all of them, none of them pretty much, had AMD processors. My AMD based laptop is getting pretty old and I'm seeing they are harder to find these days.
I don't want to try Dell/HP/Lenovo because generally, the Linux model is hard to find, very expensive, or large workstation class. But still, the AMD versions have been disappearing. I think System76 or zareason had one, but not now either.
Please, US-based vendor, if anyone knows.
As you noted, Libre Office wasn't even on the list. Even in the article the most popular were computer management apps and no mention of productivity apps.
This is a large part of the reason I stopped using Linux on the desktop. When the computer was the ends, rather than the means, it was great. However, at this point in my life, the computer is the means, not the ends. When I just need to get work done, Linux just isn't the tool.
https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-news-59/2017-linuxquestions-org-members-choice-award-winners-4175623289/
Instant #1 graphics view/editor. Oh well. /sigh
Look at the actual numeric breakdown deeper on the forums. We're talking about a couple hundred votes per category. To suggest that this is representative of 550,000 members, let alone all Linux users, is ludicrous. Nothing about this is a scientific poll, nor is is particularly "hotly contested."
Back in the 80s, the only semi-decent editor I could use on my atari 520-ST was Microemacs. My day job was working with Unix so I was familiar with vi (and even ed), and I'd tried emacs, though it usually brought the computers of those days to their knees.
I liked microemacs (or uemacs as I called it). And when computers became powerful enough to run emacs, I'd use emacs as though it were microemacs. There probably are better editors out there, but my fingers know the commands of those old guys and what's more, I like keeping my fingers on the keyboard when I work, not having to reach for the mouse.
In theory, theory and practice are the same; in practice they're different. (Yogi Berra & A. Einstein)
I have recently moved my main machine to Linux (long-time Windows user until that moment, only relying on Linux for secondary computers) and one of the few difficulties has been finding a proper replacement for Notepad++. Finally, I found a quite good alternative: Komodo Edit. I don't like too much the most common/famous Linux text editors.
Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
Why did you link to ZDnet, instead of linking to the source at LinuxQuestions?
I use vlc a lot. But mplayer let's you skip ahead or backwards from the keyboard. The side arrows are short skips, the up and down arrows are bigger skips, and page up and page down are even bigger skips. When I'm searching for something, or skipping over commercials, that's really nice.
VLC is the best implementation overall though. Changing aspect ratio, reading subtitles, all those kinds of things work best in vlc.
In theory, theory and practice are the same; in practice they're different. (Yogi Berra & A. Einstein)
Geany is the best editor.
For one thing it works on Window and Linux equally well. With plugins (download the bundle) I have everything I need... except for code folding with MORE and LESS that Kedit once had. Maybe I will write that plugin someday.
Vim sure yes if you have to over a shell connection for sys admin or something - but why anyone wants to use a mode editor from the 70's as their development platform is beyond me.
IDEs are for fucking noobs. Linux is a workhorse, not a barbie doll to spend hours decorating.
The list proclaims Openbox as the best window manager, then says KDE Plasma is thte best desktop environment, an still claims Geany as IDE of the year. Now what is the difference between those categories?
The only item missing is 'Kernel of the Year'.
GNOME Terminal. I use it constantly, as I can type to an ssh command prompt faster than I can point-and-click about anything else.
Isn't half the point of Linux that you fresh install your own version of Linux, getting rid of any bloat that came with the computer?!
I run Renoise (yup, paid for that one), Ardour, Rosegarden, Hydrogen, ZynAddSubFX, SooperLooper, Audacity, Qsynth, LMMS; I use Clementine as a music player.
Debian "popularity contest" package gathers real stats on use with slightly anonymized data.
No need to ask humans.
SMPlayer is a front end to mplayer.
I prefer it over VLC because it has such a good support for configurable hotkeys.
Like aspect ratio is simply the letter a.
--
Teun
> Backup Application of the Year - rsync
I like that.
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
Disappointing that there did not seem to be any categories for photography software, such as image catalogue management or editing. There was a "Video Authoring Application" category, however.
Ugh. The job posting is for a 6 month term to help convert Thunderbird into a 'web technologies' based application. Sounds like they're going to turn it into a web app with a packaged browser. Those types of applications are horrible. But at least then they can host your instance in the cloud, let you check your accounts from anywhere with a net connection, and data mine all your emails.
It's surprising that Linux users prefer to use a stable and mature program that does exactly what is required? Or is it just surprising because it lacks "stories"?
I feel so sig.
I used to use KDE years ago, but they lost me. I tried other things but landed on XFCE and haven't looked back.
I switch to new things if
a. I am forced to change ... e.g. something quits working, is unsupported, or some other reason I can't control
b. I get so frustrated I am willing to change. And it would take a lot to make me come back.
c. I want to change because I see something that fits my needs better
I switched from Firefox to PaleMoon because of b.
I switched from KDE to XFCE because of b.
I still use vi (vim) and pine (alpine) because they aren't broke, and do what I need them to do. It's hard to replace things like that.
My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.
Not just front end for mplayer, but also for mpv.
What is it with people like you being so scared of having any abilities or power or freedom?
Do you hide in your civilian tanks (SUVs) and behind your iPhone prisons too?
Why would any app limit itself to being available only on one OS? Working on Linux I find it easy to bring my work over to any other OS, and that is extremely helpful. I can be productive wherever I go, and be sure my files will be usable. Of course I prefer the environment of Linux to to my work, but I am not restricted to it.
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