Jon Holato

According to an April 2009 report by Net Applications, the Linux operating system is now being used on just over 1% of computers worldwide (Linux collectively not just a single distribution). The exact percentage of computers running Linux last month was 1.02%, which translates to roughly 16 million Internet users across the globe, give or take a few. The growth of Linux has been very rapid of late, as last month’s rate of expansion was 0.12%, compared with the average monthly rate of 0.02%.

The trend is clear. Linux is surging in popularity more than at any point in its history. I believe this increase in adoption has increased for a few reasons. For one, the progress made by developers of the various Linux distributions. Distros like Fedora and more recently Ubuntu have seen astronomical advances in terms of making Linux more user-friendly so that someone without any unix-related experience can easily use the operating system. Secondly, cost. Most Linux distributions have been and will continue to be free (or will offer some sort of free version). In a severe economic recession like that one we’re facing now, many companies, educational and government institutions, and individuals are more likely to try Linux as an alternative to the higher priced Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. Certainly for businesses looking to cut costs this is a very appealing option.

So, I tip my cap to you Linux. I have loved you since you helped me blaze through my Intro to C++ class back in 2002. And I wish you nothing but continued success!