It seems to have plateaued and increasing more slowly. Combining data from Steam and Statcounter reveals this:
this post was submitted on 12 May 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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I see - but given that Linux isn’t one thing, couldn’t we instead see regulation of for-profit distros (or distros managed by for-profits), while volunteer-based, open-source remains largely unregulated?
Sadly when the EU regulates, it's the same for everyone across the board.
It's a mess. They require that small, one-man operations or simple corner stores treat personal data with the same diligence that banks do, under the GDPR.The concept of scale is something that is foreign to the EU.
I have a few friends that work for the government in their countries and they say GDPR requirements is destroying their local municipalities.
The only regulation from the EU that I've seen makes a distinction at scale, is the Digital Markets Act.
Fair point - bureaucrats aren't always good at nuance. :/
Although I still hold out hope that with Linux, there's room for the open/volunteer approach + a for-profit model that results in investments/profits going back into the volunteer community. After all, Linux isn't controlled by a corporation for proprietary purposes, like Windows is by Microsoft. We'll see...or we won't, if Linux never reaches any kind of mainstream status. :)