There was a time I was a staunch Windows user, particularly when Windows XP was still the ruling Microsoft operating system. That was some time ago, and now I would rather buy a Mac and boot up macOS than install Windows on my primary system. That's simply because I don't get on with Windows 11 as it stands today and Microsoft as a company. I don't like being forced to log into a Microsoft account to install an OS. I don't like being bombarded with advertisements during boot up, and I sure don't like having most control taken away from me for various parts of the software. It's not a bad OS, mind you, it's just not for me anymore, and that's perfectly fine. I've been using Linux for years now and won't be returning anytime soon.

Linux has it all. Freedom to choose how I want my OS to act, look, and feel. We've got the choice of desktop environments, incredible hardware compatibility with older devices, and plenty of features that make it the better choice over macOS and Windows. But there's a catch: Windows has one thing that I wish Linux would finally get right at some point, and that's app support.

Linux has apps, though?

Yeah, but not the big ones

If there's one thing I would love for Linux to adopt, it would be the developer-friendly ecosystem Windows offers with consistent APIs and distribution channels. Linux isn't the easiest platform for developers to build and launch apps on, especially if they're used to tools and other technologies that are strictly available on macOS or Windows. Then there's the issue of distributing software. Linux doesn't really have a paid storefront, unlike Microsoft and Apple. The many distros will support a package manager or two, with the more popular options being APT, Flatpak, Snap, Pacman, and DNF. These work great, but they're largely driven through the command-line interface (CLI).

We've already lost half the audience at that point alone. Then there are the inconsistencies between the managers and how they download, install, and manage all installed software. Where Windows shines is through having that centralized storefront, but also having the ability to download and run just about any executable file. There's no messing around with compatibility layers since Windows is the most popular OS, and there's bound to be a version under development for Microsoft's platform. Linux, on the other hand, is often left in the dark with sometimes borderline unusable official offerings or an over-reliance on the goodwill of the open-source community to fill the void.

We see this through vendor support. Adobe, enterprise, and even gaming companies all develop their software for Windows, with many also throwing up ports on macOS. Epic Games? Windows and macOS. Adobe Creative Cloud? Windows and macOS. Microsoft Office? You guessed it. Companies rely on proprietary tools such as Adobe's creative platform and Microsoft's productivity stack, and while I'd join ranks in clamoring for better open-source adoption across the board, it's simply not feasible for institutions that have relied on specific solutions for decades, if not more. This is one of the reasons why I steered clear of Linux when I was much younger. It was unknown, and I couldn't get iTunes to run on it.

Gaming is much better

Mostly thanks to Valve

Valve has selfishly done wonders for the wider Linux gaming community with its work on Proton. Now, don't get me wrong (and I appreciate Steam as much as the next person), Proton is amazing and completely transformed gaming on Linux, but Valve doesn't work on Proton out of charity. The company has vested interest with its Steam OS and Steam Deck platforms, both of which are powered by ... you guessed it, Linux. Valve makes gaming on Linux work without many hoops, and its customers can readily play all their favorite games. It's simply a bonus that it's all open for the community to use too, whether or not they're actively using a Steam device or the OS itself.

It's incredible to me that I'm able to fire up all my installed games through Steam on both Windows and Linux and largely enjoy similar experiences. That's a testament to the work Valve and some smarter people than I have poured into the project. Is it perfect? Far from it, as the Proton DB community website shows, with many games still not supported by Proton, but it's a huge leap forward compared to a few years prior. Apps are where the major concerns remain, as it's largely what prevents people from switching. Yes, GIMP is available on Linux (as well as Windows), and I agree that it's a great Photoshop alternative, but many simply want to use Photoshop, and if it's not on Linux, that's a considerable barrier.

But even with Proton, many game developers still skip Linux due to ecosystem unpredictability. Then there's the whole thing about Linux not working well with anti-cheat systems.

Things will improve

Many are making the switch to Linux. I won't do the usual "Next year is the year of Linux!" spiel, but it really does feel like we're on the cusp of something great for the OS. The only way is up, and should this be remedied through community willpower and adoption by larger developers, we should start to see a higher growth ceiling emerge as more people take note of what Linux has to offer on the software front. Linux doesn't need to take much from Windows. It has plenty of UX options, a robust foundation, and exceptional openness. What Linux needs is apps and lots of popular ones.