LinuxNation

Windows drops below 60% desktop market share for the first time in years

Tue, 7 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Windows has fallen below the 60% mark in global desktop market share for the first time in years. According to the latest StatCounter data, Microsoft’s operating system held 56.55% of the desktop market in June 2026.

Windows remains the dominant desktop operating system by a wide margin, but the latest figures show a gradual shift in the market. Desktop users today have more alternatives than they did in previous decades, with macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS all maintaining a presence.

Current desktop market shares

According to StatCounter’s June 2026 figures:

Windows: 56.55%
macOS: 16.37% (OS X 11.89% + macOS 4.48%)
Linux: 4.39%
Chrome OS: 1.21%

Windows is still the most widely used desktop operating system, but Apple has established itself as the clear second-largest platform. Linux has also reached one of its highest recorded desktop usage levels so far.

The decline is likely the result of several factors rather than a single cause.

One factor is the transition to Windows 11. The operating system introduced stricter hardware requirements, leaving many older PCs without official support. Some users have chosen to keep existing systems longer, while others have started looking at alternative operating systems.

Microsoft’s increasing focus on online accounts, cloud services, and data collection has also caused criticism among some users. These concerns have encouraged a portion of the market to explore other platforms.

At the same time, Linux has become easier to use on the desktop. Distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint, and openSUSE now provide mature desktop environments, improved hardware support, and simpler software installation. The popularity of the Steam Deck has also helped increase awareness of Linux gaming.

Linux gains attention, but Apple remains ahead

While Linux has grown, it is unlikely that most of the lost Windows share has moved directly to open source platforms. Apple remains the strongest alternative, with macOS holding a market share several times larger than Linux.

The reasons for choosing each platform are also different. Some users move to Linux because they want more control over their system, while others choose Apple for its hardware integration and ecosystem.

Linux remains a smaller desktop platform, but it continues to gain attention among developers, technical users, and gamers.

What StatCounter actually measures

StatCounter does not measure every installed operating system directly. Instead, it collects data from web traffic on websites that use its tracking technology.

The numbers therefore represent usage activity rather than the exact number of computers running each operating system. However, the methodology has remained consistent over time, making the data useful for identifying broader trends.

Conclusion

Windows remains the leading desktop operating system in 2026, but its position is less dominant than it was in the past.

The growth of macOS and the continued progress of Linux show that the desktop market has become more diverse. For users, this means more choices and more competition between platforms.

TUXEDO OS Drops Ubuntu in Favor of Debian Testing

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

TUXEDO Computers is leaving Ubuntu behind. The Linux distribution developed by the Bavarian PC manufacturer will soon be based on Debian Testing instead. The decision comes down to several factors.

Why the switch?

Until now, TUXEDO OS followed a hybrid release model built on Ubuntu LTS while continuously updating components such as the Linux kernel, web browsers, NVIDIA drivers, and KDE Plasma. That approach has worked well for years, but maintaining it has become increasingly difficult.

Backporting is becoming a challenge

Backporting modern software to an older package base requires more effort over time, especially when newer applications depend on libraries that are either outdated or unavailable in Ubuntu LTS. Updating core libraries such as Qt, which KDE Plasma depends on, can also cause software from the Ubuntu repositories to stop working properly.

The growing focus on Snap

Canonical is steadily shifting more applications toward Snap packages while traditional DEB packages are becoming less important. As a result, keeping Snap out of TUXEDO OS is becoming increasingly difficult.

Canonical's AI roadmap

TUXEDO also points to Canonical's AI roadmap, announced by Mark Shuttleworth during Ubuntu Summit 26.04. According to the company, the plans are still not transparent enough. It also argues that security updates sometimes take longer to reach users than necessary.

"Continuous Debian"

Rather than switching to Debian Stable, TUXEDO OS will use Debian Testing as its permanent foundation. Even after the release of Debian 14 "Forky", expected in the summer of 2027, the distribution will continue tracking the Testing branch. TUXEDO refers to this approach as "Continuous Debian."

For users, very little will change. Package management stays the same, updates will continue through Discover or the command line, and the overall system layout remains unchanged. The kernel, browsers, and graphics stack will still receive frequent updates.

New packages first enter Debian Unstable (Sid) before moving to Debian Testing after successful testing. Testing eventually becomes the next stable Debian release.

Btrfs with snapshots

Another major change is the adoption of Btrfs as the default file system, together with automatic snapshots and rollback support through Snapper. Before every package update, the system automatically creates a snapshot. If something goes wrong, users can restore the previous system state within minutes.

No direct migration

According to TUXEDO, an in-place upgrade from the Ubuntu-based release to the new Debian-based version will not be technically possible. Instead, users will have to perform a clean installation. A detailed migration guide will be published before the final release. Those who prefer to remain on an Ubuntu-based platform will be offered a straightforward migration path to Kubuntu 26.04.

Conclusion

The move to Debian Testing gives TUXEDO greater control over its release cycle while reducing its dependence on Canonical's strategic decisions. The company also sees the transition as a step toward greater digital sovereignty. For customers who buy TUXEDO hardware, that is likely to be good news in the long run.

postmarketOS: Plasma 6.7 and Rust USB Tooling on Linux Phones

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

postmarketOS has released a new development update. The key changes: Plasma 6.7, a new Rust-based USB tool, and Duranium improvements.

Plasma 6.7 on Linux phones

The most visible change: KDE Plasma 6.7 is now available in both Alpine Linux and postmarketOS. Supported devices get the latest KDE improvements directly on their smartphones.

usb-signaller: new Rust tool

A new tool called usb-signaller partially replaces the previous role of usb-moded. The Rust-based tool is integrated into postmarketOS edge and offers:

USB gadget initialization without initramfs scripts
Transactional mode and gadget switching for better reliability
Clearer logging
Handling of missing kernel drivers
OpenRC support
USB role switching between host and device mode

Duranium improvements

Duranium, the systemd-based variant of postmarketOS, also gets updates:

Waydroid via sysext: Android apps can now be enabled more easily with updatectl enable waydroid
Fallback bootloader: Duranium now uses systemd/bootctl on systems with EFI variable support to keep a fallback bootloader available during updates

Device support

The linux-postmarketos-qcom-sdm845 kernel updated to Linux 7.1
LG G7 ThinQ gets working touchscreen support
armhf (armv6) support removed from postmarketOS edge

Packaging cleanup

Unmaintained packages moved to an archived category. Stricter requirements for testing category devices: kernels must be no older than the oldest currently supported LTS kernel on kernel.org, and must be built with LLVM.

Conclusion

For users looking for a native Linux system on mobile devices, postmarketOS remains one of the most interesting options. Plasma 6.7 and the new USB tooling show the project cares about both user experience and technical quality.

BSDun: Running FreeBSD Binaries Directly on Linux

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

A new project called BSDun is taking on an unusual challenge: running FreeBSD binaries directly on Linux without recompiling them. The project is only about two weeks old, but its early progress is already noteworthy.

What is BSDun?

BSDun is a Linux kernel module that teaches the kernel how to recognize and load FreeBSD ELF executables. The programs run against a FreeBSD userland under /compat/freebsd, which must be populated with the required libraries and base system components. The concept mirrors FreeBSD's Linuxulator, which allows FreeBSD to run Linux binaries. BSDun does the opposite.

What already works?

According to the project's GitLab page, created on June 23, 2026, BSDun already supports a considerable range of FreeBSD software and features:

FreeBSD's /bin/sh and shell functionality
Statically and dynamically linked programs (using ld-elf.so.1, libc.so.7, and libthr.so.3)
Networking and DNS resolution
FreeBSD's pkg package manager
ping, kqueue/kevent, and threading
Command-line tools including sed, awk, grep, find, stat, tail, and others

How does it work?

BSDun registers a FreeBSD ELF handler in Linux's binary format chain. When a program is started, the module checks the ELF OSABI field or a FreeBSD ABI note to determine whether it is a FreeBSD binary.

If it is, BSDun loads the ELF image, creates a FreeBSD-compatible auxiliary vector, and redirects the runtime environment to the FreeBSD compatibility root. The module also handles system call and signal translation, along with additional ABI compatibility between FreeBSD and Linux.

Limitations

BSDun is still experimental. It is not part of the upstream Linux kernel and should not be considered a stable subsystem. Many parts are still under active development, and compatibility continues to improve. One security-related limitation is that Capsicum calls are currently treated as successful no-ops because Linux does not implement FreeBSD's Capsicum sandboxing model. As a result, some applications may run without matching FreeBSD's security behavior exactly.

Conclusion

BSDun is only about two weeks old and has not yet published any releases. Even so, the project already demonstrates how far binary compatibility between Unix-like operating systems can be pushed. Whether it will eventually become a practical solution for everyday use remains to be seen.

Linux Weekly Roundup: Top News from Week 27

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Plenty of news this week: GNOME 51 Alpha, COSMIC 1.2, a new experimental project running FreeBSD binaries on Linux, security updates for OpenSSH and OpenVPN, and Canonical pushing ARM64 as a first-class architecture. Plus a heated discussion about AI-generated code attribution in the Linux kernel.

LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS

linuxnation.social: Kali Linux 2026.2: GNOME 50, KDE Plasma 6.6, and Kernel 6.19
linuxnation.social: Mageia 10 Is Here: The Mandriva Successor Keeps Going
linuxiac.com: Arch Linux July ISO with kernel 7.0.14 and archinstall 4.4
linuxiac.com: Tails 7.9.1 fixes DirtyClone kernel flaw, updates Tor Browser
linuxiac.com: Canonical confirms Ubuntu fixes for DirtyClone kernel flaw
linuxiac.com: Hannah Montana Linux is back, and yes, it's real
linuxiac.com: AerynOS lands versioned repositories (Phase 2)
linuxiac.com: System76 debuts 2026 Lemur Pro with 18-hour battery and Wi-Fi 7

SOFTWARE UPDATES

linuxnation.social: Git 2.55 Brings FSMonitor to Linux
linuxnation.social: GNOME 51 Alpha: First Preview Arrives with Numerous Enhancements
linuxnation.social: ClamAV 1.5.3 Patches Multiple Security Flaws
linuxnation.social: YSERVER 1.3: The Vibe-Coded X11 Server Gets Usable
linuxiac.com: KDE Plasma 6.7.2 with KWin, Wayland, and AMD GPU fixes
phoronix.com: COSMIC Epoch 1.2
linuxiac.com: DXVK 3.0.1 with fixes for GTA IV, Fallout 3, Black Mesa
linuxiac.com: OpenSSH 10.4 patches security issues in SSH, SCP, and SFTP
linuxiac.com: KDE Plasma 6.8 promises smoother animations
linuxiac.com: OpenVPN 2.7.5 with seven CVE fixes
linuxiac.com: VirtualBox 7.2.12 fixes Linux host kernel panic
linuxiac.com: Immich 3.0 with big upgrades for self-hosted photo libraries
linuxiac.com: Calibre 9.11 adds HTML export for e-book annotations
linuxiac.com: fwupd 2.1.6 improves firmware updates on Linux
linuxiac.com: BleachBit 6.0.2 now available as AppImage
linuxiac.com: Phosh 0.56 adds new top-bar load meter

HARDWARE UPDATES

linuxiac.com: System76 debuts 2026 Lemur Pro with 18-hour battery life and Wi-Fi 7
linuxiac.com: Juno Tab 4 WiFi Brings Intel Core Ultra Power to a Premium Linux Tablet

WORTH READING

linuxnation.social: Ladybird Browser: June Update Brings Downloads, History, and Linux Sandboxing
linuxnation.social: ReactOS Can Now Run Half-Life 2
linuxiac.com: Experimental BSDun kernel module runs FreeBSD binaries on Linux
phoronix.com: Canonical: Ubuntu ARM64 becomes a first-class architecture
linuxiac.com: Linux tops 2026 CVE charts
linuxiac.com: GNU Guix package manager hit by four security flaws
linuxiac.com: Fedora rethinks community initiatives after AI desktop backlash
linuxiac.com: Ubuntu reverts Rust cp after it breaks live image builds
linuxiac.com: Asahi Linux gets closer to full M3 support on Apple Silicon Macs
linuxiac.com: WSL gets its own Linux container runtime with Docker-like commands
phoronix.com: Linux kernel developers discuss AI agent attribution again

WORTH WATCHING

youtube.com: Playlist

Phosh 0.56: New Load Meter, App Hiding for Immutable Systems and Tablet Improvements

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Phosh 0.56 has been released. The GNOME-based shell for Linux smartphones and tablets focuses mainly on improvements for immutable systems and tablets. Users of immutable distributions benefit from new app management options, while the release also includes various bug fixes and usability improvements.

New Load Meter in the Top Bar

Phosh 0.56 adds a new plugin for the top bar: a Load Meter that displays the current system load. It provides a quick way to check whether the device is currently under heavier load due to background activity.

Hide Apps on Immutable Systems

One of the most notable changes targets immutable systems such as postmarketOS Duranium and BengalOS, Phosh's Debian-based immutable image variant. On these systems, many applications are part of the read-only base image and cannot simply be removed.

With Phosh 0.56, these apps can now be hidden from the app overview. They can also be restored later through Mobile Settings if needed.

Mobile Settings Adds OS Updates

The Mobile Settings application has also received new features. A new panel allows managing atomic operating system updates on supported immutable systems using systemd-sysupdate.

The app can also manage hidden applications, and the Syncthing plugin can now be enabled directly from the settings interface.

Improvements to the On-Screen Keyboard

The Stevia on-screen keyboard received several improvements as well. Applications can now use a custom default layout, for example a terminal layout for Emacs. Arrow keys are also available by default in the shortcut bar, and key repeat support has been improved.

Tablet Improvements

On tablets, the lock screen can now rotate. Changes to the cutout configuration, such as notch handling, are applied immediately. The lock screen design has also received several improvements.

Other Improvements

Notifications are shown when an application cannot be uninstalled
Faster app startup handling, including improvements for apps like Firefox
Bluetooth quick settings no longer get disabled when audio outputs change
Various crash and memory leak fixes

Conclusion

In my opinion, Phosh remains one of the best options for Linux smartphones and tablets. Version 0.56 is not a major release with a large number of new features, but it improves many details that matter in daily use. The changes for immutable systems in particular solve a problem that has been common on mobile Linux platforms.

Ladybird Browser: June Update Brings Downloads, History, and Linux Sandboxing

Sat, 4 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The independent open-source browser Ladybird published its June monthly update. The browser, still in active development and working toward its first alpha release, now ships several features users expect from a modern browser.

File Downloads and History Finally Arrive

Two of the biggest additions: Ladybird can now save files locally. The update adds a toolbar download indicator, a popover showing active downloads with progress, an about page, download cancellation support, and a confirmation prompt when quitting during active downloads.

Browsing history is here too. A new about page lists local browsing history, supports searching, and allows deleting individual entries. Right-clicking or long-pressing the back and forward buttons opens a native history menu with saved page titles and favicons.

DevTools and Media Playback

Developers get a new Storage tab in DevTools for inspecting and modifying cookies, localStorage, sessionStorage, and IndexedDB databases. CSS rule inspection now shows individual declarations behind computed values, including overridden and invalid rules with working jump-to-source links.

On the media side, Ladybird now supports playback speed changes. Audio is time-stretched so pitch stays stable when speeding up or slowing down.

Default Linux Sandboxing

The most security-relevant change: sandboxing is now enabled by default. Helper processes on Linux run inside real security sandboxes using seccomp and Landlock. macOS uses Seatbelt profiles.

Additionally, GPU access has moved into the sandboxed compositor process. WebContent processes no longer need direct GPU access, improving isolation between web content and graphics operations.

JavaScript and WebAssembly

The LibJS engine now uses its optimized assembly interpreter across all platforms. JavaScript strings moved to UTF-16 internally, matching the language specification and reducing conversion overhead. WebAssembly GC support and parts of the exception-handling proposal also landed in LibWasm.

To try Ladybird, check out the source on GitHub. The browser remains open source, though public code contributions are now limited to maintainers.

ReactOS Can Now Run Half-Life 2

Sat, 4 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Just a month ago, the original Half-Life ran on ReactOS. Now the open-source operating system, which aims to provide Windows binary compatibility, has reached another milestone: Half-Life 2 is now running as well.

From Half-Life to Half-Life 2 in 30 Days

In early June, ReactOS already demonstrated running the original Half-Life on an Intel Sandy Bridge desktop with an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS. This week, the project announced on X that Half-Life 2 is also running successfully. Testing was performed using a GeForce GTX 960, the NVIDIA 368.61 legacy Windows driver, and Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Windows drivers.

User Aotori Hibiki recorded a demo on YouTube showing the game in action. The footage suggests that the game runs smoothly, which is notable for an operating system that is still considered to be in alpha development after nearly three decades of work.

First Windows NT6 System Call

In a separate milestone, ReactOS recently implemented its first Windows NT6 system call. While small in scope, this represents an important step toward compatibility with Windows Vista and later versions. Until now, development has primarily focused on NT5.x compatibility (Windows XP / Server 2003).

What Is ReactOS?

ReactOS is an open-source operating system designed to run Windows applications and drivers natively, without modification. The project has been in development since 1996 and remains in an alpha stage. It is not based on Linux, but instead aims to reimplement the Windows NT architecture and APIs from scratch.

For gaming enthusiasts, the ability to run Half-Life 2 is a strong signal of progress. If an open-source Windows-compatible system can handle a demanding 3D title like this, it highlights steady improvements in driver support and API implementation. More information is available on the ReactOS project website.

GNOME 51 Alpha: First Preview Arrives With Numerous Enhancements

Fri, 3 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The GNOME project has published the first alpha build of GNOME 51. The stable release is scheduled for September 16, 2026, but this alpha already provides a thorough look at where the desktop environment is heading. There is no single headline feature instead, the update polishes the Linux desktop across many small areas.

What's new?

GNOME 51 follows the version 50 ("Tokyo") release from March and brings a number of refinements. These include improvements to the Nautilus file manager, which now reloads views noticeably faster. The Loupe image viewer reads extended metadata such as copyright and lens models for the first time, while GNOME Maps now supports offline map downloads.

In the system settings, the info page has been completely reorganized. A new widget shares Wi-Fi credentials quickly via QR codes, and the touchpad can now be configured to disable automatically whenever an external mouse is connected. Furthermore, the Sushi file preview tool has been fully ported to GTK4.

For screencasting, a new H.264 rate-control mechanism via VA-API reduces system resource consumption, and the integrated remote desktop tool now supports hardware acceleration with AMD graphics drivers. On the Wayland side, GNOME Shell adopts the second version of the text_input_v3 protocol for better input methods.

One highlight is the ongoing performance work. GNOME has gained measurable speed in recent releases, and the 51 cycle continues that trajectory. The improvements touch both the rendering pipeline and responsiveness to user input.

How to get the alpha build?

The alpha build is explicitly not intended for production use. If you want to try GNOME 51 risk-free, the best approach is to install the latest GNOME OS ISO image in a virtual machine using the native GNOME Boxes environment.

If you rely on stability, you should wait for the beta in August or the final release in September.

Outlook

GNOME 51 looks like a solid incremental update. It may not deliver massive headlines, but it brings exactly the kind of quality-of-life adjustments that make a real difference in daily use. The alpha is available for testing now, with the beta period expected to start in August.

More details are available on the official GNOME Forum.

ClamAV 1.5.3 Patches Multiple Security Flaws in Open-Source Antivirus Scanner

Thu, 2 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

ClamAV 1.5.3 has been released as a security update for the open-source antivirus engine widely deployed on Linux and Unix systems, particularly for mail gateway scanning and automated malware detection.

Seven CVEs Closed

The update fixes several vulnerabilities in file parsing. CVE-2026-20217 affects the PESpin unpacker cleanup path, where a bug can free pointers into the scanned file buffer and crash the scanner. CVE-2026-20213 is an integer overflow in PE rebuild size calculations, triggered by a malformed Aspack-packed PE file, leading to a heap buffer overflow.

Archive scanning also received critical fixes. CVE-2026-20216 patches an InstallShield extraction limit bypass that could exhaust storage. CVE-2026-20243 addresses ALZ parser size-handling bugs that can panic or abort the scanner. The 7z parser fix for CVE-2026-20215 prevents out-of-bounds writes caused by a substream count overflow in malformed archives.

Additionally, ClamAV 1.5.3 hardens quarantine operations in clamscan, clamdscan, and clamonacc against time-of-check/time-of-use race conditions. Users still on the older 1.4 branch should upgrade to ClamAV 1.4.5, which includes the same security fixes.

How to Update

Package manager users will receive the update through normal distro channels. Manual installations are available from the ClamAV downloads page, GitHub releases, and Docker Hub.

Given the severity of the heap overflows and archive parser vulnerabilities, administrators should deploy this update promptly, especially on systems running ClamAV for email scanning or file server protection.

LinuxNation

Windows drops below 60% desktop market share for the first time in years

Windows drops below 60% desktop market share for the first time in years

Current desktop market shares

Why is Windows losing market share?

Linux gains attention, but Apple remains ahead

What StatCounter actually measures

Conclusion

TUXEDO OS Drops Ubuntu in Favor of Debian Testing

Why the switch?

Backporting is becoming a challenge

The growing focus on Snap

Canonical's AI roadmap

"Continuous Debian"

Btrfs with snapshots

No direct migration

Conclusion

postmarketOS: Plasma 6.7 and Rust USB Tooling on Linux Phones

Plasma 6.7 on Linux phones

usb-signaller: new Rust tool

Duranium improvements

Device support

Packaging cleanup

Conclusion

BSDun: Running FreeBSD Binaries Directly on Linux

What is BSDun?

What already works?

How does it work?

Limitations

Conclusion

Linux Weekly Roundup: Top News from Week 27

LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS

SOFTWARE UPDATES

HARDWARE UPDATES

WORTH READING

WORTH WATCHING

Phosh 0.56: New Load Meter, App Hiding for Immutable Systems and Tablet Improvements

New Load Meter in the Top Bar

Hide Apps on Immutable Systems

Mobile Settings Adds OS Updates

Improvements to the On-Screen Keyboard

Tablet Improvements

Other Improvements

Conclusion

Ladybird Browser: June Update Brings Downloads, History, and Linux Sandboxing

File Downloads and History Finally Arrive

DevTools and Media Playback

Default Linux Sandboxing

JavaScript and WebAssembly

ReactOS Can Now Run Half-Life 2

From Half-Life to Half-Life 2 in 30 Days

First Windows NT6 System Call

What Is ReactOS?

GNOME 51 Alpha: First Preview Arrives With Numerous Enhancements

What's new?

How to get the alpha build?

Outlook

ClamAV 1.5.3 Patches Multiple Security Flaws in Open-Source Antivirus Scanner

Seven CVEs Closed

How to Update