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Then again, Ubuntu's help forum might have more users because Ubuntu users are more likely to have problems.
Do note this rather important point that I brought up in my previous post:
Note that results are not complete nor decisive, merely indicative.
However, your comment does point out [actually assumes] that the only reason one would register on a Linux forum is to get help for problems.
Though there are multiple reasons one would register, I would concur that the most common reason is to get help with software-related issues. However, given the absolutely overwhelming disparity between 105,000 forum registrants and 2 million forum registrants, I think it's safe to assume that Ubuntu is more widely-used.
Not convinced?
A good friend of mine [and far more experienced in Unix than I] ran a similar personal study to the one I linked to.
These are his comments on trying to ascertain the most popular distro for wont of an actually reliable metric [personal communication, Nov 2017]:
Quote:
It may or may not be of actual interest to you that I undertook exactly such an endeavor a few years ago, using multiple weighted indicators such as frequency of news stories, forum postings, Google Trends, etc. I have long since forgotten the gory details, but your basic hunch is quite correct (or at least was, as of that writing); Ubuntu remains by far the most popular distro, and Debian/Fedora are basically tied for second. Mint never came in better than fourth on any measure, IIRC.
The various measures were highly correlated among themselves, which strongly supports the notion that they were measuring the same thing. With such a "gold standard" available, Distrowatch's PHR for the "most popular" distros turns out to be no better than a random list.
Last edited by Lysander666; 02-08-2018 at 05:57 AM.
However, your comment does point out [actually assumes] that the only reason one would register on a Linux forum is to get help for problems.
That's basically the whole point of LinuxQuestions.org - regarding distro-specific forums, I (personally) fail to see the point in registering on my-distro-forums.tld if there's nothing wrong for me. What would you do there - tell other Linux users that you use Linux? Why?
That's basically the whole point of LinuxQuestions.org - regarding distro-specific forums, I (personally) fail to see the point in registering on my-distro-forums.tld if there's nothing wrong for me. What would you do there - tell other Linux users that you use Linux? Why?
Do remember that I'm agreeing with you on the point that the most likely reason for registration is to get help with software-related issues.
But there could be multiple other reasons, and some of these could be distro-specific [e.g. the Debian 'ethic' (software freedom) is very different to, say, the Ubuntu ethic (ease of adoption)].
Some examples of other reasons for registering on a distro-specific forum:
Not having heard of alternatives [e.g. LQ, LF etc]
To discuss distro news/updates
To discuss Linux in general [as you rightly pointed out]
To help users of that particular distro [e.g. I am still registered on the Mint forums: I no longer use Mint, and haven't for nearly a year, but I still occasionally help Mint users with their distro-related issues]
To be part of a community [remember than many distro users love their distros, and registering on its forum is one way to show allegiance/support]
To share or posit forum feedback
To assist with documentation
To have fun
Though the mostly likely reason would be, as agreed, to gain assistance with software issues on a local machine.
EDIT: Afterthought - regarding this comment:
Quote:
Originally Posted by YesItsMe
tell other Linux users that you use Linux?
This may surprise you but particularly with regard to the Mint forums, this is something that people do go there to do. Many of the adopters are not only pleased - but thrilled - to have left Windows, therefore a notable quantity of posts exist purely to express this. Moreover, if you look at the Introductions sub-forum, you'll see all the different reasons that people give for registering [sometimes it's even just to say "hi"].
Last edited by Lysander666; 02-08-2018 at 07:50 AM.
It says something about Linux usership in general.
There have been studies about what the most installed/popular distro is, and even though it is difficult - nay impossible - to see which is the most widely-used distro, each time Ubuntu comes out on top.
Take one variable, for instance: Ubuntu forum membership is around 2 million. Linux Mint forum membership currently totals around 105,000.
.....
Note that results are not complete nor decisive, merely indicative.
I do not have data to doubt your conclusions but you have to accept, as you do in the last sentence, that it is next to impossible to collect such a statistic. Sometimes each distribution from repository-server statistics may have an accurate idea of how many active installations there are out there, not exactly users. Also I can see new comers to linux trying ubuntu, I don't see too many sys-admins running enterprise servers on ubuntu, and I am really surprised that developers do.
On top we have language barriers and most statistics are conducted in language specific sources. If a distribution has great support channels in other (non-english) languages that are widely spoken they tend to be creating a bias.
You also project arch as being so very popular, which I believe, but Manjaro is nowhere to be found. I don't think the DW figures are so faulty in this matter. I thing Manjaro is to Arch what ubuntu and mint are to debian.
What is also important to think is that popularity of a product is not always an indicator of quality or purpose. There is a coolness factor where people who may be generally clueless about linux sys-admin may use installations that they are too complex for them to handle. Then you have people like Linus Tr. using ubuntu! Is he using or selling, because the top 5 distros listed on his site to me are very questionable choices.
I also believe that hard work and talent eventually show off in this field, and despite of luck of funds or tremendous variety of expertise there is power that tends to draw attention and followers, including the developers of other distros. I am putting my money on those who utilize and develop runit and S6 to keep clean, fast, simple, and functional systems and openrc in a second level of attention. I think the future will do justice to those sticking closer to GNU ideals than those that deviated by far.
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