linux.gotfoo.org

Even though it’s not the best and most accurate form of measuring a Linux Distro’s popularity Xubuntu is currently at Number 6 in the last 7 Days Time Span. This is due of course to the release of Xubuntu 6.10 last Thursday October 26 but it also tells you something about what people want from Linux. Simplicity. And Xubuntu is all about simplicity. Xubuntu is a bare bones Linux Distro that ships with just enough applications to get a newbie up and running with out over burdening them with a million IM and Email clients.

As you can see from the list that Xubuntu has managed to make to the #6 position surpassing MEPISwhere just 30 days ago Xubuntu was #15 and MEPIS was #5.

With a 9 position jump in 30 days I’d like to think that this could me a record but if not it’s still pretty impressive.

Here are some more numbers:

Past 7 Days:
Xubuntu #6
MEPIS #8

Past 30 Days:
Xubuntu #15
MEPIS #5

Past 3 Months:
Xubuntu #19
MEPIS #5

Past 6 Months:
Xubuntu #18
MEPIS #4

Past 12 Months:
Xubuntu #24
MEPIS #5

I am not picking on MEPIS as a Distro I am just using it to give the numbers some perspective.

In a 12 month time span Xubuntu has jumped up 18 spots form #24 to #6 which isn’t bad but how long will it stay?

Is a fully functional lightweight Distro a new trend in Linux?

What percentage of Xubuntu users are newbies vs novices?

The reason I think that Xubuntu has seen a boost in popularity is also due to the fact that it is stripped down, light weight and fast. If you load up the LiveCD of Knoppix and start browsing in the Applications menu it becomes very overwhelming due to the shear number of app choices. Now don’t get me wrong choice is good but when a newbie too many choices can be a tunr-off. For instance I know exactly what FTP or Text Editor I want to use and I know where to find them. On the other hand a newbie just needs one FTP or Editor to get started. And that is the beauty of Xubuntu. It’s light weight and not overloaded with apps but when a user is ready for more that just need to fire up the Synaptic Package Manager.

But for whatever reason Xubuntu is popular this week I am happy to see that people are taking notice of it and
I hope that it continues it climb to the top of the Linux ladder.