Linux Desktop UX Issues

This cluster focuses on criticisms of Linux desktop environments' UI/UX, stability, fragmentation, and usability, often comparing them unfavorably to Windows and macOS while debating why Linux struggles on the desktop.

📉 Falling 0.5x Open Source
4,638
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#7505
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Keywords

AMD e.g KDE IRIX UX IMO DE OSS BSD maxxinteractive.com linux desktop linux desktop desktop linux gnome desktops distro ux ui kde

Sample Comments

sushidev Nov 30, 2024 View on HN

From end user perspective I think the desktop environment that i.e. gnome gives users is good enough from ui/ux perspective. It’s not worse than macos or windows. The thing where Linux distros can improve at is still at stability and making things just work for the end user. Especially around hardware support and os version upgrades and packages upgrades that often just don’t work.

sipjca Dec 4, 2025 View on HN

this is true, but linux desktop is still fragmented hell and will be for at least a few more years

anentropic Mar 18, 2016 View on HN

nah it's because desktop Linux UI still sucks, and probably always will

albertopv Sep 3, 2021 View on HN

And they say linux desktop environments UI is inconsistent...

diminoten Oct 6, 2019 View on HN

Sorry, but Linux desktop environments are still 10+ years behind both Windows and macOS.

zemanel Aug 2, 2010 View on HN

i like OS but the desktop UX is where linux was years ago

squidsoup Nov 19, 2012 View on HN

Sadly none of the linux desktop environments are particularly great either - unity, gnomeshell, and kde all have different problems and none of them are nearly as refined as the OS X UI. That being said, if you are comfortable with a minimal tiling wm like awesome or xmonad, you can have a very productive environment.

_wdzx Jul 5, 2016 View on HN

Enlighten me - what's the problem with the linux desktops?

vault_ Jun 19, 2010 View on HN

Everyone seems so concerned about the Linux desktop. I don't see the problem with Linux as being the dekstop itself. Coming from using only OS X, think that the problem is the applications available to run on the desktop. In my experience, there are no Linux apps that match the ease of use and well-designed-ness of whatever the closest analogue would be on Mac.

bluedino Jan 6, 2019 View on HN

Desktop Linux is still a dumpster fire depending on what you want to do