Summary of the Analysis
This article offers a very practical perspective on the decade-long debate about whether domestic Linux is a game-changer that breaks monopolies or just a shell with the aim of receiving subsidies. The focus has been misplaced on whether the desktop UI is attractive or whether the icons have been changed. Domestic Linux never aimed to overtake Windows on personal computers in the short term; instead, it has quietly gained a foothold in essential infrastructure areas such as domestic servers, cloud computing, and AI computing clusters. It survived the crisis caused by the cessation of CentOS updates in 2020 by solving real-world problems. The biggest threat it faces now is not competition from foreign systems but rather the fragmentation of the ecosystem caused by domestic manufacturers competing for dominance. As long as it can establish a solid presence in these critical infrastructure areas and no one can choke its development, even if it is not perfect and carries a burden of historical issues, it represents a real industrial success.
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Detailed Explanation
1. The debate about domestic Linux has been focusing on the wrong aspect for decades
The online arguments have been akin to evaluating the appearance of a heavy truck, with everyone focusing on the paint and the smoothness of the UI on the dashboard, without considering whether the truck can carry heavy loads or run for thousands of kilometers without problems. Those who claim it will soon break monopolies triumph with a new desktop screenshot, while those who accuse it of being a clone criticize it based on a few lines of code showing it uses Debian. Both sides are preoccupied with the desktop interface that ordinary users see, ignoring the fact that the main battlefield for domestic Linux is in the servers in data centers, which are out of sight to most people. It’s like arguing about the aesthetics of a fishing boat while someone has already set sail with a larger vessel to the open sea to control the fishing grounds.
2. The success of domestic Linux is not due to policy benefits but rather the urgent need caused by CentOS’s cessation of updates
Many think that the market for domestic Linux servers was created by government purchases, but this is not the case. The surge in its popularity was triggered by Red Hat’s announcement of CentOS’s end-of-support in 2020. For 20 years, most servers in domestic internet companies, banks, and government institutions used the free and stable CentOS. Suddenly, Red Hat stopped updating CentOS 8, and CentOS 7 will also be discontinued in 2024. This meant that companies that had relied on this software for years had no choice but to adapt. Replacing it with Windows Server would cost millions in licensing fees, and relying on community-developed software like Rocky Linux would put the company’s fate in the hands of overseas volunteers. It was at this point that domestic systems like openEuler and Longsys became valuable: they provided a real solution to a critical need.
3. The work of domestic Linux is invisible and far more substantial than just a change in appearance
Developers are working on the most fundamental aspects of software, often unnoticed by users. For example, they ensure that old code from the 1990s still runs smoothly on the latest 6.x kernel versions, optimize memory and concurrency for different domestic CPUs, and fix mysterious system crashes. Chinese companies like Huawei are at the forefront of global Linux kernel development, contributing code for ARM64 schedulers, file systems, and high-concurrency I/O. Even the desktop aspect, which is often criticized, is essential for enabling software to run on Linux, allowing tasks like tax processing and report printing.
4. The biggest threat to domestic Linux is not from Windows or macOS but from internal fragmentation
The biggest danger comes from domestic manufacturers competing for ecosystem dominance, leading to the creation of numerous versions and standards. This fragmentation makes it difficult for developers, who prefer a simpler development process. If developers are discouraged by the complexity, users will suffer, and the entire industry will be hindered. The goal should not be to completely replace Windows and macOS but to ensure that software runs smoothly on various systems.
5. Our expectations for domestic Linux are misplaced
The idea that domestic Linux must replace Windows and macOS is unrealistic. The real success is that it can operate reliably and continuously. It has already achieved significant gains in domestic cloud computing, AI, and banking systems, reducing our dependence on foreign vendors. Its value lies in its ability to run on millions of servers, providing stability and support in case of issues. It doesn’t need to be perfect or attractive; it just needs to be reliable and essential for the industry.