jonathan braid talks about what it would take for him to develop for linux

Jonathan Blow reveals what it would take for him to develop for Linux

Despite a solid following, you don’t hear much about development for Linux operating systems. Jonathan Blow, best known for top indie titles Braid and The Witness, explains what it would take for him to develop for Linux.

The discussion emerged after Ben Golus talked about the release of Planetary Annihilation on Linux. In terms of sales, Linux represented less than 0.1 percent. But at the same time, 20 percent of auto reported crashes and support tickets came from that tiny number of Linux users.

In a Twitter thread, Blow goes into depth into what he thinks is the problem with Linux, saying that while the kernel itself is stable, the userspace is the main problem. His solution would be to develop an executable that doesn’t use the C standard library, which he says is hard, but may be needed.

“If you are making a new programming language, the least you can do is keep these things in mind and not build your structure on the currently-existing userspace shantytown” he wrote.

He went on to say that if he were to create an OS of his own, he would likely use the Linux kernel, but delete the userspace. He also dismissed ideas on why Linux hasn’t “taken over” the PC market, saying that it wasn’t Windows trying to sabotage them, it’s Linux failing to address bug issues that have been plaguing the system for years.

“For people who think ‘Linux just had an especially buggy couple of years, it just needs more time in its now-stable state and it will take over on the desktop and everyone will love it,'” he continued. “Look, that is what people have been saying since 1992; for a long time the reason Linux didn’t take over was supposedly because evil Microsoft was pulling dirty tricks to prevent it.”

Blow went on to say that Microsoft’s own desktop OS is unusable, much like Linux’s OS is now, so the excuse isn’t there.

“What you see today is the end-state of what shipping software looks like on an ecosystem built the way Linux userspace is built” he added.

Over 1,000 titles on Steam are playable on Linux. According to the store, the best-selling titles for the OS include Rocket League, Dungeons 3, RimWorld and Stardew Valley.

Upcoming Releases

Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is designed to bring players a modern take on a classic JRPG experience. Get ready to lead 100+ playable characters through a war-torn world only you can save.
Eve and her comrades land on the surface to reclaim the extinct Earth and cross paths with a survivor named Adam. Eve is then led by Adam to the last surviving city, Xion, where she meets the elder of the town Orcal and is told many stories. In order to serve her mission to save Earth, Eve develops close relationships…
Tactical, beautiful, and wholly unique, the GOTY-winning sci-fi RTS returns with Homeworld 3. Assume control and battle through fleet combat in dazzling, fully 3D space while the award-winning story unfolds on a galactic scale.
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.

Reviews

X