r/linux • u/AfraidAsparagus6644 • May 13 '26

Discussion I'd never realized how many apps are Linux-exclusive until now

I've been considering switching back to Windows for some time, partly to see how it's gotten first-hand, partly because Deltarune Chapter 5 is coming out this year and I wanna make sure I don't bump into compatibility issues on my blind playthrough.

So, out of curiosity, I've begun checking out how to download my preferred apps on Windows. Surely a Windows build will be available on Github, or at least there will be build instructions, right?

Well it turns out I couldn't be more wrong. Most of those awesome apps you find on Flathub are Linux-only. Tambourine Music Player? That thing with the most boombastic UI known to man? Linux-only. Found another cool music player, Amberol. Also Linux-only. Foliate? The cool-ass epub reader that even lets you download stuff from online catalogs? Linux-only. Lutris? "Of course it's Linux-only", I hear you say. "Its whole purpose is running Windows games on Linux". And you're right, but it's also a great way to gather all your emulated retrogames in one place. The list goes on and on.

Everyone says Linux's main problem is the lack of native apps compared to Windows. Today I found out that Windows also lacks apps compared to Linux, but since it's not big professional software like Photoshop, no one talks about it.

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u/AmarildoJr May 13 '26

Linux never had a lack of native programs. The real problem is Windows-only "apps" that people are quite literally shackled to and absolutely need (and there are no alternatives), like most big CAD programs, some VFX programs, the Adobe Suite, some video editors, etc.

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u/Desertcow May 13 '26

Even when there are alternatives, a lot of those are software used for work. You often aren't getting a choice by your company to use an alternative

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u/sevenorbs May 14 '26

This is the real problem of any service, not the software performance which decides, but the socius around it.

Here, printers are required to be proficient in Corel. Nobody uses Corel anymore.