Distrowatch is one of the most famous websites about Linux distributions (and other Unix-like operating systems) that has been in service since 2001. It covers the new releases of a huge number of Linux distributions in its database, and also has a special “ranking” algorithm for those distributions.
What we unfortunately notice in a lot of discussions online about Linux distributions is that people tend to use that ranking in an attempt to figure out which distribution is more popular than the other. But this is totally wrong, as the Distrowatch’s ranking algorithm does not have any base that links it to the distribution’s users in reality. The website itself doesn’t claim that it is an actual correct ranking of Linux distributions.
There is no reliable way of determining any Linux distro’s real usage popularity as they don’t require users to register or obtain a license for usage. Many users (myself included) download once and install many times across computers in the house. Many Linux users have an aversion to having their OS "report home" with stats on usage so again this not something distributions want to attempt to do. It’s just not a measurement that make sense in a Linux world.
See #^Distrowatch Is NOT A Measure For Distributions Popularity
Distrowatch is one of the most famous websites about Linux distributions (and other Unix-like operating systems) that has been in service since 2001. It co