What Were the Biggest Linux Milestones of 2021?
The 2021 Linux roundup covers Richard Stallman's surprising return, Arch Linux's new installer script, Microsoft Edge arriving on Linux, the rise of CentOS alternatives, the Steam Deck's Linux‑based OS, Epic's Easy‑Anti‑Cheat Linux support, GNOME 40's redesign, kernel 5.15 native NTFS support, Linux turning 30, Linus Tech Tips' 30‑day Linux challenge, Asahi Linux's progress on Apple M1, and the impact of Windows 11 on Linux adoption.
1. Richard Stallman Returns
In 2019, Richard Stallman resigned from the Free Software Foundation after controversial remarks, but at the LibrePlanet event in March he announced his unexpected return as a board member, not as chairman, sparking both support and opposition within the open‑source community.
2. Arch Linux Introduces an Installer
Arch Linux, traditionally installed via command line, now offers the archinstall script on newer ISO images, guiding users through a more user‑friendly installation process.
3. Microsoft Edge Arrives on Linux
After a year of testing, the stable Chromium‑based Microsoft Edge for Linux was released in 2021, giving Linux users another browser option and allowing Windows Edge users to sync their data across platforms.
4. Rise of CentOS Alternatives
Red Hat's shift from stable CentOS to rolling‑release CentOS Stream in 2020 prompted the emergence of Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, both aiming to fill the gap left by traditional CentOS.
5. Steam Deck
Valve released the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device running a custom SteamOS based on Arch Linux, signaling strong support for Linux gaming on the desktop.
6. Anti‑Cheat Engine Officially Supports Linux
Epic Games added full Linux support to its Easy‑Anti‑Cheat service, improving compatibility for popular multiplayer titles on Linux via SteamPlay/Proton and Wine.
7. GNOME 40
GNOME 40 introduced a major version jump with a new horizontal three‑finger swipe layout, offering a significantly different user experience compared to GNOME 3.
8. Kernel 5.15 Adds Native NTFS Support
Linux kernel 5.15 includes a native NTFS driver, replacing the slower FUSE‑based NTFS‑3g and greatly improving read/write performance on NTFS partitions.
9. Linux Turns 30
The Linux kernel, started by Linus Torvalds in September 1991 as a hobby project, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021, having grown into a cornerstone of modern IT.
10. Linus Tech Tips' Linux Desktop Experiment
YouTuber Linus Sebastian embarked on a 30‑day Linux desktop challenge, documenting the difficulties and highlighting the visibility it brings to Linux among Windows users.
11. Installing Linux on Apple M1 Macs
The Asahi Linux project made significant progress in 2021, enabling Linux to run on Apple’s ARM‑based M1 hardware, benefiting other distributions as well.
12. Windows 11 Release and Its Effect on Linux
With Windows 11’s hardware requirements, many older PCs will be unable to upgrade, potentially prompting users to switch to Linux distributions such as Linux Mint or Zorin OS.
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