The Linux Counter

The Linux Counter is a service dedicated to counting the number of active GNU/Linux users around the world. It started more than 10 years ago as an attempt by Harald T. Alvestrand to count the number of users worldwide. The importace of this is considerable for developers as this would help create the "critical mass" for developers to learn GNU/Linux and code for the users. The counter publishes live statistics of the number of users who register with them.

Counting GNU/Linux users is impossible

It is impossible to count the real true number of GNU/Linux users. Even though you can count the number of paid shipments, mandrake club memberships, track iso's downloaded. You never know(tm), how many of the downloads are used, how many people copy GNU/Linux CDs or how many delete GNU/Linux and stop using it.

The counter only counts the users who actively did register by themselves (or through friends). Harald estimates that from 0.2% to 5% percent of the GNU/Linux users count themselves. Thus he estimates that there are 18 million GNU/Linux on Earth.

GNU/Linux in Egypt

GNU/Linux has been in Egypt for a long time now. There are 1,872 member in linux-egypt.org's forum and 166 member in Eglug. In our MayInstallFest the Sakia estimated that we had 3000 persons who showed up that day, there is also 200 person subscribed in the festival mailing list.

We guestimate that the number of GNU/Linux users in Egypt might be around 3000.

What the counter says about GNU/Linux in egypt

The counter says that currently there are 178 registered GNU/Linux users in Egypt. Which is a very low number compared to what we guess. We are also ranked as the country number 143 in GNU/Linux usage.

This is not very nice.

The country ranking is an index based on the number of GNU/Linux users and the population of that country. This explains why the Faroe islands is at the top rank while the number of registered GNU/Linux users are only 51! Their population is 46,662 (July 2004 est.) not 76,117,421 (July 2004 est.)

Eglug's Linux counter module

During the preparation of this website an idea arose to create a small php module to show the number of registered GNU/Linux users in egypt. The module was written by ramez.hanna, you can get its source code from here.

You will find the output to this module on one of the blocks to your right hand side of the site.

I personally think that this module had a positive effect on the number of registered users, as shown in the above graph with a growth spike at the end.

Get yourself counted

So, if you use GNU/Linux and you are not counted in the Linux Counter, then you better go and count yourself. Its a very easy process.

1. Go to the linux counter website counter.li.org
2. Click on Get Counted
3. Fill in the form
4. Choose if you want your identity be visible or be listed as anonymous user.
5. Click Enter
6. You will then receive a confirmation email. By following the instructions in this email you will increment the counter by one user.
7. Every year you will get an email to check if you still use GNU/Linux.