The Foundation hopes that the results will help developers and Linux companies to target their operating system work at areas that users find important. "The Linux Foundation enables collaboration between end users, vendors, and community developers to continually improve Linux. Past Linux Desktop Surveys allow us to capture the pulse of user need, which we can then use to guide our efforts", says Jim Zemlin, Executive Director Linux Foundation, explaining the non-profit organization’s tasks. The idea behind the Foundation’s Linux Desktop surveys is to collect data on the market situation, and promote targeted development of the operating system. The survey is thus in line with the foundation’s goal of promoting Linux and Open Source in general.

The organization was founded in January 2007 when the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group joined forces. In previous years the survey was performed by OSDL. In 2006, OSDL pointed to the lack of driver support as a major issue. The results of the first survey in 2005 showed that most users were missing office, messaging and email programs for the free operating system

Last year, the foundation noted that Linux's share of the market was growing, especially in Latin America and Asia, and pointed to hardware vendors adding pre-installed Linux products to their portfolio. The current surveys pick up this trend and hope to reach as many companies, institutions and users as possible world wide. The Linux Desktop survey will be held October 17 through November 30, and is available both in English and in six other languages: Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, French and Spanish. The results of the survey will be published shortly after the closing date. To take part, go to the Foundation website here.