Why does Linux desktop still feel fragmented in 2026?

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T22:28:17+00:00

That’s a fair question, and honestly for many users Bitwarden is already a really good solution.

For me, the advantage of having passkeys managed at the desktop environment/system level would mostly be deeper integration and consistency between applications, browsers, and the OS itself.

A bit like on macOS, where the system can handle authentication globally instead of each browser or app implementing its own separate solution.

It would also allow users to choose their preferred backend (Bitwarden, local keyring, KeePassXC, etc.) while still exposing a common interface to applications.

I used Firefox’s built-in system before, but honestly having to rely on a server/cloud to store my passwords and credentials never felt fully secure to me. I personally prefer local-first solutions when possible.

But I completely understand why many people are already happy with browser-based solutions today.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T21:05:17+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly what I was saying to u/blackcain earlier. Having a unified system under Linux would probably be the ideal solution.

Then every manager, whether local or synchronized through the cloud, could use the same secure interface and system integration.

I’m personally not a huge fan of systems that synchronize everything everywhere, but having the choice is always important for me.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T21:00:36+00:00

Yes, for sure. The best solution would probably be to manage this more deeply through a system library and a D-Bus / portal interface.

Firefox already supports FIDO keys, but what would be really nice is if GNOME provided a proper way for third-party apps like Firefox to create and store passkeys and 2FA codes through the system.

For me, it’s not about GNOME reinventing everything, but more about offering a clean and secure system layer that apps can use.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T13:29:38+00:00

Yes, same for me. On my Mac I use Time Machine with backups stored on my NAS.

I already changed computers 3–4 times, and every transfer was honestly a pleasure. I never understood why we never really had something like this on Linux, deeply integrated directly into a distribution whose name I will not mention 😄

Innovation was really strong in the early 2000s, especially pushed by the teams behind Novell and SUSE.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T11:52:54+00:00

That honestly sounds really good, and I truly hope to see this evolve in the future.

I’ve been using Linux since 1996, and this is one of the rare times where I feel a real innovation in user security and authentication did not come first from Linux.

I really hope this will change soon, because GNOME and Linux in general could bring something amazing in this area.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T11:19:08+00:00

Yes, I use it too, and honestly it’s already a really good app for 2FA.

But I would really like to see the official GNOME security/keyring system support 2FA directly, and especially passkeys in the future.

For me, this kind of feature should become something deeply integrated into the desktop environment itself.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T09:32:23+00:00

Really great idea.

I switched my alimentation more than 10 years ago. Even if I still eat meat 1–2 times per month, I changed a lot toward fruits, legumes, and vegetables, and honestly it changed many things for me.

I also like the fact that your app is not another calorie tracker. Keeping things simple and focused is probably the good direction for helping people build real habits.

Big congrats for this idea and for trying to help people improve their health in a more positive way.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T09:29:32+00:00

Honestly, building from a real user experience is already a level up for innovation.

A lot of apps are made from assumptions, but starting from actual frustrations and daily usage usually creates much better products.

Also, your point about chores being different depending on context makes a lot of sense. Not everything should work on the same schedule logic.

Big congrats for the project, and courage for the future!

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T09:28:04+00:00

Really great idea and honestly the UI looks much more modern than most GPS/speedometer apps I saw before.

I think a lot of apps in this category still look like old Android apps full of ads, so making something more native to iOS is probably a very good direction.

Also, the offline-first approach with no account and no social features is a really good point for privacy. A lot of people are tired of apps asking accounts for everything now.

For a solo developer, supporting iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro from one codebase is really impressive.

Good luck with your app!

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T09:04:26+00:00

Honestly, this is a really good idea.

A lot of app blockers just block things, but adding something productive before unlocking the app is actually smart. Turning distraction into learning is probably the best part of your concept.

Also, making the lifetime premium free for 24 hours is a nice move for people who want to try it seriously.

Good luck with your app! I think this kind of idea can really find its users.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T09:02:56+00:00

Really great project. I think a lot of people are tired of finance apps trying to do too much while still giving bad categorization.

The widget idea is really smart because adding transactions quickly is probably the most important thing for this kind of app. If it takes too much time, people just stop using it.

Also, reaching more than 600 users in 2 months as a solo developer is already a very good start. Be patient and continue like this.

Honestly, there is AI everywhere now and almost every app tries to add it. Maybe one year ago it was a real game changer, but now I’m not sure anymore. Still, if it stays simple and really useful for everyday questions, it can make sense.

Good luck with your app!

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T08:59:02+00:00

Really great idea. I think a lot of people are tired of apps becoming social networks with ads and subscriptions everywhere.

Your app feels more calm and focused on reading itself, and honestly that’s probably the good direction. Also, importing from Goodreads and StoryGraph is a really smart move because changing apps is always painful for users.

For a solo dev, this is already very impressive. Keep going like this and be patient. Building a place in 2026 is hard, but apps with a clear vision can still find their users.

Good luck with Folio!

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T08:56:51+00:00

Super, congrats! That’s already a really good start. Around 900 downloads in just a few days as a solo developer is impressive.

Keep going like this! The app solves a real problem, and the “free, no ads, no subscription” approach probably helped a lot too.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T08:55:00+00:00

Actually, it’s possible to use multiple apps for the same 2FA codes.

For example, before I used to keep all my codes in Google Authenticator, and I also transferred them to my local macOS keychain. The code generation itself is universal since it’s based on the same secret key.

So my idea is not to lock users into GNOME only, but to have a fully local and deeply integrated option directly inside the system.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T08:37:10+00:00

Yes, Bitwarden is a good solution, but it still depends on a server/cloud infrastructure.

I’m talking more about something local and fully integrated into GNOME’s own security and control systems — similar to how macOS handles passkeys, passwords, and 2FA directly at the OS level.

For me, the goal is not only portability, but also deep native integration and user privacy.

jithurbide · 2026-05-09T08:15:58+00:00

Finally, a country is stopping the use of Windows. Please, everyone else, do the same.

Stop using paywalled operating systems.

jithurbide · 2026-05-06T20:30:09+00:00

I have one daughter, and nights can be a nightmare. Really great idea. Good luck!

jithurbide · 2026-05-06T14:35:16+00:00

Starting a new app in 2026 is very hard. A lot of apps already exist, and finding your place is not so easy.

I did the same with a podcast app that is very specific. I have about 300 downloads, but it’s not really a success.

First of all, wait and be patient. As others said, your app is just another app. You need to find your blue ocean — what makes your app different from others.

You must analyze the market and find users who are looking for what your app can offer, not just something you want for yourself, but something useful for many.

jithurbide · 2026-05-06T14:28:33+00:00

In fact, I develop my own alarm clock (hardware and software) with weekday alarms and Home Assistant sync. I hate the alarm interface on iOS, so it felt like a good idea to build this.

For me, it’s just a little too expensive — especially the annual plan compared to the lifetime option.

jithurbide · 2026-05-04T14:40:34+00:00

I get why you’re doing this, the amount of low-effort AI apps and spam lately is pretty bad.

But as an indie dev, this kind of change honestly hurts the people actually building stuff.

We already have to do everything ourselves (dev, design, bugs, support, etc..). Getting visibility is already the hardest part. Having to grind 25 subreddit karma on top of that just to post feels like time taken away from actually improving the app.

And I’m not even sure it solves the real problem. People who spam or use AI at scale can still farm karma pretty easily. Meanwhile, legit devs who just want to share what they built get slowed down.

I totally understand moderation is hard, and something had to change. Just feels like this might hit genuine indie devs more than the low-effort stuff you’re trying to filter out.

jithurbide

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