Welcome...
The Raspberry Pi was released six years ago and has made a huge impact in the technology sector. Some might say that the Year of the Linux Desktop has arrived. Seventeen million Raspberry Pis have been sold in six years, and these are now in the hands of users from a diverse background of ages, abilities and interests.
Some of these users are seasoned Unix/Linux users who want to continue exploring what their favourite operating system can do with such a low-power device. But there are a percentage of users who are new to Linux: adults and children who are taking their first steps in learning how to explore the world of computers. This is their first taste of an operating system that enables them to learn at their own pace.
The Raspberry Pi has done a lot for promoting Linux to these new users, but these users aren’t using Raspbian because it’s Linux. Rather, they’re using it because they want to learn how to code, hack and make using the Pi. The operating system is almost an oversight; it’s there because it has to run projects. Of course, users will learn how to use the Raspbian desktop, dabble with the terminal when needed and become accustomed to using and installing software using package managers rather than some questionable install files.
The Raspberry Pi might not just be about starting a revolution in schools. It might have just kickstarted the next generation of Linux users and developers that will continue the work laid down by those before them.