IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

2026 will be my year of the Linux desktop

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Criticism of Web Tech (React Native/Webviews) in Core Windows UI

Users decry performance, latency, and non-native feel for OS elements like start menus.
"“start menus made with React Native, control-alt-delete menus that are actually just webviews”... if a OS manufacturer can’t be bothered to interact with their own UI libraries to build native UIs something has gone horribly wrong." - roxolotl
"React native will always be more resource intensive than a native framework because it relies on a whole javascript runtime" - eptcyka
"Telegram Desktop App, written in Qt/C++ is the only goddamn desktop messenger app that actually feels smooth" - Barrin92

2. Microsoft's UI Framework Churn and Internal Dysfunction

Frequent new frameworks (WinUI 3, WPF, UWP) due to politics (DevDiv vs. Windows team), talent loss, and ignoring legacy code.
"The windows problem is every other OS release has included new UI libraries. Over the last 10 years they've made something like 5 different new ways" - cogman10
"It’s a largely dysfunctional org creating largely dysfunctional software, I.e. Conway law" - cjbgkagh
"They have a lot of staff turnover too, and each generation of new SDE has less of a clue how the old stuff worked" - asveikau

3. Surge in Linux Desktop Adoption

Windows 11 bloat/ads/perf pushes users to Linux, boosted by Steam Deck/Proton; old hardware "flies."
"I have a 5 year old laptop that feels about 10x more responsive since I killed the windows install and put linux on it" - cogman10
"KDE's income from individual donations has doubled recently, and many of the comments we get with donations are from recent Windows switchers" - sho_hn
"my elderly parents both asked me wipe Windows and install Linux on their laptops... it's such a relief not to have to dodge... ads" - spuz

🚀 Project Ideas

WindowCleaner

Summary

  • A "de-bloating" and configuration utility for Windows 10/11 that creates a set-and-forget permanent shield against OS re-configurations.
  • Unlike one-time scripts, this operates as a lightweight service to ensure "dirty tricks" (like resetting search to Bing or re-enabling OneDrive after an update) are instantly reversed.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Windows "Hostages" (Power users and IT-savvy family leads)
Core Feature Persistent enforcement of telemetry/bloatware removal and local-account preference.
Tech Stack C#, .NET, Win32 API
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium (Basic de-bloat free; persistent monitoring/pro version paid)

Notes

  • Addresses the specific pain point that updates "continually re-enable" bloatware (user monero-xmr).
  • Users are desperate to stop the "pestering about copilot" and "programs hijacking the screen" (user II2II and tormeh).

NativeApp Factory

Summary

  • A low-code boilerplate generator and UI kit for building truly native, lightweight C++/Qt applications that look and feel modern.
  • Solves the gap between the "unbearable complexity" of modern WinUI/MAUI/SwiftUI and the "resource-heavy bloat" of Electron/React Native wrappers.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Desktop software developers and "SDEs who don't want a colonoscopy" (Gen Z/Millennials)
Core Feature Scaffolding for native C++/Qt with modern CSS-like styling and "single-file" executable output.
Tech Stack C++, Qt, CMake
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: SaaS (Cloud-based app builder for native cross-platform GUIs)

Notes

  • Directly responds to the sentiment that "the Telegram Desktop App (Qt/C++) is the only goddamn messenger app that actually feels smooth" (user Barrin92).
  • Provides an alternative to the "web-client wrapper abominations" that eat half a gig of RAM.

Linux Migrator & Concierge

Summary

  • A service and software suite designed to bridge the "last mile" of Windows-to-Linux migration for non-technical users.
  • Provides an automated "profile porter" (browser data, documents, settings) and a managed support tier for the "2025 influx of switchers" who are overwhelmed by hardware-specific quirks.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience "Late-stage" Windows users and parents of tech-savvy children.
Core Feature Automated data migration tool + 24/7 "Claude-powered" terminal help desk for common Linux friction points.
Tech Stack Python, Shell, Flatpak/Snap, LLM API
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Flat fee per migration or annual support subscription.

Notes

  • Taps into the trend of "elderly parents asking to wipe Windows and install Linux" (user spuz).
  • Leverages the insight that Linux migration is often triggered by the need to "breathe new life into older hardware" (user sylens).

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