Where does Linux go from here?

Analysts no longer have high hopes for Linux, the open-source operating system that some had expected to flip the software market on its head. According to experts from Forrester Researcher, Linux is becoming obsolete in an industry that is rapidly evolving -- largely due to the emergence of smartphones and tablet computers.

The research firm estimates that Linux accounts for only 2 percent of the desktop market, and it will have an even tougher time competing in the mobile sector, where evolution moves at a faster pace. The open source community, Forrester asserts, will simply be unable to keep up with the likes of Apple's iOS® and Google's Android™.

"The mobile platform space is extremely fluid, and I do not think the open source community can muster the forces necessary to compete," says Forrester analyst Mike Gualtieri.

Linux has a few options from here. According to Forrester, 60 percent of servers on the internet currently run Linux, making for one bright spot for the software. The OS could also move into more of a support role. Android is built on Linux, as is Ubuntu®, which will soon move into the mobile arena as well.

If Linux can find a way to take advantage of these partnerships, it may be able to stay relevant for years to come.