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germanatlas@lemmy.blahaj.zone to 196@lemmy.blahaj.zone – 1479 points –
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I'm an architect and designer. I've tried switching to Linux on several occasions. Unfortunately you just can't really CAD/CAM, 3d model for fabrication, or for architectural documentation in Linux. There's also a lot of work I do with fabrication robots which further complicates matters. Finally, the creative tools on Linux are limited. It's hard to find good software substitutes for things like after effects, InDesign, and figma. Rendering is also a pain; having to use blender as the intermediary adds a significant extra step to the process.

Also, anything having to interact with MS is a huge pain in the ass (specifically no onedrive support, which is what a lot of AEC firms have switched over to using in order to collaborate besides BIM360).

And, put simply, that is entirely fair.

While I personally deem Windows to be worth not much more than the sum of its software and hardware support, that is certainly an important factor for many. I would encourage many people to at least attempt to use Linux, as Microsoft's monopoly on non-apple pcs is rather worrying, and they may even prefer Linux completely disregarding that factor, as I did, but you have clearly tried and figured out it doesn't work for you. Depending on the distro Linux can satisfy developers, average computer users, at this point even many gamers, but creative support is clearly lacking and if you need it then that's the final word on that.

While I encourage you to take another look in half a decade, or maybe a full one, please remember that people here on Lemmy are rather... preachy about Linux. So you're gonna get backlash for that decision, no matter how much sense it makes. Please do not let that behavior taint your view of Linux as a whole <3

Or in other words: Every OS has its advantages, I'm happy you found the right one for you at the moment, do give Linux another shot eventually, but for now just ignore the people telling you you're wrong or that there's some kind of easy fix for your multitude of issues and don't let that annoy you :3

I tried to install ArchiCAD via bottles done time ago. At first I thought the DRM inhibits it but they even have native Linux support. And ArchiCAD does have a good MacOS version, too. I don't get it...

Yep AEC is a Windows world. I was tasked with building Revit Addins to leverage within the Design Automation API. Had to run it in virtualbox which was a ball ache. Eventually moved to parsec to desktop stream instead.

Shame IFC won’t take off. It’s so limited but at least the files are editable in a text editor. CAD and RVT are a database wrapped inside a binary file which is a holy mess if you load them into a DB viewer.

Need the EU to step in to pull some things away from Autodesk for Linux to have a chance.

In reality, the inertia is too much and AEC professionals are too entrenched in Windows tools since they do the job just fine.

You need more architects using Linux and less using Windows if you want that to change

There's figma for Linux as well, I use it ( Nobara distro, fedora based)

Onedriver exists should you want to scratch that itch.

...did you hear Steve Jobs died to figma?

(Sorry I had to)

I bet what you need runs on proton. Just gotta figure it out probably.

Fair enough, but there's tools like KiCAD that is used to fabricate the electronic systems of the LHC. And efforts with other tools like FreeCAD and LinuxCNC fill in the gap. And please dont under estimate the contributing power of Blender in the creative arts.

The easiest way imo to "use Linux" is to start by running it as a virtual machine using virtualbox or free VMWare Workstation (free for one VM). That way, you can find what is useful or not for you in your Profession and go from there.

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