What's the best option to run Solidworks in Linux?
from aprehendedmerlin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to linux@lemmy.ml on 07 Sep 22:11
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/52810264

Hi everyone — I recently migrated to Linux Mint and overall my experience has been excellent, but I still rely on several Windows applications (notably SolidWorks, among others). Aside from dual-booting, which I really prefer to avoid, running these programs inside a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC virtual machine in VMware Workstation appears to be the most viable option. However, I am uncertain how to implement this setup and whether it is the optimal solution. What would you recommend I do?

#linux

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just_another_person@lemmy.world on 07 Sep 22:15 next collapse

Maybe this: github.com/cryinkfly/SOLIDWORKS-for-Linux

Lots of people saying it’s easy enough to run on wine without helper scripts.

9point6@lemmy.world on 08 Sep 00:00 collapse

Genuinely surprised to see this exists, SOLIDWORKS seems to always be in the same “hard no” category as Adobe software in every one of these kinds of threads I’ve seen over the years. This is literally the first time I’ve ever seen a response with a potential solution.

I wonder how well it works (Just out of curiosity, I don’t do CAD myself)

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Sep 00:02 collapse

I decided to move to FreeCAD from Autodesk Inventor as I figured it would be easier and more beneficial to make the switch earlier in my engineering career, and I really like the experience so far - lots of good documentation and tutorials.

frongt@lemmy.zip on 07 Sep 22:15 next collapse

Honestly, use Windows or choose a different program. Solidworks is not going to work well under Wine, a VM, or a remote connection.

lung@lemmy.world on 07 Sep 22:44 next collapse

Really, that’s still the case for wine in 2025? It runs most things very well, including 3D

aksdb@lemmy.world on 08 Sep 06:36 collapse

The 3D stuff around games is actually the smaller problem. It’s performance critical but it’s basically “just” one API (bundle) to implement that then covers a big chunk of the game’s implementation.

Productivity software usually consists of a shit ton of other stuff. They would probably render fine, but then they ship with a weird ass licensing management system that will deny to work. Or parts of or even a whole app use .NET and suddenly you have the complexity of all the WinAPI calls hidden behind .NET Framework. Maybe the app does a few lowlevel WinAPI calls themselves on top, that Wine didn’t need to implement so far. Or the app you want to run is only distributed via Windows Store as UWP; the necessary APIs also haven’t been implemented yet.

Wine is awesome, but it’s not fully covering all the shit Window’s APIs offer.

just_another_person@lemmy.world on 07 Sep 23:15 next collapse

Lots of posts everywhere saying otherwise

Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Sep 00:03 collapse

WINE’s gotten a lot better since that statement was first made years ago. Thank the Valve money.

Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz on 08 Sep 01:55 collapse

WinBoat or WinApps might work for you. They’re very similar in function afaik, they both run a windows vm hidden in the background and integrate the windows apps alongside your Linux programs. It’s supposed to be fully compatible with all windows program except kernel anti-cheat.

WinBoat is newer and I think offers a nicer interface and a lot easier setup, WinApps is older so may be easier to find support/documentation on. I’d probably recommend starting with WinBoat first.

interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml on 08 Sep 12:10 next collapse

I haven’t tried those but I’m curious, how do you get the image of the app inside the VM ?

Does it get windows’ window decoration or your window manager’s decoration ?

Is it possible to display this application window to another computer, standalone, not as a whole desktop shared window ?

If it is possible to display such an application over the network, would it be possible to display this application to an android phone ?

thanks

Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz on 08 Sep 13:35 collapse

Unfortunately I haven’t used it either, so I can’t answer your questions on this. I don’t have a personal need for any windows apps on my machines, outside of steam games.

SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works on 08 Sep 16:13 collapse

are WinBoat and WinApps comparable with WINE?

Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz on 08 Sep 16:18 collapse

Wine is a compatibility layer, it works as a translator to let windows programs run on linux. You can think of it like having a translator who allows two people with different languages to talk to each other and work together.

WinBoat is completely different, this is actually running full windows in the background, and then only displaying the apps you want from it. There will be significantly more system resources used, and you won’t be able to run windows apps until the windows VM has started in the background, adding a startup delay. However the advantage is that it will support more software than wine does, with fewer issues.

Wine will always be the better option when it works, but for stuff that doesn’t work this is a decent option.

SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works on 08 Sep 17:01 collapse

Cool!