My old CAM machine just spit out it’s old Windows HDD that was running LaserGRBL - which was fine for my basic hobby needs. But since win10 is basically dead now, and there’s no chance this dinosaur machine will ever install Win11, I went with Linux Mint.
The LightBurn appimg works great, has alot more features than LaserGRBL, and seems fantastic. I’m inclined to buy a license, but I see that Linux support is ending after version 1.7. Is 1.7 going to continue being patched and maintained, or will 1.8 completely replace it? If 1.7 continues support, how long is that support? I’m willing to to pay the $99 if I have a supported product.
If support is going to end soon, then I’m not willing to pay $99. I might be willing to pay $25 just so I have working piece of software, supported or not. But I’m not willing to replace the computer, for a hobby. Linux, and a Sata SSD keeps it relevant and fast. And how much CPU processor does CAM need anyway? (basically nada)
What’s the long term future for 1.7? Will you be releasing the source code to the Linux community, so it can be maintained, and upgraded via the community?
What’s the timeframe for the 1.8 release? Are we talking weeks, months, a year, etc.? If I purchased a licensed today, will I have a year’s worth of patches and updates? If not, are there plans to offer the 1.7 versions at a discount, for the Linux crowd; even if unsupported?
It runs on Linux Mint 22, based on Ubuntu LTS, which has an EOL in 2029. So 1.7 has, potentially, atleast, another 4+ years of life left, before a major (debian) update.
Your timing on this sunset, really, couldn’t be worse. We’ve got an LTS debian release that has 4 years of life. We’ve got Windows 10 EOL in 1 year. We’ve got Windows 11 23H2 EOL in 1 year.
There’s going to be alot of “scrap” machines going to Linux, in the next year, because they can’t support Windows 11 24H2. And we aren’t using our shiny new machines in dusty/dirty CAM environments.
Likely around end of December or early January.
We do plan on releasing patches for 1.7 for a little longer than we normally would. Typically we would stop completely after 1.8 is out, but we do plan on pushing fixes if any particularly bad bugs show up. But please be clear on this… the only updates it might get are bug fixes and translation updates (since we’re in the middle of wrapping up retranslating ALL the languages). There will be no new features added.
Not at this time. We already automatically renewed the license of all existing Linux users (regardless of when they last purchased/renewed) so they could use 1.7 if they wanted to.
Long shot, but any chance this will be released to the FOSS community, after the expiration of the current Debian LTS, for continued community development? Debian based OS’s, like Debian (The base), Ubuntu, and derivatives like Mint, are the primary desktop environment. Arch, Mandrake, Redhat, SUSE, and others, are secondary; for desktops. Your company has the only really good Laser engraving, Debian Linux, option at this time. I’d hate to see this project just die. LaserGRBL, using Wine, is the only other option, right now, and it’s pretty horrible.
Sorry but no. There’s too much proprietary work bundled up in the existing source code. Some of it we can’t even legally release, even if we wanted to, due to NDA’s with laser controller manufacturers.
Calling it “a project” makes this sound way more like a hobbyist adventure than it is. This is a serious product, by a serious company, with a whole bunch of serious customers.
It it truly unfortunate that SUCH a small percentage of users use Linux, to the point where it’s technically and financially unresponsible to keep supporting it.
Realistically speaking, how many people do you know that use Linux vs people with apple/windows? Often those in the linux community are the die-hard hobbyists that don’t mind tinkering with an operating system. It’s those that enjoy making it work on older hardware for the sake of it, or to squeeze out a couple more years of life. And while those are noble goals, for sure, they are not representative of the average user. So while your argument that some machine might otherwise be saved is technically true, it is MUCH more likely for people to chuck them out and get a new one, than it is for them to switch to Linux, even it that were an option.
I’m a technical enough person, designed and built my own laser, mess around with 3d printers, have some engineering degrees, have programming and electronics experience, have tinkered with Raspberries and whatnot. I’ve even messed around with Linux before for sh*ts and giggles. I’d be capable of using it, if needed.
If I had to choose between F-ing around with getting/keeping a Linux machine working, or buying a new <$200 windows machine, I’d spend the money…
You average laser user won’t even have heard of linux, let alone be willing to mess with it. They spend $5k+ on a machine. Some throw away several thousands on rotaries where $150 ones do the same job. Trying to save $200 on a new machine is not going to be their biggest concern, on average.
Does it suck? Sure.
But sometimes you have to cut off a sick limb, to allows others to grow. Unfortunately, Linux seems to be taking up a disproportionate amount of resources, causing harm to the overall product development. Sometimes you have to let go 
(And it’s not like they’re killing it off completely. 1.7 will continue to work indefinitely in the state that it’s in, which is still miles ahead of anything else on the market…)