I apologize in advance for this long post. I have been as complete as possible in hopes of preventing a need for others to ask for details.
Life has been in my way for several months and my current software hasn’t been updated when it came due early this year.
That said, I need some advice and guidance in view of the recent announcement that Lightburn won’t be supported on Linux after version 1.7.
This causes me a bit of a dilemma in that I refuse to upgrade to Windows 11 and have been migrating my computers to Linux before Win 10 EOL based on advice I got here a few months ago. I’d rather not replace 4 excellent computers in my home network just because Microsoft doesn’t like my hardware.
I’d really appreciate any advice or council on my plan as follows:
update my current software license before Oct. 1, 2024 to take advantage of my $30 grbl version update path.
continue to use my windows version of Lightburn until Oct. 2025 (not going to use Windows without security updates, unless in a VM).
accept that I can run Lightburn 1.7 in Linux for as long as I like as long a I do without future updates.
please confirm that my existing license key will work on my Linux version as my second installed computer.
consider a single dedicated windows 11 laptop for future continued operation of Lightburn in windows.
investigate running Lightburn in a Windows 10 VM in Linux. Will that work? Will WINE, Bottles, or some other container in Linux work to run the Windows version of Lightburn? Please note, I’m a Linux noob but I’m studying hard.
The bottom line is that moving forward without Lightburn is not an option as far as I’m concerned. I am just trying to figure out what my options are now that my original plan has been impacted by lack of future updates if I stay on a totally native Linux system.
Thank you in advance!
Regarding how long you could use 1.7 Linux. I worked for a fairly large manufacturer, and we didn’t upgrade our software for about 10 years. We only upgraded when we went from a multi-user minicomputer to PC’s that were networked. Ten years is a long time in the software and hardware world. If Linux is your driving force, ride it out as long as you can.
I recall reading Windows below 11 will not be supported beyond Version 1.7, but I cannot find that note again.
Yes, but “without future updates” also means you cannot update the Linux installation, because updates will eventually introduce a change killing either LightBurn or its licensing.
For example, Version 1.7 does not support camera functions in Manjaro Linux, although Version 1.6 works fine. Apparently the revised & improved camera code in 1.7 requires something in Ubuntu that’s different in Manjaro.
I expect the same thing will happen with routine Linux system updates, because maintaining compatibility with proprietary software has never been a Linux goal.
It looks like Inkscape’s Visicut linkage has enough functionality to suffice for a pure Linux setup.
Some limited testing suggests RDP / VNC can export the Windows desktop to my upstairs Manjaro box / Comfy Chair / dual monitor setup with sufficient performance to be usable, although the jank is strong.
WINE (is not an emulator) referenced in that post won’t work, but a full VM should, as it’s essentially a full windows install, including the necessary WMI stuff
Indeed, LightBurn’s Windows version can run in a Linux-based VM as long as both the good folks at LightBurn and the licensing infrastructure continue to permit it.
Given LightBurn’s official intent to not support Linux, I have good reason to doubt their commitment to allowing / enabling Linux-based VMs going forward. I am certain they will be unhelpful in debugging any issues that may arise in such an off-label installation.
Your mileage / opinion / options will differ, so go for it …
Actually the opposite. v1.8 will use Qt 6.5 which will improve Windows 10 support.
Unfortunately not much we can do here. 1.7 is build on Ubuntu 22.04 and we support running it on Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 - if something breaks with with 26.04 or completely different distros, there’s not much we can do to change that.
And exclude those junky old laptops we all have lying around:
(The page describes Qt 6.5, but its summary says Qt 6.7.)
Not much loss, IMO, as they’re not performant enough for anything other than a low-spec-machine Linux distro anyway. My oldest Token Windows Laptop with Win 8.1 is still a dud …
No surprise there, which explains why I’m trying to avoid the inevitable future surprises.
Thank you all for taking the time to answer my verbose post with enough detail to make what I hope is an intelligent decision.
Based on the information about Linux and potential issues both current (camera in 1.7) and future likely issues with Linux upgrades, I’ve opted to use my option #5 and purchase a new dedicated Win 11 laptop for Lightburn.
I’d rather spend my time USING Lightburn as opposed to making it run.
While the choice violates my desire to leave Microsoft behind, I understand that I’m stuck using the 800 pound gorilla’s operating system if I want to keep using what is becoming the 800 pound gorilla in the laser software industry…
That’s NOT to criticize Lightburn because I understand the Linux market share issue.
I must admit I’m more disgruntled than gruntled because essentially Microsoft and Lightburn’s business decisions have forced early obsolescence at least on my laptop.
I’ll take the good with the bad and get a larger display and a slightly higher level laptop this time. I won’t be using it for anything but design and laser operation, and I’ll probably be running pihole or something to pinch off some of the telemetry that MS uses, so I’ll live with that to keep Lightburn in my shop.
Again, thank you for all of your gracious and candid responses. I’ll consider this topic closed as far as my Linux needs and questions go.
It’s possible to force upgrade computer Even if Microsoft say hardware is not supporter. There is lot of tuto on the web. I havé to computers upgraded like that and they work well
I recommend WinAero tweaker if you want an easy way to already punch holes within Win 11 to reduce the amount of telemetry/ads/bloat you get.
Regarding 1.7 camera issues though, I think you need to try the latest RCs. I finally found out what the biggest problem was with the AppImage for it, and fixed it. Took me 11 months, but I did fix it.
I have the same issue, what I was thinking is using windoze 10 on a laptop for Lightburn but not connected to the network for security, then downloading any Lightburn updates on a linux machine and transfering them on a usb stick
AFAICT, recent Windows versions become increasingly twitchy when they can’t contact the Mothership, so that probably won’t be nearly as easy as it seems.
Plus, toting designs back and forth by hand just wears out those flimsy little connectors, which is pretty much what networking was intended to solve.
Based on the info in the entire thread, and the discovery that the tax program I use isn’t supported in Linux, I’ve opted for a new win 11 laptop.
I’ll probably opt for stripping the telemetry if I don’t end up running my own dns server on a nas/ server eventually.
The bottom line is that I just want to spend my time running my laser without decisions made by Microsoft OR Lightburn costing me too much time or money on home network infrastructure to protect MY info.
I’m NOT a happy camper but I’m hooked on Lightburn…
For a ‘stand alone’ Windows solution, I have seen several instances where others have used ‘MiniPCs’ which have Win11 built-in, but, with Updates disabled (and running disconnected from a network). This is enabled since the MiniPCs can be considered fixed firmware where the application requires stable SW.
These are low cost and more than capable of running Lightburn if you add a monitor (at least 1024 vertical resolution) and keyboard.
I’ve used these on a number of CNC systems I have. I prefer BeeLink brand over others I’ve tried.
was it just me that noticed the chief bs of LB spews the whole “we can’t be bothered supporting poxy Linux scum but it won’t cost you more” then 2 days ago closes the topic and more than doubles the price for new licenses from 1st Oct!!!
As a Linux user that won’t be using a Windows VM (and if I do for some mgaical new functionality before a proper Linux version replaces LB it’ll just be to circumvent the trial licensing), i’ll renew at the pre-Oct price to get 1.7 and then never pay this lot another cent.
all they had to do was compile an appimage and/or flatpak and leave it up to the Linux users to figure out how to use on their chosen distors (or even just do deb and rpm like Blackmagic do) it but no…corporate all the way now, how long till they will be sending screenshots of prints, capturing user data and mouse-moves to sell and all the other deep-state MIC Windows bs???
smells like: we helped you to make some cash but now we’ve got rich off of you, you can gtf. stinks.
because essentially Microsoft and Lightburn’s business decisions have forced early obsolescence at least on my laptop.