For Linux Users / Community Service (Serif)

[JT_Allen]

@Patrick Connor - Please pin this thread to the top of this subforum. So linux users can find it easily.

I created this conversation thread to focus linux issues into one main thread and also community service for linux users and Serif Staff.

To help Serif and Linux users together, I am willing to beta best the Affinity Apps on ZorinOS Pro version on a StarLabs Laptop called "StarBook" with max specs for hardware. See the attached pdf file for the exact hardware and OS I will be using.

I won't be able to purchase this laptop configuration until very late 2023; closer to December more likely. I noticed in certain Linux threads there was a partial functioning with Affinity V1. My gut instinct tells me the issue has to do with the implementation of the WINE windows emulation software layer for emulating Windows. I chose ZorinOS Pro because from other reviews it has the best implementation of that software layer.

For my multimedia purposes, ZorinOS is the most user friendly. Currently, I have my Zorin OS copy running very smoothly in VMWare Player personal license. I ask that other linux OS users strictly avoid going into an OS battle in this thread; I have set my emotions aside and thought of other potential users not familiar with linux Oses and chose ZorinOS strictly on the need to avoid using the command line as little as possible. I have cross-checked other reviews of former MacOS & Windows OS users and have found ZorinOS to be the smoothest functional choice when switching away.

My Linux OS and Hardware choice was also in direct consideration for the needs of Serif Software Developers and reduce the "migrane" of too many hardware configurations and OS dependencies. It is much easier for software developers to target a specified hardware configuration and specific OS, hence the Affinity apps were built for Windows and MacOS natively first primarily. Two distinct OSes with known hardware support.

I have been trying Linux OSes for the last three years on and off, and yes I did mess inside the command line to attempt getting things working properly, which is not the average user that proactively avoids such tinkering. 

My recommendation to Serif is to focus on the linux file formats of either ".deb" (Debian) or "flatpak" (App file) as most Linux OS can natively support and install either one; for those based on Debian OS or Ubuntu. Zorin OS is a derivative of Ubuntu and its native software installer can install those two file formats properly without command line intervention.

For Serif, here are the relevant file format community guides:

https://flatpak.org/ - This community project aims to be the future of application distribution for the linux community. I recommend serif focus on this application installation format, as you can target multiple linux OSes in one convenient installation format. Linux Mint & ZorinOS can handle this format natively in their software installers without the need for command line tinkering.

I figured all this out by personally testing and using mainly Linux Mint, Ubuntu (including derivatives), and ZorinOS Pro.

Merry Christmas, and hope this help significantly for both Linux Users and Serif Staff.

 

 

$2.2k | ZorinOS Multimedia Starlabs.pdf