ArchiCAD Linux support

[maxawake]

Dear ArchiCAD developers and community,

I am writing to express a growing concern within the architectural and design community regarding the lack of native Archicad support for Linux. As professionals who rely heavily on robust and efficient tools, the absence of Linux compatibility in Archicad's offerings is increasingly becoming a significant limitation. Let me elaborate with a few points:

The Rising Tide of Linux Adoption

Linux has seen a notable increase in desktop market share, reaching 4.45% globally as of July 2024, up from 3.12% the previous year . This growth is not just in numbers but also in the diversity of its user base, which now includes a substantial portion of developers and professionals seeking stable and secure operating systems. (https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-factors-steadily-fueling-linuxs-desktop-rise/)

Enhanced Privacy and Stability

One of the primary reasons for this shift is Linux's superior approach to user privacy and system stability. Unlike other operating systems, Linux does not engage in intrusive data collection practices, offering users greater control over their information. Moreover, its open-source nature allows for continuous community-driven improvements, resulting in a more secure and reliable environment.

Advancements in Development Tools

The development landscape on Linux has matured significantly. With Microsoft's .NET now fully supported on Linux distributions like Ubuntu 24.04, developers can build and run applications seamlessly across platforms. This cross-platform compatibility reduces the barriers for software like Archicad to operate efficiently on Linux systems.

Challenges with Windows 11

Conversely, Windows 11 has introduced several challenges that are prompting users to seek alternatives:

• Privacy Concerns: Features like the Recall AI tool, which captures screenshots of user activity, have raised significant privacy issues .

• Hardware Limitations: Strict hardware requirements have rendered many functional PCs incompatible with Windows 11, leading to increased electronic waste and unnecessary financial burdens on users .

Linux Powers the Architecture of the Internet and Industry Tools

• Linux is already dominant in infrastructure: Most servers, cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), and render farms rely on Linux. Architects and visualizers who work with networked rendering (e.g., Blender, V-Ray, Houdini) often use Linux-based environments.

• All of the top 500 supercomputers run Linux (https://www.stackscale.com/blog/most-powerful-supercomputers-linux/)

• Why should the desktop environment be the outlier? Offering Archicad on Linux would allow better integration with these workflows.

Cross-Platform Engine Use Is Already Industry Standard

• Many modern creative tools (Unreal Engine, Blender, Unity, Godot, etc.) are cross-platform and run on Linux.

• By not offering Linux support, Archicad is an outlier compared to software like:

  • Blender: Fully open-source, Linux-native

  • Autodesk Maya / Houdini: Have Linux support in VFX pipelines

  • DaVinci Resolve: Professional video editing, Linux-native

• Professionals in architecture, VFX, and design increasingly use Linux as a unified OS to run all their tools efficiently.

macOS Support Already Shows UNIX Compatibility

• Archicad already runs on macOS, which is a UNIX-certified OS.

• This means a large portion of the underlying codebase is already POSIX-compliant or portable to Linux.

• Supporting macOS but not Linux ignores a large, growing, and more open UNIX-based platform.

WINE and Virtualization Are Not Professional Solutions

• Many Linux users attempt to run Archicad through WINE or Windows VMs, but this leads to:

  • Reduced performance (especially GPU acceleration)

  • Incompatibility with licensing systems

  • Unreliable behavior on updates

• Native support is the only sustainable, production-grade solution.

Security and Offline Functionality

• Linux systems are highly secure, particularly valuable in firms handling sensitive client data or operating in air-gapped environments.

• Linux offers easier offline installation and dependency control without forced updates or telemetry.

Education and Emerging Talent

• Linux is becoming more popular in universities and architecture schools, especially in Europe and Asia.

• Many students use tools like Rhino, Blender, and QCAD on Linux and look for employment with firms using modern, open tech stacks.

• Not supporting Linux may alienate a new generation of architects.
  
  

Additionally:

Which components of Archicad currently depend on Windows- or macOS-only frameworks?

• Is it UI rendering (e.g., relying on proprietary Windows/macOS GUI toolkits)?

• Licensing infrastructure?

• Graphics APIs such as DirectX instead of cross-platform ones like OpenGL or Vulkan?

• Third-party dependencies or middleware that lack Linux support?

Understanding this would help the user and developer community appreciate the complexity involved and, importantly, assess how we might collaboratively help.

Is there any way the community could contribute to this effort?

• If a Linux version is not currently feasible internally, could Graphisoft consider open-sourcing select non-core components, or facilitating a community-driven feasibility study or prototype?

• Could Graphisoft publish a technical roadmap or host a discussion with interested professionals and developers?

Given that Linux is an open ecosystem, and many architectural firms are filled with skilled IT and CAD professionals, there is potential for volunteer contributions or joint initiatives, especially if the hurdles are clearly defined.

We understand such a move would be non-trivial, but openness and community engagement would go a long way toward both goodwill and innovation.

Looking forward to your response and hopeful for a positive dialogue.

Best regards,
Maximilian Richter

Operating system used: Windows

[torben_wadlinger]

Nice! But senseless! Have a look:

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishlist/Archicad-on-Linux/idi-p/632798

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Modeling/Archicad-for-Linux/m-p/92232

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Modeling/Porting-ArchiCAD-to-Linux/m-p/2422

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Collaboration-with-other/BIMcloud-Server-on-Linux-I-know-I-know/...

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Modeling/Example-Do-we-need-a-Linux-version-of-ArchiCAD/m-p/597

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Teamwork-BIMcloud/BIM-server-on-Linux-towards-a-solution/m-p/117...

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Teamwork-BIMcloud/We-need-a-Linux-BIM-Server-version-now/m-p/192...

[Jp1138]

If there isn´t even a Bimcloud linux version (which would make a lot of sense), it´s seems extremely unlikely an Archicad linux version is on the way, I´m afraid. There´s a recent thread asking just for wine compatibility. That may be more feasible, but don´t wait anything from GS in the matter.

[Eduardo Rolon]

I think that this might be Spam.

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@maxawake wrote:

…

Education and Emerging Talent

• Linux is becoming more popular in universities and architecture schools, especially in Europe and Asia.

• Many students use tools like Rhino, Blender, and QCAD on Linux and look for employment with firms using modern, open tech stacks.

• Not supporting Linux may alienate a new generation of architects.
  …

 In my 30+ years of working as an architect this has never been true, nor even MacOS vs Windows… and as profesor for the last 25+ I've never seen anyone using Linux in Architecture School.

[maxawake]

In my honest opinion, it would be a pity to just declare serious concerns and requests of ArchiCAD users as "spam". The sole reason why you have never seen anyone using Linux in architecture school is that basically no professional architecture software that provides Linux support exists. ArchiCAD is really the last missing piece which keeps us from completely migrating our offices to Linux, and we have been using ArchiCAD since version 7, which was also released nearly 25 years ago. Until there is a competing product with Linux support, statements like "i have never seen anyone using Linux" is, frankly, just non-sense. I know about the devastating dominance and monopoly of Windows (and mac) in the architecture world, which is part of the reason i made this post.

As @torben_wadlinger pointed out, there were already multiple requests for Linux (or better Wine) support by other users. Another part of the reason i made this post now is not that i actually belief that GS is going to change anything soon, but to keep the pressure high. I think the situation has changed since the last requests were made, and especially the regression of Windows 11 is a very concerning issue discussed in our office.

To be honest, i could write a book about the things that annoy me about Windows and macOS, but i tried to argue in favor of Linux instead of talking other operating systems down. There are also other good arguments in favor of Linux, which proof it is not only ready for production but exceeds other OS in many aspects. For example, Valve, the company behind Steam (the most popular vendor for computer games) has decided to use Linux as their operating system for  their steamdeck, a handheld gaming device. To make this possible, they made the effort to fully bridge DirectX to Vulkan (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(Software)), which means that virtually ALL games which run on Windows now also run on Linux. The surprising thing is, some of the games have even higher FPS on Linux than on Windows! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D45AknAsIPw)

My hope still is is, that maybe if GS sees that a substantial part of their user-base would actually wish for Linux support, they re-evaluate their current software-architecture and consider actual cross-platform support.

[SeaGeoff]

I seriously do not want Graphisoft spending any time or resources on this.

[Eduardo Rolon]

The reason I wondered if it was "Spam" is that sometimes these types of posts never get a follow up answer after "throwing the thought out there".

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On another note, it is not logical to write "Linux is becoming more popular in universities and architecture schools, especially in Europe and Asia." and then answer with "…The sole reason why you have never seen anyone using Linux in architecture school is that basically no professional architecture software that provides Linux support exists…"

Linux has always had a "chicken-egg" problem since every year is always "the year of Linux in desktop" if only app X ported over. I have tried/experimented multiple times since 2002 to see if it is worth it and it never is.

The Valve comment can be argued that it is a better strategy for them to not depend on MacOS or Windows to build a dedicated platform that they can control than that it is because Linux is ready for regular users. With Deck and Steam approved/ready computers, (see https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/05/valve-adds-steamos-compatible-game-label-as-it-prepares-to-ex...) there might be sometime in the future when they achieve critical mass but IMO this is like wishing that AC runs on a PlayStation or Xbox.

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Not trying to prove anyone's opinion wrong here or limit the wish.

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Anyway, as @SeaGeoff indicates I prefer GS does not waste time on this.

[torben_wadlinger]

And I seriously want GS spending time developing BIMCloud for Linux. At my office nearly all server services running on Linux. Currently we're switching with bleeding hearts from macOS-BIMCloud to Windows-BIMCloud.