---
title: The time to make your computer truly yours again is now
image:
  src: https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/cfc29fc1-62ff-4205-93e1-c020dbc14d5e
  alt: Windows 11 full screen ad
  credit: The Shining © Warner Bros., edit made with GIMP
tags: ['windows', 'linux']
---

Windows 10 support [ends for good October 14, 2025][win10end] and from what I've been able to tell, people aren't looking forward to upgrading to Windows 11 any time soon. Microsoft surely isn't doing itself any favors with the heavy push into "AI" and stuffing Copilot into everything. Also, full screen ads at start-up basically nagging people to upgrade—if their computer can even run Windows 11—or buy an entirely new computer certainly isn't helping that sentiment. Where to go from here?

[win10end]: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-supports-ends-on-october-14-2025-2ca8b313-1946-43d3-b55c-2b95b107f281

<!-- more -->

Your computer will not simply stop working after October 14. However, Microsoft will stop providing your computer with feature updates, bug fixes, and security updates. The end of support for Windows 10 also means that third-party hardware and software vendors will no longer be required to support the aging operating system—at least in terms of development, as they will no longer receive support from Microsoft either.

For you, this may mean that newer software (e.g., your web browser) will no longer receive updates unless you install a newer version of Windows[^oldwinsupport], and newer hardware, released a few months or years after support eventually ends, may become incompatible with your Windows 10 machine.

[^oldwinsupport]: As an example, Google Chrome supported Windows 7 [until version 109][chromewin7end] in early 2023, when Windows 10 had been out for 7 years. Similarly, Valve dropped support for Windows 7 in Steam [as late as 2024][steamwin7end], 15 years after Windows 7 originally shipped.

[chromewin7end]: https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/185534985
[steamwin7end]: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/4784-4F2B-1321-800A

Furthermore, if anything happens to your working Windows 10 installation and you find yourself needing to reinstall, Microsoft may very well remove the ability to download installation media from [their website][win10iso]. Of course, you could download it through other means, but that opens you up to security risks, because you happen to download installation media that has been maliciously tampered with[^win10isorisk].

[^win10isorisk]: And I expect this risk to not be negligible. If enough people are looking for ways to stay on Windows 10 no matter what and they *have* to go somewhere else to download an ISO, you can bet your sweet bippy there's gonna be a *lot* of dodgy websites on Google that ship with malware preinstalled.

[win10iso]: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10ISO

Look, we all know where I'm gonna go with this. If you hate the idea of having Windows 11 forced on you, but don't want to spend upwards of $1,000 for the privilege of using macOS in a Starbucks near you, Linux is the only viable option left if you want to keep your current computer going. And hey, [if PewDiePie can do it][pewdslinux] and become a crack at it out of nowhere, who's to say you can't?

[pewdslinux]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVI_smLgTY0

If you've never had to think about installing an operating system before, it can feel very daunting. It doesn't have to be, though. What I'm going to attempt is try to make it feel less daunting and maybe give some guidance on how to get started if you're willing to indulge me.

But before I do that, let's get some things cleared up first.

## Dispelling Myths

Despite the progress Linux has made on the desktop in recent years, some myths still persist. The most common ones center around Linux being complicated and only suitable for programmers and tech enthusiasts. Some think of Linux as the operating system that powers servers and supercomputers only, not a desktop machine or a laptop. Others dismiss it outright as not suitable for daily use because of lacking support for standard software and common hardware that people use.

![Sebin doing a think](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/35da87be-0734-4738-9503-07d52c64c905 "Sebin doing a think")

While that might have been true 10-15 years ago, a lot has happened in that time and considerable effort went into making Linux into a more approachable and user-friendly operating system. What I want to do in this article is dispel these myths and show you how things look today.

### You don't need to know code to use Linux

This is probably the one that's most persistent. And I get it, in most people's heads, Linux is the thing that runs on servers, not your laptop, and is maintained by people who know their stuff. Nothing the average user could do on their own, let alone learn all the ins and outs of how computers actually work to even get started, right?

Nothing could be further from the truth!

![Screenshot of the KDE Plasma Desktop](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/165f9ae7-355c-41e5-9247-914f6cfeeca3 "KDE Plasma is a desktop with a familiar look and feel")

A significant amount of work has been put into making Linux more approachable and accessible to everyone, even if they know very little about computers. The installation process of most distributions is done graphically in the majority of cases, and takes only a few clicks.

+++ What's a "distribution"?
Unlike with Windows or macOS, Linux comes in many different "flavors", which people call a *distribution*, or *distro* for short. Distributions differ in the pre-selection of software and tools that you start out with and how software is managed. Distributions can share some of their characteristics with and sometimes are based off of each other.

The mobile operating system Android can be thought of as a distribution. Manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing, Motorola, etc. pre-install their selection of apps and launchers (e.g. Samsung One UI) with them, but at the core it's still Android and you can use a different launcher if you want.

Linux distributions are very much like that, in that they come with a pre-selected desktop environment (which you can replace with a different one), maybe a few custom apps for maintenance and customized with the distribution's look & feel.
+++

Distributions that have dedicated themselves to be as user-friendly as possible include [Linux Mint], [Ubuntu], [Pop!_OS], and [Zorin OS]. They usually also come with a pre-selection of apps and tools that give you a fully functional desktop for everyday tasks: web browser, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentations, music/video player, etc. with tons of more apps available from app stores.

[Linux Mint]: https://www.linuxmint.com/
[Ubuntu]: https://www.ubuntu.com/
[Pop!_OS]: https://system76.com/pop/
[Zorin OS]: https://zorin.com/os/

![Screenshot of the Cinnamon Desktop](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/7f9af168-de33-4c20-8c70-60cdc57dacf2 "Linux Mint's Cinnamon desktop should make Windows folk feel right at home")

What probably keeps this myth going strong after so many years is that whenever non-tech focused websites report on anything regarding Linux or tech in general, they come with header images of code editors or terminals running commands that look like they're lifted straight out of The Matrix. Compared to articles about Windows, that show normal screenshots of the Windows user interface everybody is familiar with, that makes everything that is *not* Windows seem intimidatingly arcane.

Speaking of which…

### You don't need to use the terminal for standard stuff

Another contender for one of the more persistent myths: everything on Linux has to be done through a command line terminal. Just like the misconception that you need to know code, this hasn't been true for years. While more advanced users might *prefer* the terminal or even swear by it, it's by no means the *only way!*

![Screenshot of KDE Plasma's Discover App Store](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/4d54fe77-19ec-4b6b-af21-2a87f01b77b2 "*Discover* is one of the app store GUIs to manage your apps with just a few clicks")

In 2025, installing apps on Linux can be done as easily as you're used to from Windows or your phone. App stores like [Flathub] offer a variety of many different apps and *Discover* or *GNOME Software* offer a convenient way to install apps with a single click — no command line necessary. All of your app management can be done graphically through these store fronts. You also don't have to sign up to get them, you just click *install* and you're set.

[Flathub]: https://flathub.org/

There's also apps you should already be very familiar with: Steam, Discord, Chrome, Firefox, OBS Studio, Spotify, Telegram, VLC, RetroArch are some of the [most popular apps][flatpop] on Flathub.

[flatpop]: https://flathub.org/apps/collection/popular/1

![Screenshot of the GNOME Settings app showing mouse settings](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/d487bcb1-d27c-418f-8d94-b10a58d6ae22 "All the essential settings are exposed through graphical means (shown: [GNOME Settings])")

[GNOME Settings]: https://apps.gnome.org/Settings/

Similarly, configuring your system is also done graphically. Connecting to a Wi-Fi network, pairing Bluetooth devices, adjust your screen resolution, setting system language, configuring peripherals like keyboard, mouse, printers, audio outputs/inputs, volume levels, signing into your online accounts for email, calendar, notes, files and contacts, setting default applications, it's all done through a control panel app.

What the command line terminal *is* still invaluable for is **troubleshooting.** Most apps on Linux output logging information when launched via a terminal. If something goes wrong or the app behaves strangely and you wanna know why, the terminal will most likely be the place to start looking for hints as to why.

![Screenshot of GNOME Console showing the output of uwufetch](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/2e7220ec-139c-4525-a5de-39acd524125b "Some people also have a little fun with their tools, for example `uwufetch` displays basic info about your system in a very *interesting* way")

When asking for help online these outputs are invaluable to people trying to get to the bottom of things. They *might* give you some terminal commands to run to get them info on what hardware you use, how your system is actually set up, what the last error was the app that's acting up threw at you, etc.

But here's the thing about that: It's not some kind of weird flex because they know their terminals and you don't. It's actually the *easiest* and *quickest* way to get these infos for them than instructing you to click through menus that could vary wildly between different setups that they might not even be familiar with themselves.

And that's why some people swear by the terminal: it's quick, targeted and universal across a wide array of system configurations. Every major distribution has these terminal tools installed by default because they are the *base tools* that make things tick in the first place.

**You absolutely still don't have to use the terminal,** but if you do make an effort to get to know it and start to use it more, things will click after a certain point and just start to fall into place in a logical, systematic kind of way.

### Gaming on Linux is real

Another myth that doesn't hold water at this point is that Linux is unsuitable for gaming because all games target Windows.

I expect most of the people that follow me on the net are in their 20s or 30s who probably play games on their computer. The gaming landscape has been improving steadily on Linux, thanks to Valve and their [continued investment][steamdeckverifiednumbers] into Linux as a gaming platform.

[steamdeckverifiednumbers]: https://steamdeckhq.com/news/17000-steam-deck-verified-playable-games/

Valve is putting remarkable effort into making the transition as painless as possible. They're doing this with *Proton*, which is based on the open source software called [Wine]. Proton/Wine translate system calls of Windows applications into Linux system calls in the background, tricking applications into believing they're running on Windows. Paired with [DXVK], another translation layer for 3D graphics, games made for Windows run on Linux as if they were made for it.

[Wine]: https://www.winehq.org/
[DXVK]: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk

![Domino Effect meme, labeled "How do I run Nier: Automata on Linux?" on the small stone and "Steam Deck" on the large one](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/b22f6c4d-7ae2-43ec-9473-d112571f8da1 "When you accidentally make gaming on Linux a thing")

What's especially nuts about all of this is that all this came to be because one guy didn't want to accept *Nier: Automata* wasn't playable on his Linux PC, he just went "Nah, I'mma do it anyway" [*and made it happen*][dxvkstory]. It's this dedication and hard work by someone who just didn't want to accept the status quo that laid the groundwork that gave us the Steam Deck.

[dxvkstory]: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/nier-automata-steam-deck/

From my own experience, gaming on Linux has been exceptionally solid. I can play the critically acclaimed MMORPG _Final Fantasy XIV_ comfortably on my non-Windows system. I play with a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller connected via Bluetooth and it works just like one would expect. With the help of [XIVLauncher] (installed from Flathub!) getting up and running is a breeze.

[XIVLauncher]: https://goatcorp.github.io/

![ProtonDB page showing statistics about my personal Steam library](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/b62fefe1-257b-44fd-97bf-fceda20f0310 "[ProtonDB] is a community page where people self-report how well Windows games run with Proton under Linux and help each other with compatibility issues")

[ProtonDB]: https://www.protondb.com/

Same with a lot of my games on Steam: Out of the 184 games in my Steam library[^smolsteamlib], they are rated 52% platinum (runs flawlessly), 40% gold (runs well after minimal tweaks), 6% silver (might need some tinkering, but still playable), 1% bronze (issues impacting gameplay) and 1% borked (don't even bother).

[^smolsteamlib]: Yes, I'm not as spending happy on Steam as one might expect. I'm rather selective when it comes to which games I add to my library, Steam Sales be damned.

You can check your own library by visiting [ProtonDB], searching for the game by name or logging in with your Steam account and bulk-check your entire library, like in the screenshot above.

If the game has gone through any kind of Steam Deck verification, chances are it will run on desktop Linux through Proton.

Other launchers such as the [Battle.net app], [Ubisoft Connect] and the [EA app] also work on Linux through Wine. For the Epic Games Store, there's an alternative called [Heroic Games Launcher], which not only grants you access to your games on the Epic Games Store, but also GOG and Amazon Prime Gaming. There's also [Lutris] and [Bottles], two other apps that make it really easy to run Windows apps on Linux with guided installation procedures. Xbox Game Pass is probably the only party pooper in that regard, since the Xbox app and the Windows Store app are tightly integrated with Windows and not available as a separate download to run through Wine/Proton.

[Battle.net app]: https://download.battle.net/desktop
[Ubisoft Connect]: https://www.ubisoft.com/ubisoft-connect
[EA app]: https://www.ea.com/ea-app
[Heroic Games Launcher]: https://heroicgameslauncher.com/
[Lutris]: https://lutris.net/
[Bottles]: https://usebottles.com/

### Don't stress over your choice of distro

There's no shortage of "best distro for beginners" or "best distro for gamers" articles and videos and lots of those come from somewhat seasoned people who already took the plunge. I'm here to tell you that the choice of your first Linux distribution doesn't matter as much as it used to.

That's not me saying all those articles and videos on the topic are wrong! The choice of distro is a very personal one and the sheer number of distros out there can give some people choice paralysis. Don't fret! There is no right or wrong here. You won't be locked into any kind of ecosystem. Nothing will prevent you from trying stuff out for yourself, change stuff that isn't to your liking and switch to another distro if you notice the one you initially chose isn't for you!

![Screenshot of Balena Etcher](https://img.sebin-nyshkim.net/i/f7673f68-148a-44bc-a6ca-09fc7cae216a "balenaEtcher is an easy to use tool to \"burn\" an ISO image to a USB thumb drive")

Here's the kicker: Most of the distros out there allow you to test drive Linux from a USB thumb drive before making any changes to your computer! That way you can test if your hardware is compatible, that everything works as expected, see if you like the Look & Feel and play around in it. If you don't you can just restart, flash another distro on it and try again.

### The Linux community is here to help you help yourself

Using Linux is a choice the people who're using it made willingly. They put their own time and effort into it because they want to make things work, no matter how quirky their hardware is. They want an operating system that works how they need it to work and doesn't create artificial barriers what they can do with it.

I often read or hear that people think the Linux community is very abrasive when asking it for help. While the chance of meeting someone with an immensely inflated ego on Reddit is certainly not zero, I wouldn't consider these types representative of the community as a whole.

Distributions tend to run their own forums where one can ask for help, usually with a forum specifically for [beginner questions][mintbeginnerquest].

[mintbeginnerquest]: https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=445827&sid=0938c8c668c79b32bbee0baa1b68be3e

I think the impression that the Linux community is unfriendly to newcomers is largely a misunderstanding where and how to ask for help: if you're coming from a background that tried to anticipate every possible need you might have and take it off of you, it might feel very jarring to be asked to do some of the problem solving yourself and upfront. This is not meant as an elitist dunk on you, we want to skip the part where we suggest things you might have already tried and get you the help you actually need, faster.

We largely do this in our spare time for fun. There's no big company behind this, it's people like you and me. We'd love for nothing more than to make people fall back in love with computing again and enable you to do so on your own terms. If you're new to this, there's no shame in it. We all started somewhere. Just say that you've just started using Linux and trying to figure it out. It helps manage expectations and people will be more than happy to show you the ropes and clear up any misunderstandings you might have.

However, what the Linux community is generally not fond of is people expecting to have their problems solved for them. Since this is a community effort, people will expect that you've tried at least *some* things, show that you did a *little* research into your problem and communicate clearly what you tried, what didn't work and if there's questions you might have. That way you help us enable you to help yourself.

We want to work *with* you, not *for* you.

## Show-stoppers

While you've read me write in a very enthusiastic tone about switching to Linux, I'm not going to pretend that ripping out a core part of your computer is going to be inconsequential. Quite the opposite, actually. While Linux has come a long way, the world at large is still focused on Windows and there **will** be show-stoppers that I want you to be aware about.

### Games with invasive anti-cheat

Earlier I said that gaming on Linux is very much a thing and most games will run just fine. But I will tell you right now, that my experience is only this smooth because I don't play popular online games with invasive anti-cheat.

I call it "invasive" because in recent years game developers have increasingly begun pushing for their anti-cheat software to have complete control over gamers' computers: in the form of kernel-level anti-cheat. Since these anti-cheats have to be implemented as a *Windows driver* to do their thing, Wine/Proton [cannot emulate it][protonanticheat] and some game developers explicitly do this to lock Linux gamers out[^linuxanticheat].

[protonanticheat]: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeckModded/comments/1b62ayh/error_when_installing_game_with_anticheat/

[^linuxanticheat]: They usually suggest that it's impossible to know all the different system configurations you can have with Linux and that allowing their games to run on Linux creates an "attack surface" to their anti-cheat systems. I'm here to point out that these kernel-level anti-cheat systems are [easily defeated with a Raspberry Pi][anticheatraspi], while gaming and cheating comfortably on Windows.

[anticheatraspi]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwzIq04vd0M

+++ What's a "kernel" and why is this such a big deal?
When you turn on your computer, the system firmware (commonly referred to as "BIOS") initializes the hardware, then hands off control to an operating system. The first component to be loaded in this operating system is the **kernel.**

The kernel has full access to the hardware of the computer and manages system resources such as the CPU, memory, storage, network communications, input/output peripherals and other devices. It also manages processes and their access to these system resources. A kernel's functionality can be extended via device drivers so that it can work with hardware it doesn't know. These device drivers operate in the same space as the kernel itself. The kernel resides in a protected area of memory where normal applications don't have access to, so its core functions cannot be disrupted—whether intentional or unintentional—and robust, fault-free operation is ensured.

Kernel-level anti-cheat installs itself as a kernel driver in order to get more direct access to system resources and inspect processes running on the system. This enables it to block things like memory inspection, code injection and block or shut down cheat programs. The game then talks to this anti-cheat driver to get the information it needs to trigger certain functions, like banning cheaters.

However, this also comes with the security implication that when this anti-cheat has security vulnerabilities, a malicious actor can leverage the anti-cheat software to circumvent malware detection and wreak havoc without being detected and disabling further security features in your operating system to stay undetected. This is why people are criticizing game developers pushing kernel-level anti-cheat, because it's the equivalent of having a CIA agent sitting in your living room, watching everything you do at all times, and you can't get rid of them because their presence was obligatory to agree to in order for you to be allowed to move into the house.
+++

Notable games with anti-cheat known to make them unplayable on Linux include:

- Fortnite
- PUBG
- Apex Legends
- Roblox
- Valorant
- League of Legends
- Rainbow Six: Siege
- Destiny 2
- GTA 5
- Battlefield
- EA Sports FC (previously: FIFA)

The website [Are We Anti-Cheat Yet][linuxanticheat] (sort by status, descending) has a more comprehensive list if you want to check for a game yourself. If your game is listed as "Denied" or "Broken", you might wanna sit this one out.

[linuxanticheat]: https://areweanticheatyet.com/

### Specialized hardware

There's a lot of specialized hardware out there, that is Windows or macOS only. You might get lucky and Linux support is provided by the community, but if manufacturers decide that they need to do something fancy, chances are this might lock Linux out.

Back when Linus Tech Tips did their Linux challenge in 2021 (to "celebrate" the release of Windows 11, no less), [several commentators](https://youtu.be/up2Za7luucU?t=427) recognized Linus uses a GoXLR mixer panel, which receives no *official* Linux support from the manufacturer. Naturally, Linus got not sound from it and was very confused. Since then, the Linux community has worked to improve support and [basic functionality][goxlrlinux] is available.

[goxlrlinux]: https://github.com/GoXLR-on-Linux

If you use such devices, check beforehand if they're compatible.

I've had similar experiences with older Elgato video grabbers that just wouldn't show up in OBS Studio. They required specialized firmware only available with the Windows drivers, so that was a bust.

Newer Elgato video grabbers work flawlessly, however, because they use standard USB protocols (i.e. UVC or [USB Video Class][usbvideoclass]). I was able to stream the entirety of Metroid Dread from my Nintendo Switch without a hitch. Check your video capture device for UVC compatibility.

[usbvideoclass]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_video_device_class

As a rule of thumb: if your USB devices need specialized drivers in order to work, the likeliness of them not working properly or at all under Linux is almost guaranteed and you might wanna sit this one out.

### NVIDIA

Unlike AMD, NVIDIA has a long history of not really wanting to work closely with the Linux community to make their graphics cards work as smoothly as on other platforms[^nvidialinuxgripes]. This causes some moderate to big pains with their graphics cards under the open operating system. In most cases these days, you don't really need to install any drivers for your hardware on Linux—they all come pre-packaged with the Linux kernel itself. Some hardware vendors do not want their driver code to be fully open, however, so they ship closed-source drivers that hook into the Linux kernel, like any other driver would.

Distributions like [Linux Mint][nvidiamint], [Ubuntu][nvidiaubuntu] and [Manjaro][nvidiamanjaro] offer driver installers that take care of correctly installing NVIDIA's proprietary drivers for you and setting everything. This is the concerted effort of the Linux community [trying hard to make NVIDIA work for Linux users][fedoranvidiarant] when NVIDIA themselves won't.

[^nvidialinuxgripes]: Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel, [famously gave NVIDIA the finger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MShbP3OpASA&t=2890s) during a Q&A panel in 2012, calling it the single worst company the kernel development community has ever had to deal with for how unconstructive and uncooperative they have been in the past.

[nvidiamint]: https://itsfoss.com/nvidia-linux-mint/
[nvidiaubuntu]: https://www.linuxbabe.com/ubuntu/install-nvidia-driver-ubuntu
[nvidiamanjaro]: https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Manjaro_Settings_Manager
[fedoranvidiarant]: https://archive.is/AVXSS

That's not to say it can't work. People report using their NVIDIA GPU under Linux most comfortably and NVIDIA has since also relented and is working on an [open source kernel module][nvidiaopen] for their newer cards, starting with the RTX series, and they're [contributing][nvidiacontrib] more to already existing projects. Gaming at full speed and CUDA can work under Linux, even on modern GPUs.

[nvidiacontrib]: https://www.phoronix.com/news/NVIDIA-Nouveau-Hopper-Blackwell

However, I've experienced considerable issues getting hardware-accelerated video playback to work in Firefox or Google Chrome on NVIDIA graphics cards before the RTX 2000 series in the past. NVIDIA requires you to use their closed-source tools and APIs that don't integrate into the ones any other Linux application uses to render videos on a modern Linux desktop. There's workarounds and other tools that try to bridge that gap, but it's finnicky and dependent on what NVIDIA GPU you actually happen to use. That is especially a bummer if you use a laptop because that results in faster battery drain.

There's also still some flakiness attached to dual-GPU setups, e.g. when there's a CPU with an integrated GPU and a dedicated NVIDIA GPU next to it in the same machine. Standby functionality and waking the machine back up from hibernation can, under specific circumstances, lead to a corrupted screen, because the Linux graphics subsystem was unable to get the display memory contents back. That means either having to hard reset the machine or turn off standby and hibernation entirely. Again, shitty if you're on a laptop.

[nvidiaopen]: https://github.com/NVIDIA/open-gpu-kernel-modules

So if you're on NVIDIA, know that there can still be some roadblocks ahead, *but it generally works for gaming and productivity* and things are improving slowly but surely.

If that's too much of finicking around for your tastes, however, you might wanna sit this one out.

### Creative software

If you're using your computer to do creative work you're likely using applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Cubase Pro and Adobe Premiere. These are, you guessed it, *not* available on Linux. However, alternatives both open source and commercial (paid) are available natively on Linux.

| Category               | Application                                                       | Alternative on Linux                      |
|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Drawing, Photo Editing | Adobe Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Clip Studio Paint, PaintTool SAI | [GIMP] ([PhotoGIMP]), [Krita]             |
| Music Production (DAW) | Fl Studio, Avid Pro Tools, Cubase Pro                             | [Ardour], [Zrythm], [LMMS], [Reaper]      |
| Video Editing          | Adobe Premiere, Vegas Pro, DaVinci Resolve                       | [Kdenlive], [OpenShot], [DaVinci Resolve] |

[GIMP]: https://www.gimp.org/
[PhotoGIMP]: https://github.com/Diolinux/PhotoGIMP
[Krita]: https://krita.org/

[Ardour]: https://ardour.org/
[Zrythm]: https://www.zrythm.org/
[LMMS]: https://lmms.io/
[Reaper]: https://www.reaper.fm/

[Kdenlive]: https://kdenlive.org/
[OpenShot]: https://www.openshot.org/
[DaVinci Resolve]: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

+++ Why not use Wine?
While Wine has made tremendous improvements over the years, it isn't a magic bullet to make everything just work. Some applications do really weird stuff and requires extensive testing to find all of the edge cases. Going by the compatibility charts on [Wine's website][wineappdb] (because I don't have access to the software), I can deduct the following:

**Photo editing:** [Adobe software][adobelinux] especially runs very poorly, if it even runs at all. [Affinity Photo][affinitylinux] and Co. don't look good either. [Clip Studio Paint][csplinux] runs passible apparently. [PaintTool SAI][sailinux] also seems to be doing well.

**Audio production:** [Fl Studio][flstudiolinux] kinda works apparently. [Avid Pro][avidlinux] and [Cubase][cubaselinux] are a mixed bag. Add to that, that the audio programming landscape on Linux is [rather complex and convoluted][linuxaudioapi] and there exists no cross-platform API to ease the burden on developers of professional audio applications.

**Video editing:** As already stated, don't bother with Adobe. [Vegas Pro][vegaslinux] is also a mixed bag. DaVinci Resolve has a native Linux version of their editor, which I hear Linux YouTubers are very settled on, next to Kdenlive.
+++

[wineappdb]: https://appdb.winehq.org/

[adobelinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=12&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[affinitylinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=580&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[csplinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=6462&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[sailinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=2403&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer

[flstudiolinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=84&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[avidlinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=264&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[cubaselinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?bIsQueue=false&bIsRejected=false&sClass=vendor&iId=708&sAction=view&sTitle=View+Developer
[linuxaudioapi]: https://0pointer.de/blog/projects/guide-to-sound-apis.html

[vegaslinux]: https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3467

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm51xZHZI6g

I'm not gonna pretend that such a switch is easy or even viable. Habits die hard and having to learn entirely new tools from the ones that *worked before* slows you down to a crawl. I totally get that's a tough pill to swallow. One good thing about these alternatives is that you don't have to switch to Linux to give most of them a try, as they're cross-platform. You can try them out on your current operating system and see how you like it, if it works for you and whether you'd be willing to make a switch.

If you absolutely need your current creative software tools as your daily driver for work and can't afford to switch to something else, you might wanna sit this one out.

## It's up to you to make Windows 10 the last version of Windows you'll ever need

The forced upgrade to Windows 11 looms, and people are growing increasingly tired of Microsoft's antics—pushing changes no one asked for and slowly and covertly limiting how you can use your computer with every update. With the walls closing in, it begs the question: Is there a way out?

I hope I was able to show you that with Linux, there can be! It’s not perfect—there are still hurdles, especially if you rely on certain hardware or software—but [for as long as I've been using it][switchedtolinux], it’s come a long, long way. Linux is the operating system that gets out of your way. It doesn't decide for you, doesn't push updates you didn’t ask for, and doesn't patronize you. Where Microsoft keeps tightening its grip, Linux keeps the door wide open.

[switchedtolinux]: /posts/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-ended-up-using-linux-instead/

In the end, the choice is yours to make. But if I managed to make you even a little curious, I invite you to give it a try. And if you want me to, I'd be more than happy to show you how in future blog posts. Or if you prefer it face-to-face, look for a local tech support group or repair shop to [show you in person][endof10] and help you with any issues you run into.

[endof10]: https://endof10.org/

Linux is not only free as in free beer, but also as in freedom—the freedom for you to decide: Will ***you*** work for ***your computer?*** Or is ***it*** gonna work for ***you?***
