Reply To: Blender and Linux

[status451_cg]

@eduo I have always used Linux (at the moment Linux Mint, but previously Ubuntu and Debian). I could do a whole other post on distro choice!

I have also used Blender on Windows 10 for quite a long time, so I can offer you direct experience of both.

In my view (which is obviously just anecdotal from my own experience) Blender performs better on Linux. It also runs fine on Windows 10, however – it’s not like there is a huge difference. You would be fine on either.

To be honest, however, I don’t think his is specific to Blender. I find most stuff performs just a little  better on Linux. I believe (again, personal opinion) this is because Linux has less “going on in the background”. Windows is always updating, or indexing, or doing something else you didn’t ask for, but which is sucking system resources nonetheless. With some exceptions, Linux generally tends to only do what you asked it to do at the time you ask it. It is also less bloated with a generally smaller footprint. You also have an insane level of control over how Linux operates (if you are technical).

Blender isn’t the big issue, though. What I struggle with most on Linux is the lack of availability of other software:

• Substance Painter – There is a Linux version which you can generally get to work on most distros, but only CentOS is officially supported. I had some issues with this;
• Adobe – No Linux support. No Photoshop, no After Effects, no Illustrator etc. I have VirtualBox running a pet copy of Windows so that I can use After Effects (which I am just getting into), but it’s far from ideal. I use Gimp and Inkscape for other stuff;
• ZBursh – No Linux support;

There are probably other examples, those are just off the top of my head.

If you are of the “open source till I die” mindset, I would say go Linux all the way. If you (like me) aren’t above using commercial software from time to time, I would just caution that you might find your choices limited.

EDIT: I have never had any issues with Wacom stylus and pressure sensitivity etc. On LInux Mint I had to update to a newer kernel that properly supported my Wacom Bluetooth tablet, but that was like one click. No big deal.