[madoues]

Hi,

I saw the news for the companion app now working on Linux.
Just curious; Is it in the plans to make MobileSheets itself work on Linux at some point?

Dan

[Zubersoft]

In order to release the full version of MobileSheets on Linux, I'm going to have to first port the entire app over to the Avalonia framework. This is something I want to do, but it's a long term goal and may not happen for at least a year if not more. After that point, I can then decide if it's worth putting in the extra work to test the app on Linux. I would need to see a large amount of interest from users to make this worthwhile though, as the demand for Linux seems very small so far.

Mike

[Matthias]

I would be very happy about a native Linux app.

However, I already use the Android version with Waydroid on Linux and it works so well that I sold my iPad.

The only missing thing is that bluetooth pedals are not working (Waydroid limitation). But I have a usb pedal now...

[GraemeJ]

Mike, 

I would seriously question whether it is worth all the work involved to port to an OS which is only used by some 4% of users worldwide.  

It's not just the initial porting, it's the ongoing maintenance that will be needed.  You are already keeping three balls in the air - Android. Windows and Mac - as a single developer, I think you must be, pretty much, full to capacity.

[Lester]

It is not my decision to make but I think GraemeJ speaks words of wisdom.

[Skip]

I've been using linux for years and agree with bypassing a linux version. It may be an interesting personal challenge, but do you really have the time? Remember, you still have a family wanting to see you once in awhile. 
Having linux Companion available probably fills the linux slot admirably.

[Zubersoft]

You are all correct - I am already very behind schedule on all of my work as porting changes to each platform doesn't always go smoothly, so I don't really have any extra bandwidth. There is only one reason why I would consider supporting Linux - Avalonia UI is a cross-platform framework, which means I have to invest very little energy to support other platforms. With the Linux companion, the app required just a few minor fixes for Linux, but everything else worked immediately. The distribution was actually the difficult and time consuming part, but since I have that figured out for the companion app, I could use a similar approach for the full app. I would just need to figure out what solution I would want to use for licensing. However, this is still going to be near the bottom of my list of priorities, so I can't imagine I will get to it anytime soon. It's more of a stretch goal in the far future.

Mike

[Plop5212]

I am also very interested in a Linux version of this product. I don't have the money(or desire) for an iPad. and have an older Lenovo tablet that would work great for this purpose.
I acknowledge that the licensing would be a tricky piece.
Thank you for a solution that is not a monthly subscription!

[FloppyPlops]

Support for Windows 10 ends on 14th October, and Windows 11 has different hardware requirements. In under 5 months there's suddenly going to be a awful lot of systems running an unsupported OS and who can't upgrade. My guess is a lot of people like me (who use e.g. old Surface Pros) will be searching for a Linux alternative. And where there's a few options for Windows, there doesn't seem to be anything else in the way of Linux-based score performance software out there, so MobileSheets could corner the market. Just sayin'!

[Petra-Kathi]

Being a very long-term (25+ years) Linux user on the desktop I do see the problem of very few tablets running Linux so far. And it is the tablet target that MSP is aiming at.

Even with Win10 being dumped I do not foresee any changes in that respect on the tablet market even though I'd love to. Therefore I'd second the view that having the Companion on Linux is a huge plus, while getting the core display component on Linux wouldn't make any real change. I'd rather guess that the Win tablet users will drift off to Android instead.

Cheers,
Petra

[Zubersoft]

A linux version is only possible if I can switch the Windows version over to use the Avalonia UI framework, and things are not looking great on that front. I am dependent on several libraries that don't have a version available that would work with that framework. One of those is the PDF library I use, and switching to another PDF library would be a huge undertaking and would create discrepancies between the platforms (in addition to the large licensing cost that would most likely be required). So I'm not sure what will happen long term with this.

Mike

[Swiss1000]

Support for Windows 10 ends on 14th October, and Windows 11 has different hardware requirements. In under 5 months there's suddenly going to be a awful lot of systems running an unsupported OS and who can't upgrade. My guess is a lot of people like me (who use e.g. old Surface Pros) will be searching for a Linux alternative. And where there's a few options for Windows, there doesn't seem to be anything else in the way of Linux-based score performance software out there, so MobileSheets could corner the market. Just sayin'!

So what? Doesn't that mean these tablets won't work anymore? It just means no more improvements, and Microsoft is like Trump; they adapt when users are angry (or when UE claim 1billion for market unfair)... Your tablets will work perfectly, and in 5-6 years, you'll have bought a new one... I updated a client in Windows 8 in 2024 ! (Professional lan under W2000 server!)

[Zubersoft]

It means no more security updates - that is a much bigger deal than "no more improvements". As long as the device is connected to the internet and accesses external resources, that creates a vulnerability that only can get worse and more dangerous over time. 

Mike

[Swiss1000]

For a songs or sheets tablet ? relatively... Not a Bank Account.
In addition, tablet is generally after firewall, non directly on Internet, and MS tablet is a basic tool.
Old tablets used for picture display, on Internet, stay stable, my old one have 13 years non suported...

[tadawson]

It means no more security updates - that is a much bigger deal than "no more improvements". As long as the device is connected to the internet and accesses external resources, that creates a vulnerability that only can get worse and more dangerous over time. 

Mike

Which is completely and totally irrelevant if used as a stand alone tab for MS, or if behind a good firewall (and a user with a functional brain).

Why anyone would put a sheet music display device on the internet escapes me . . .

(Of course, if anyone running Whinduhs clearly isn't terribly concerned with security in the first place, considering it's abysmal track record . . . )