At present there is no effort ongoing for a GUI version of Rhino on Linux.
Thanks for the details / link
I know exactly what it runs lol. If you don’t want a much more portable cross-platform codebase with half the size and removing the Mono emulation layer increasing performance 30%, keep at it 
But, i think the AI is right .. and there would be easier maintenance, half the lines, and you would minimize platform-specific code, and relevant to this discussion, this would more easily facilitate Linux deployment, since everyone here hates Microsoft lol
feel free to have a look, probably won’t hurt!
I know Dear ImGui, I have used it. Additionally I know the Rhino codebase and its architecture. The two are incompatible.
And as said many times before, we already are using a GUI toolkit that is cross-platform. No need to go to Dear ImGui rewriting code that has been already rewritten to support the cross-platform GUI (that also supports running on Linux) we currently use.
LLMs do not know anything, and it cannot create search results that give any useful information, especially not in this particular case.
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So in short the tools are already there, just needs the market and initiative from higher ups for it?
Given the information around the forums there is also limited staff for such projects
Its very naive to believe if that just because your libraries and frameworks are cross-platform, that there is little effort to support another platform. It certainly will increase technical debt to a great extend. You cannot trust a single line of code if it never ran on that platform (by a specific test etc). And essentially all you achieve, is redirecting valuable developer time into other directions. We saw plenty of MacOs specific bugs since today, and we will see Linux specific bugs then. Even worse, if you consider slight differences on different Linux distros, chances are high to flood bug reports by a magnitude. I would have never chosen the cross-platform approach at all, at least for a “code-base-complexity/amount-of-developers” ratio we see for Rhino. So this is actually already a great achievement.
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If there is one thing that I have learned working in corporate is that you really can’t just throw money and people at an idea and expect it to work out. Some projects are inherently complex in ways that cannot be resolved by simply throwing capital at them. In order to make progress you have understand the field both theoretically & practically and chart out how to accomplish huge tasks. McNeel is already good at this looking at the progress and growth of Rhino with 8 and its model objects, and the wip 9 with its focus on drafting objects and render objects.
I am an architect and I dont know jack about software development but if my grasshopper experience is anything to go by, huge ambitious things just take time to make (in a way that its fun and enjoyable for the developers as well as the users)
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Posting link to our mammoth Rhino on Linux thread: Rhino on Linux? - at the time of writing close to 800 posts. The last one at this time is Rhino on Linux? - #785 by nathanletwory in case you don’t feel like scrolling yourself (:
Anyway, that is the main discussion thread to go to, imho.
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The clock is ticking: Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025.
Despite this looming deadline, countless users have yet to make the leap to Windows 11 — and skepticism runs high about Windows 12, especially given what’s been revealed about its performance. This uncertainty is driving a growing wave of users to explore alternatives.
Thousands will inevitably turn to Linux, running essential applications like Rhinoceros inside virtual machines such as VMware. But why settle for an emulated experience?
It’s time for a bold leap forward: Rhinoceros needs a native Linux version.
Yes, building a Linux-native Rhinoceros won’t be easy. The current architecture presents challenges. But the future demands innovation — a version designed from the ground up for Linux, free from the constraints of emulation and Windows dependencies.
This is more than just software evolution. It’s about empowering users, embracing freedom, and pioneering new possibilities. The time for change is now.
Let’s make Rhinoceros on Linux not just a possibility — but a reality.
McNeel, this is a pivotal moment for your company to lead the next frontier in CAD software.
You don’t need to open source Rhinoceros — that’s not the point. What the Linux community needs is a professional, native version of Rhinoceros that runs seamlessly on their platform.
Today, the Linux CAD landscape is sparse and limited — dominated by tools like VariCAD and BRCAD, which leave much to be desired in terms of power, flexibility, and user experience.
By investing in a dedicated Linux version, McNeel would position Rhinoceros as one of the first true professional-grade CAD applications on Linux. This is a rare and extraordinary opportunity to capture an underserved, growing market of innovative engineers, designers, and creators who prefer or require Linux for their work.
Imagine the competitive edge, the brand loyalty, and the expansion potential that come from boldly embracing this challenge.
McNeel, it’s time to rethink, innovate, and lead. The future of CAD on Linux is waiting — and Rhinoceros can and should be at its forefront.
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If thousands are going to turn to Linux out of a potential customer base of 1 billion Windows users; I’d definitely McNeel distracted themselves with an all new Linux build, instead of focusing on sorting seriously trivial issues like… basic surfacing capability.
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What about a Linux Discourse category ?
… Instead of pushing everything into a single, huge discussion ?
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I prefer to keep it in one topic as long as we don’t have even a test version of Rhino for users.
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I installed Win 11 on a 2016 Lenovo laptop that failed the upgrade check that said the processor was not compatible. It was quite easy. And I’m sure I’m less knowledgeable than a lot of people here. I also made that machine dual boot with Linux mint.
Interesting, what approach did you use?
Don’t remember exactly. I found the instructions online. I think it involved converting my existing Win 10 license (to or from) what it was (OEM?) to another version. Then downloading and installing the correct version for that from MS and installing. All my Windows licenses are legal, recognized and linked to my MS account.
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Not only all of this that you just said but also that thing of “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. Rhino already branched out to another OS but it was one run by…Apple. Come on these two are the greatest tech bullies out there and my tool of choice, the one I’m committing to, will remain forever hostage to these companies?
I know that this isn’t a reasonable comparison by any means because of the size of the company, but valve thought about the long run, and boy were they right… They are in safe position now, anything that apple or microsoft do won’t cripple them because people now have a free and BETTER alternative. I think that this point in time is the best scenario that one could ask for if they were thinking of jumping out of the microsoft boat (or should i say…bloat).
The only machine in my house with windows is the one for working on rhino, and it’s also dual boot. The linux market share might not be the largest, but the Linux version of Rhino would be the ONLY professional grade CAD software for it, and this market is growing.
Also, not to get political in here, but since the last time i commented in this thread, the Dictator of US has threatened the sovereignty of several countries more, including mine. The shutdown, specially from EU insn’t so far in the horizon now. He has all of the “Tech Alliance” under his thumb, does it feel safe for McNeel to be depending on this kind of people? Elon musk’s unleashed a monster endorsing “Mecha Hitler” a few days ago and nothing happened. Talk about signs…
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