To people who think that having local laser software is a solution to all of your problems…
Lightburn just decided to stop supporting Linux. This is the risk, your favorite software might stop working on your platform.
The cloud solution sidesteps that — all you need is a relatively modern browser and you’re good to go.
Just something to consider if you’re anti cloud. It has its upsides. There are some use cases where local would offer some advantages but the cloud solution is dead simple and isn’t prone to this kind of problem.
As my 5am mind is waking up there is a tendency ro run off screaming into a Luddite desert. Perhaps someone will make a spinoff of Octo-pi or Blender adding another mountain to the mountain range.
It seems that users of Lightburn with Linux are still able to use their lasers. This announcement says the next release will be the last one to support it. A Linux user could keep on using the current or next release forever and not be without use of their laser. They simply do not get updates. Should the features of later releases become desirable, the Linux user could then change to a different operating system to access. . At no time was their laser approaching the status of “giant useless paperweight”.
A GF-er has no such option should the proprietary cloud base system stop running.
I’m just pointing out that there are no guarantees in the software world.
I would also place money on the idea that if Lightburn could figure out how to transition to a subscription model they would. There’s a reason why everybody wants them.
Autocad did the same thing that went from including Apple and several Linux varients to Windows only. I think Adobe did the same, and eventually Microsoft got a gentle hand slap and quit being as obviously predatory.
Best of both worlds would be if Glowforge had made the back end open source. No doubt too difficult for them to do that now. Works better if you have that culture from the beginning.
If it were open source, the community could potentially contribute features, or host stable versions for the benefit of people who don’t want upgrades (like speed changes) in the middle of their projects.
As for the machine getting bricked if the company disappears — yes, but that wouldn’t be your only problem. No support, no spare parts, no Proofgrade, no Catalog, no Forum.
I’ve only had a GF for 7 years, but I’ve never once felt inhibited by layout and print tool being in the cloud. My design software (generally Inkscape) works just fine, but I do have to continually update it.