zlacker

I agree with this totally. But while they certainly talk the talk I’m not totally convinced that European governments will actually walk the walk and follow through on this.

To me a really significant signal that they’re serious will be when there’s an official Linux version of Solidworks.

It’s remarkable to me that France has control over one of the premiere CAD suites but theyre entirely dependent on an American OS to use it.

>>Teever+(OP)
Why would a private company deciding to release a Linux version of their product signal a government's follow-through? As far as I can tell, there is no current connection between Solidworks and the French government.

>>cianmm+p8
Solidworks is produced by a company that is owned by the Dassault Group.

There is always a connection between the military industrial complex of a nation and the state.

If France feels that it is an existential threat they will not let the design and maintence of their weapons be dependent on an operating system produced by a company based out of a country that has threatened them.

I'm not saying that this will happen. I'm saying that should this happen you know France is serious about eliminating dependencies on unreliable and threatening countries.

>>Teever+Yf
EU have access to Windows source code. Presumably if the shit really hit the fan we'd have a European build without all the spy/crapware added? Not much of a consolation given we'd have to be on the brink of WW3 for it to happen...

>>Teever+Yf
500k and 3 really smart people can get solidworks running under wine in a few months. The barrier of entry seems pretty low.

>>bigfud+Tl
I'm out of the loop, how does the EU have access to Windows source code?

>>Teever+Yf
Great remark, I will add that Solidworks is more intended for small CAD work, industrials usually use Catia for deeper CAD work, which is also owned by the Dassault Group. Both are developed for Windows.

>>LostMy+iJ
I think even Russia had it at some point. Microsoft is ready to allow it, if it is needed to convince state structures using Windows.

>>Teever+(OP)
> But while they certainly talk the talk I’m not totally convinced that European governments will actually walk the walk and follow through on this.

Yes, that is my own opinion too... that the EU states start with good intentions, but end up with bickering on all sides, with the end result of vastly neutering their own actions :-/

Would like to see how far this French initiative goes...