RFEM and other Programs on Linux (ubuntu, debian,...)

Product Support Feature Request
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Dear Dlubal Team,

I would like to suggest a feature that I believe could strongly benefit many of your users: making RFEM 6 and your other software available natively on Linux (particularly Ubuntu/Debian distributions).

Currently, RFEM is the only reason we, as a structural engineering company, still maintain a Windows dual-boot setup. For many of our engineers, we increasingly rely on open-source software such as Code_Aster and other tools available on Linux, which better fit our workflows. Having RFEM available on Linux would allow us to fully migrate, simplify IT administration, and reduce costs.

Here are some key reasons why Linux support would be highly valuable:

  1. Cost-efficiency for small and mid-sized companies

    • Linux is free and open-source, reducing the overall cost of ownership compared to Windows licenses, which can be significant for teams like ours (we are 15 engineers).

    • This makes RFEM more accessible to smaller firms and startups.

  2. Performance and robustness

    • Linux systems generally offer better resource management, stability, and scalability.

  3. Remote work and flexibility

    • Linux enables simple, secure, and free remote access (via SSH, X11 forwarding, or lightweight remote desktop tools) from any device, including tablets and thin clients.

    • This is much more cost-effective than remote access solutions on Windows.

  4. Alignment with engineering and research communities

    • Many universities, research institutes, and engineering firms already rely on Linux for HPC and simulation tasks.

    • Providing RFEM for Linux would integrate Dlubal software more deeply into academic and professional ecosystems, strengthening long-term adoption.

  5. Competitiveness with open-source tools

    • Open-source structural analysis software (such as Code_Aster) is steadily improving, and engineers increasingly adopt it because of its availability on Linux.

    • Offering RFEM on Linux would position Dlubal as the premium alternative that combines professional support and reliability with the openness engineers seek.

In short, Linux support would:

  • Reduce IT costs for small companies.

  • Provide more robust, scalable, and flexible workflows.

  • Make RFEM accessible on powerful remote servers without additional licensing barriers.

  • Strengthen Dlubal’s position in research and academia.

We sincerely hope you will consider this feature request. RFEM is an excellent software, and Linux support would make it even more indispensable for the structural engineering community worldwide.

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Hello mga_structurame, and welcome to the Dlubal Community! :waving_hand:

Thank you for your detailed summary of the potential benefits of a Linux port. Porting RFEM (and other programs) to Linux would indeed require a considerable effort on our side. That said, it’s not technically impossible.

For us, the decisive factor is the level of customer demand. That’s why your initiative to create this vote is very valuable — it helps us better evaluate how much interest there really is in this feature. :+1:

Just as an additional note:

  • This feature request has already been documented in our system under RUS ID 3959.

  • You can refer to this ID when submitting further requests or when discussing the topic with us.

Thanks again for your contribution, and let’s see how the community votes! :rocket:

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