I'm sure it's possible. I would really like to be able to use Mixmeister again without having to run it in a virtual Windows emulation (which may not even work).

Yes, indeed, it would be possible. However, porting the software to another platform involves quite a bit of work. Much of that work has already been accomplished in porting the software to OS X (which is based on the FreeBSD Unix platform).

Nevertheless, to which Linux version exactly would you propose to port the software? RHEL?
Fedora? Debian? Slackware? Ubuntu? Mandriva? and which desktop GUI?, which hardware platform? etc., etc., etc.?

As a Linux system engineer, I certainly understand the benefits of using Linux in my work--for servers and certain specialty desktop uses, including the occasional motivated end-user, but I would not support a port deployment of a niche market, commercially conceived product like MM to Linux at this time. With no clear platform direction and a very small user-segment, the return on the investment for Numark would be a net loss.

This topic has been discussed before in our forums here (look around), including the benefit of Open Source vs. Closed Source software models. However, MM has been built for years around the traditional Closed Source model, so making a transition to a Closed Source, profitable business model to run on some flavor of Linux for such specialty niche software would be quite difficult and risky. Making the transition to an Open Source business model even more so.

To answer your first question, I currently use Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) on an Intel machine, so of course I would like to be able to use Mixmeister under that. And there are a number of proprietary software packages that currently exist for Linux. Of course, I understand your position.

This is merely my opinion, but I would prefer that the developers spend their time improving the application for the 99% of users who work with the major end-user operating systems, rather than embark on development for supporting yet another platform. And as tepmix points out, there are so many variants of Linux to be concerned with. Consider how the long-planned release of Snow Leopard broke functionality-how many updates to the many variants of Linux would need to be tested for each new OS release? Furthermore, I do not even believe the port to OS X is as sound as the Windows version, so I think they have their hands full properly supporting two major operating systems.

Of course, there is the profit motive, and I would doubt that there are enough paying Linux users to justify their costs. It is hard to get companies who develop for Windows only to even recognize the return on investment from Mac market with its 8-9% market share.

So many different ?

Linux is :

The linux kernel , X-windows and a graphical shell running on X-windows.

That means: You can run application, designet for KDE on for instance Ubuntu or Debian (cause Ubuntu is based on Debian) using the gnome desktop. A KDE user can ionstall a applicationn written for gnome under KDE.
But, If they do then they must install additional libraries and in some cases, a manual compile .

So, it's sure not that there are hugh differences between the different distro's.

Even when there are core updates where application styop working due to missing libraries, can be fixed easy with dynamic links to the new libraries.

Even when an application needs administrator rights, easy to switch to restricted rights.


Preventing illegal copying can also be done under linux. Look for instance to Varicad.
And excuse me: most illegal software floating around this planet is Windows based, okay, windows is the most used OS so that sounds normal but sure it doesn't.

Mixmeister runs under Virtualbox but that is not the best solution.


Mixmeister should think of this:
An application that offers some or more mixmeister functions with ok, less interesting grahic layout may show up under GPL.

What could this mean towards mixmeister for windows?
This sure will mean that the linux community will hear fast of a great application to mix audio.

We often get asked (through my Health and Safety software company) if we can port to this or that, and it's always tricky. The main factor is can we get a ROI from this market, if the answers no, then we won't port to a particular system or platform - it's just no economical to do so.

Like MM, we ported over to MAC a while ago (big market, relatively, for DSE H&S software), but as a rule, we rarely come across Linux for end users...thank Redmond for it's all conquering methodology!

Simon

Mixmeister has a mac version at this moment.
MacOS is based on BSD so porting from BSD to linux is not so far away as windows to Mac in the first place.

How many customers has mixmeister?
Keep in mind that , including myself where sticking to windows just to be able to use mixmeister so used dual boot.

Ah, forget it, as sualual with linux, it just takes more time but sure the linux solution will come.

I am using dual boot setup ( Windows 7, and Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala) too. Since there are programs only available under Windows, we cannot say goodbye to Microsoft.