Linux Client

[Serneum]

There is a somewhat unofficial Linux client listed on the YNAB website. I say unofficial because it used Adobe AIR which is no longer being supported for Linux. Any chance the Steam version is being ported to Linux so I can use it on multiple computers/operating systems?

[RodeoClown]

Hi Serneum,
We used to provide an AIR file, which could be run on Linux, but we now provide an executable instead, and it is not Linux-compatible.

That said, some of our forum members have got YNAB running successfully under WINE, and you can find those instructions here: http://www.youneedabudget.com/forum/ynab-linux-f97/how-run-ynab-linux-using-wine-t16409.html

You'll need to use the trial version from our site to do this, but if you purchase on Steam, you can get the Activation key from the Windows or Mac version by clicking Help->About->Copy Activation Key, and you can then use that key in the Linux version.

Our license allows you to make one purchase and use that key for all the computers you use in your household (and your work computer if you need to access your budget from there too). You can see more details here: http://www.youneedabudget.com/support/article/install-ynab-on-multiple-computers

[Serneum]

Oh you actually answered a question I had emailed about earlier today: how to get my activation key. I guess my question still stands though as to whether or not there are any plans to make the Steam (or any other version) Linux-compatible without using the old AIR file or having to use WINE. It's just a curiosity thing but I think it would open your software up to more users as well.

Either way, I thank you for your quick response and the supplied resources.

EDIT:
And I should have read the first link before asking. It answered my question about intentions to support Ubuntu in any form. Thanks for the links.

[RodeoClown]

No worries.
At this stage we aren't planning on a Linux version (it's just too hard for us to support at the moment - this may change in the future, but not any time soon).

There's a fairly sizable contingent of our forum users using YNAB under WINE and we definitely aren't going to go out of our way to break anything on Linux, we just can't support it officially (although sometimes we do a little unofficially ;))

[ikt]

Throwing my number in the ring, if you're able to support Ubuntu (since something like 90% of linux desktops are ubuntu... and steam supports ubuntu as well) I would buy two copies and give them to people just because you support us.

[ATweetingBird]

Would you be willing to hire a dev (on the cheap) to port your software over? I'm sure someone would. Heck maybe they'd do it for free (or a free license or something).

[RodeoClown]

Porting it isn't the hard part - that would be pretty trivial to implement (I imagine we could have it running just fine within a day or so), the tricky thing is supporting Linux. Our customer support team just don't have the resources to deal with Linux-related issues (speaking from experience - we used to have an AIR file that could be run on Linux).

Also, now Adobe have stopped building AIR runtimes for Linux, we would be left in a position where we may not be able to roll out new features as they wouldn't be possible on Linux.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's the position we are in at the moment.

Cheers.

[Serneum]

Why not make it supported by the users? Plenty of programs do it nowadays, granted they are usually open-source

[RodeoClown]

That's kinda the issue :)
For now, we have a Linux sub-forum where a group of users have got it running via WINE.
We don't officially support it, but we definitely don't try to make things harder for them either.

[ATweetingBird]

Ursprungligen skrivet av RodeoClown:

That's kinda the issue :)
For now, we have a Linux sub-forum where a group of users have got it running via WINE.
We don't officially support it, but we definitely don't try to make things harder for them either.

I'm fairly certain MORE people would love to have it running natively -- no WINE needed. The problem with WINE is that you have to "get it running" vs "it is running." You could also offer paid support for Linux that comes built-in to the price. Maybe have a premium version that includes Linux, Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and Blackberry downloads w/ Linux support at a markup.

The point is there ARE options out there. I truly think the "If you build it, they will come" mentality applies here.

[RodeoClown]

We did build it, and they didn't come... which is why we dropped support for it.
Dealing with a single Linux-specific issue ended up costing us more in support time than we made on that sale. The current version already provides Windows, Mac and iPhone (lite) versions. The extra to pay for Linux support would push the cost per user into many hundreds of dollars, which NO ONE would want to pay for.

We know Linux users would rather have it running natively, but it's not really an option for us at the moment. The WINE method is definitely a workaround, but it does work for now. It is something we'll continue to look into, but we are a small team, and again, we just can't support Linux right now.

[ATweetingBird]

Ursprungligen skrivet av RodeoClown:

We did build it, and they didn't come... which is why we dropped support for it.
Dealing with a single Linux-specific issue ended up costing us more in support time than we me made on that sale. The current version already provides Windows, Mac and iPhone (lite) versions. The extra to pay for Linux support would push the cost per user into many hundreds of dollars, which NO ONE would want to pay for.

We know Linux users would rather have it running natively, but it's not really an option for us at the moment. The WINE method is definitely a workaround, but it does work for now. It is something we'll continue to look into, but we are a small team, and again, we just can't support Linux right now.

I understand. I do really like the software -- I hope to see it continue to expand and I intend to purchase additional versions.

[Serneum]

Ursprungligen skrivet av RodeoClown:

We did build it, and they didn't come... which is why we dropped support for it.
Dealing with a single Linux-specific issue ended up costing us more in support time than we me made on that sale. The current version already provides Windows, Mac and iPhone (lite) versions. The extra to pay for Linux support would push the cost per user into many hundreds of dollars, which NO ONE would want to pay for.

We know Linux users would rather have it running natively, but it's not really an option for us at the moment. The WINE method is definitely a workaround, but it does work for now. It is something we'll continue to look into, but we are a small team, and again, we just can't support Linux right now.

Definitely understandable. That being said, you are now on Steam and are exposed to more people more Linux users. I had never heard of the software before it hit Steam. I'd just like to reiterate that I love the software and it's actually helped me properly budget. I've never liked other similar software and YNAB changed my opinion of budgeting applications.

[Flamboyant Douchebaggery]

Not sure if it's been said, but you can offer an unsupported Linux version. Make sure the EULA makes it clear, that if they're installing the Linux version, there's no support. Us Linux users are bright folks. If someone can't get a Linux version running on Linux, well, they might be better off with the Windows version after all.

[RodeoClown]

Ursprungligen skrivet av Wacky Tobaccy:

Not sure if it's been said, but you can offer an unsupported Linux version. Make sure the EULA makes it clear, that if they're installing the Linux version, there's no support. Us Linux users are bright folks. If someone can't get a Linux version running on Linux, well, they might be better off with the Windows version after all.

That's kinda what we're doing. The problem is we are using native extensions as well, which would mean we'd need to write linux-specific ones, which we aren't in a position to do at the moment.

For now the WINE option is the best option we have available, I'm afraid :S

[teh_gh0d]

I hope this can help some fellow linux users.

I created a quick YouTube video demonstrating how easy it is to get YNAB working in Ubuntu.

All you need is the YNAB installation package and WINE. You can have it installed and running in less than 5 minutes.

http://youtu.be/uKoQiMgGc_I