In my CAD class, the instructor requires explicitly AutoCAD because “that’s the industry standard.” As we know, AutoDork are a bunch pricks who refuses to get up from Microslop’s lap, so I am in a tight spot rn. Should I use a VM to run or would ACAD Web do the trick? Honestly, I can even try to push my luck with another CAD program that supports .dwg files.

Hi! I have used autocad since way back in the text entry box days. I have used linux for the same period of time and have used two dozen different cad packages many free/libre and a fair amount closed and for pay. If your school is teaching you how to use autocad, drown your principles and use autocad. The goal of going to school is to learn and you will have the easiest time understanding the lesson if you’re using the tool they are teaching you with. There is no value to making it harder on yourself. As other replies have stated: file support is gonna be hit or miss and when you start doing actual design work people are gonna expect you to be able to open their unique dwgs that have geometry breaking errors on everything but honest to god autocad. You might be able to get away with web or vdi or a vm, but my honest advice having used all of those in the past is to bite the bullet and dual boot or maintain a windows or mac system. You dont wanna find out that you’re beyond what remote, web or vm setups can do when it’s midnight the day before something is due. Just be normal.

You’re right, but dual booting screwed up my computer many times, so I’m trying to avoid it at all costs. I’d rather use the web version or work slowly on the VM than pray for not breaking things again. I’m planning to use an older version like 2017 since our instructor approved any version that works on Win10 or 11.

It may be worthwhile to switch to windows or buy another computer if you can afford it. There’s a super cheap and decent mac option for students if you can scrounge up $500. If your present computer can handle the workload you could even put windows on it for school and use a $100 old laptop to run linux for your personal stuff.

The problem is $100 dollars is too much money here, ~5000 bucks. If I buy that I won’t be able to afford my bills. Switching back to Win10 if all else fails sounds way more affordable.