ChromeOS Linux Software

ChromeOS's ability to run Linux applications opens the door to being able to run thousands of free and commercial desktop applications. This section of the ChromeOS.Guide is designed to provide instructions on how to install and use some of the most popular Linux applications on your ChromeOS device. This section of the guide assumes that you have activated the ChromeOS Linux environment and have completed the initial setup.

Linux Alternatives to Commerical/Third-Party Software

Developers of many commercial and third-party applications are beginning to embrace the possibility of running their applications on Linux; however, there are several companies that have refused to port their software to Linux. Additionally, some developers have also refused to support ARM64-based ports of their software. This section will provide a list of alternatives to several popular applications that will work on ChromeOS and the steps to install the applications. Although a growing number of software vendors now offer Cloud-Based solutions, there are several benefits to using a local application, such as offline support and greater privacy.

Application Name	Category	Alternative
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics	GIMP
Maya/ZBrush	Graphics	Blender
Microsoft Office	Productivity	LibreOffice
Microsoft Visual Studio	Software Development	Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
Steam	Game Client	Valve Steam (Steam)