Quicken for Linux (Yes... again)

mbuhmann · February 5

I know this has been suggested over the years and that based on the statistics here, which is very narrow in my opinion, there isn't much interest in a Linux version of Quicken (Classic). I disagree… just because it's not discussed much here doesn't mean there isn't interest. That said, I understand the cost associated with porting or re-writing the code for Linux distros. While it's possible to get Quicken running with Wine, it would be nice to have something more accessible for those not that aren't tech savvy. Here's my proposal: Proton.

Proton is a fork of Wine by Valve to allow Windows games to be played on Linux and, so far, it works flawlessly with everything I throw at it. I suspect Quicken is a lot less intensive than a game, so I think using Proton to make a version of Quicken work with Linux is much more feasible cost-wise as well as the amount of manpower needed.

Chris_QPW · February 5

That said, I understand the cost associated with porting or re-writing the code for Linux distros.

I don't think you do in this case. And I don't think Quicken Inc has the resources to do it even if there were enough interest in it, which I do doubt.

Quicken Windows database is old, probably on the order of at least 30 years old. And I doubt it very well separated from the rest of the functionality of Quicken. To go to any other operating system the database would have to be replaced, that would amount to pretty much rewriting Quicken Windows from scratch. That isn't something that Quicken Inc a company of about 200 total employees can handle at the same time supporting Quicken Windows, Quicken Mac, and Simplifi.

And I wouldn't be surprised to find other libraries used in Quicken Windows that are just about as old and unsupported.

When I look at parts of Quicken Windows like the Tax Planner and the Business forms that are still using Internet Explorer APIs to display web pages, and to connect to the Internet for downloading transactions, it is pretty clear that they have their hands full just trying to keep it all together.

mbuhmann · February 6

It appears you didn't even bother to read my post fully, and instead just assumed I'm asking for a full conversion. Go back and read what wrote instead of defending 30 year old code and saying "it can't be done." As an aside, if it's that old, then perhaps it's time for a full rewrite anyway.

Chris_QPW · February 6

I'm sorry, I did read your full post, but didn't understand how Proton worked.

But from the description I just read it requires the user to install it and select and then run whichever Windows program you want, basically like you said, like Wine.

What I fail to see, is how Quicken Inc is involved in this if this something that the Linux user can already do.

And as for a full rewrite. I'm sure that would please everyone involved if it was possible but Quicken Inc doesn't have the resources to do it. Intuit started a full rewrite of Quicken Mac in 2006, and that is a project that isn't "finished" to this day.

mbuhmann · February 8

Because while Wine works it is not as easy as Steams "check this box" and boom… it works. And Proton isn't really Wine but quite a bit more advanced. A lot of games play fine in Proton while they don't in Wine. How I could see Quicken for Linux working is this: a small install script that does whatever voodoo Proton does to make Windows programs play nice, and then Quivcken for Windows installs. That's it. I don't think it would be super resource intensive on Quickens part to make this happen. I'm sure they could dedicate one or two people of the 200+ you say they employee to this.

As an aside, I think 200+ employees time is much better spend upgrading 30 year old code vs customer support. If the code is updated and streamlined then customer support may not be as intensive.

Regardless, my Linux suggestion is just that: a suggestion. I hope Quicken at least looks into Proton as a possible option to open the door for another platform, but if they don't then they don't.

Chris_QPW · February 8

Thanks that was helpful to it up for me.

Rob Barker · February 19

I just set it up this week with Wine on Ubuntu and while it was tricky, I have it working (I'm going to try to reproduce exactly what I did and document it on WineHQ) and while it has a couple of quirks it seems to be working and to be honest… is seems faster which is weird.

joec319 · May 5

So I tried installing Quicken for Windows through Steam/Proton but nothing happened. I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to using Proton/Steam in Linux to install Windows programs, but I'm trying to learn more about how to do this. It was the install file that I tried running with Proton. Is that the correct way of doing it, or am I supposed to install it with Wine and then run the program after installation through Proton?

IF Quicken isn't willing to either mod or create a Linux version, perhaps Quicken could provide suggestions (or various methods) of how Quicken could be installed on Linux.

Thanks!

AstrosFan1 · May 14

I would also like to use Quicken on Linux but my preference would be to just use it as a web app because then it would not matter which OS (Windows, Linux, Mac) you use. The problem is that if I switch to Quicken Online then I cannot reconcile ALL of my accounts, which is the main reason that I use Quicken at all. According to

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7937809/how-to-do-a-reconcile-on-quicken-web

it says:

Also please note that Quicken on the Web will let you reconcile regular banking accounts but does not support reconciling investment accounts. To reconcile an investment account, you would need to use the Quicken program installed on your Mac desktop or laptop.

I know this is unrelated to using Quicken on Linux but has anyone been able to reconcile credit card accounts using Quicken Online?

Lupus · July 15

Well, it's time I look for a Linux option. I'm not moving to Windows 11. I am not willing to pay to be a product. I'll be canceling my subscription or at least not renewing it. It's a shame really. Quicken was a good product once.

StratixMan · July 17

Hi, I Have been a quicken user since the mid 80s (Dos and 3.5 discs) and moved to lInux mid nineties. Classic Desktop Quicken runs perfectly on "Codeweavers - CrossOver Office". As someone else has noted - for whatever geeky reason it has always run faster and more reliably on LinuxMint/Crossover Office. Setting up on CrossOver is really simple, after installing Crossover (dead easy), get the quicken.exe file onto the desktop open crossover tell it to set up a windows bottle and select install, point it at the quicken.exe file and sit back. (just position the install dialogue boxes so they dont cover up the native Quicken install Yes/No dialogue box). Job done.

jtemplin · July 17

"As an aside, if it's that old, then perhaps it's time for a full rewrite anyway."

I can tell you've never run a software development organization. A full rewrite? Nope. Not going to happen. Prohibitively costly, would take years, and desktop software isn't the future anyway. Web-based software like Simplifi and others that work on any platform in a browser is the long-term trend.

Even if Quicken Inc. made mods or suggestions for linux, then they'd have to begin supporting that platform. For what? About 5% of the overall PC market share? Nope. Not adequate return on the training investment.

"As an aside, I think 200+ employees time is much better spend upgrading 30 year old code vs customer support. If the code is updated and streamlined then customer support may not be as intensive."

You're comparing apples to oranges. Support and marketing folks can't just be turned into software engineers. (And no, AI isn't good enough yet). Maybe more modern code would relieve some of the support burden, but as I said above, that takes years and lots of investment to get there.

There is a strong incentive for software companies to add new features to generate new sales rather than fix old code which is less bang-for-buck. Under the hood infrastructure changes aren't as sexy.

The most reliable way to run Quicken remains a Windows VM or an inexpensive mini PC running Windows. Personally, I don't see either of those as an awful solution if you really want to run Quicken.

Chris_QPW · July 17

The way I see it Linux is a can of worms that Quicken Inc doesn’t want to open. And the very fact that they have marked this idea “not on the road map” after so few votes tells me I’m correct.

I hate burst your bubble, but Desktop Linux is never going to be mainstream, and worth Quicken Inc’s time.

In fact one can argue that Desktop “anything” days are numbered.

A much better use of their time would be to build up Simpifi, which can be used on any platform.

dgluss · October 31

We've been running Quicken 98 for, well, 27 years, using Wine on Linux. Any time during those years a Linux port, or an opportunity to help with a Linux port, would have been welcome. Patti and I would certainly pay for the features of modern Quicken if it were on Linux. But clearly that will never happen.

I discovered that the password requirements for this community (exactly one number??) make it so that Google "strong" passwords don't work. Part of me thinks that whoever made that decision was symptomatic of Intuit's introverted policies, and it wasn't that way when the company was starting out.

Quicken for Linux (Yes... again)

Not Planned · Last Updated February 6

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