How to Run Balsamiq Wireframes on Linux

Instructions on how to run Balsamiq Wireframes on Linux, using Wine and Lutris.

UPDATE: The Lutris installer seems broken

At the moment the lutris installer seems broken, please try the following workaround:

1. install flatpak + repositories https://flatpak.org/setup/

2. install bottles from flatpak repo

3. download balsamiq wireframes setup.exe, create a new "bottle" with caffe-72 runner (different runners have problems) and install it "for all users"

4. in case of graphic problems disable DXVK and VKD3D into bottle preferences

PREREQUISITES

• a mainstream Linux distribution (Ubuntu / Debian / Fedora / Mint), with curl, wine and wine32.
• lutris - Lutris makes it easy to install wine-powered applications. You can download Lutris or look at the installation instructions on Github.

INSTALLING BALSAMIQ WIREFRAMES

1. (for lutris 5.8 and following versions) please launch lutris -i "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/balsamiq/balsamiq-wireframes-linux/master/balsamiq-wireframes-installer.json"
2. (for lutris version < 5.8) download and launch the installer with wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/balsamiq/balsamiq-wireframes-linux/master/bw.yml -O /tmp/bw.yml && lutris -i /tmp/bw.yml
3. follow the steps in the Lutris wizard, and voila'!

LAUNCHING BALSAMIQ WIREFRAMES

Simply launch the app from your application or desktop shortcut shortcut, or from the Lutris panel.

CURRENT LIMITATIONS

• At the moment the app cannot be used to edit projects hosted on Balsamiq Cloud. You'll have to use a browser instead.
• At the moment export pdf doesn't work if some UTF-8 fonts are present (like emojis and some asian fonts)

If you manage to fix these issues before we do, PRs are welcome! :)