Linux support for xBim

[GVladislavG]

Hello, xBim team!

Do you plan to release Linux support for xBim SDK? And when if you do?

Thanks!

[andyward]

xbim Essentials should run under Linux today so you can read and write IFC. You won't be able to use xbim.IO.Esent as the IModel store since Esent is Windows only tech. (We do have a private Sqlite implementation that is 'drop in' for Esent)

Where things get more complex is with Geometry. i.e. if you want to visualise the models. Because we use CLI to interop with the native C++ OpenCascade libraries, realistically to support Linux (or MacOS) we need one of three things to happen:

1. Microsoft to support C++/CLI in a multi-targeting C++ compiler. See https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/NetCore-CCLI-for-Linux-and-MacOS/873014 or
2. Someone to Implement P/Invoke marshalling for all OpenCascade Geometry operations. (which would probably be a massive effort without some clever shortcut)
3. Migrate to a .net native geometry kernel

The real issue with the latter two is there's no great compelling financial case to spend the time doing that work. But if someone wants to take it on, be my guest!