I'd like to use a single Linux operating system on my personal computer and move away from Windows entirely. I don't regularly play Windows-only games with strict anti-cheat requirements, and I'm not heavily dependent on professional graphic-design software. Most of my design work is done on my phone or through Canva.
The two remaining requirements are proctoring software and Microsoft Office specifically—I'm not looking for replacements such as LibreOffice or OnlyOffice. Is there a reliable way to use both of these on Linux, or would I be better off keeping Windows or using another platform?
4 Answers
Proctoring software depends entirely on the school or testing provider. Ask them whether Linux is officially supported before switching. Browser-based systems may work, but some require specific operating-system features, and certain setups may work only under an X11 session rather than Wayland. You should test the exact exam platform in advance.
If Microsoft Office itself is a hard requirement, Linux may not be the best fit. The desktop versions generally aren’t reliably supported on Linux, especially with current activation and subscription systems. Your practical options are Microsoft 365 web apps, compatibility tools such as Wine with no guarantee of full functionality, or a different operating system.
There isn’t much benefit in switching completely if the two applications you still need are essential and unsupported. You could dual-boot Linux and Windows, keep Windows in a virtual machine, or use a separate Windows computer for exams and Office. Just verify that the proctoring software allows virtual machines before relying on that option.
Microsoft 365’s browser versions can handle creating and editing Office documents if that meets your needs. Otherwise, you’ll likely need Windows or macOS rather than Linux, since alternatives like LibreOffice and OnlyOffice don’t satisfy your requirement for Microsoft’s own applications.
I’m mainly trying to simplify my setup, so dual-booting or keeping another Windows machine feels less ideal. I’ll check with the testing provider first and see whether the web version of Office is sufficient.