Lightworks Linux Alpha Planned For Next Month

Lightworks, the professional non-linear video editor that was open-sourced in mid-2010, is finally about to see its long-awaited Linux release.

In late 2010 we learned that Lightworks for Linux wouldn't come until late 2011 with their primary platform being Microsoft Windows. In September of last year we heard Lightworks for Linux was planning for a November release, but it ended up being delayed.

In June of this year we then heard Lightworks for Linux is almost ready for release, plus there was a video of the professional video editor running on Ubuntu Linux (that video is embedded below again for those who haven't seen it).

Today there's a new status update and it's not about another delay. Rather, the Lightworks development team has said in this forum thread, "We aim to have a Linux alpha build available on October 30th." Assuming they're still talking this year, we're only one month and a half away from seeing the much-anticipated Lightworks Linux Alpha.

On another positive note, also said in that thread was that the Lightworks experience on (Ubuntu) Linux should basically be the same as their primary Windows version. "Lightworks on Ubuntu is virtually indistinguishable from the Windows version. There are some subtle differences in the fonts, but the core experience is deliberately the same. We want the editing experience to be identical, regardless of what the operating system is."

Let's hope that Lightworks for Linux does indeed see a public alpha in October.