OU FirstClass Client on Linux

By Liam Green-Hughes, 24 October, 2007
Tags/Keywords
openuniversity
kubuntu
linux
ubuntu
wine
api
firstclass

Kubuntu 7.10 now includes WINE in the 64 bit version, a very welcome addition. WINE is a project to implement the Windows API in Linux, meaning that many Windows programs can run at native speeds on Linux. This is not an emulator, so memory and resource usage tends to be lighter.

Anxious to give this a go, I had a look at installing the OU FirstClass Client, a kind of groupware program for windows that handles conferencing and email messaging. This turned out to be very easy, in fact all I had to do was right click on the installer and select "Open With WINE" or words to that effect, and follow the wizard.

Screenshot of FirstClass under WINE

It seems to work pretty well, they may be problems but I have not found them yet. If you try this and find issues, feel free to post a comment of your experiences.

*** UPDATE ***

There is a native Linux version of FirstClass, check out Jo Badge's write up of how to get it working here:
http://drbadgr.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/first-class-eeepc/

She describes the process in relation to an Asus EEE PC - but the process should be very similar for other 32 bit Debian-based distributions (e.g. Ubuntu 32bit).

 

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I don't know if you know this already, but there is a native linux client for firstclass. I'm just starting OU, and as yet my applications disk hasn't arrived (though the rest of the course has) so I can't compare performance but the native client passes for me.

bray (not verified)

14 years 6 months ago

The linux version of first class can be installed on 64bit. You need to use dpkg -i --force-architecture and a variety of 32 bit libs must be installed, e.g, ia32-libs. Under Ubuntu the program getlibs posted in the 64 bit Ubuntu forums is useful in finding and installing the necessary libs.

Chris (not verified)

13 years 4 months ago

By now there is a 9.124 version of FC for linux. I get it unpacked but don't know how to go on from there. Can't find the files......

Anonymous (not verified)

14 years 2 months ago

My school just stopped supporting 8.3...
so i can't use the linux version...

I can't get the First Class Windows 9.1 version to work...

We have a number of versions of FirstClass and other OU software now working under Ubuntu Linux 8.04 (Hardy Heron) including First Class Client and Personal 8.326 running under Wine and also the FC 8.326 Native Linux once we found out about it on your blog. You have a lot of useful information.

We also have the eTMA File Handler working and have also got a long way with opening files using native Linux programs from within Wine so Document Files can be opened from the file handler (.doc, .rtf .odt .xls .ods .ppt .odp .pdf and .zip so far)

We have also cracked including ticks in marking by adding Wingding fonts to Linux/OpenOffice which students can see in Windows systems.

A [draft] web page covering all this is at http://www.pcurtis.com/ouopen.htm

We are also interested to see you have about Bletchley Park in the sidebar, we are in the process of passing them some kit including one of the early Nascoms

Anonymous (not verified)

12 years 1 month ago

New computer with windows 7 .... can't download first class and open it. Seems to download but won't unzip .... i've tried several unzip programs but none work. Do I download Linus ... i was told version 10 .... regardless it won't work
Solutions please

Anonymous (not verified)

12 years 1 month ago

New computer with windows 7 .... can't download first class and open it. Seems to download but won't unzip .... i've tried several unzip programs but none work. Do I download Linus ... i was told version 10 .... regardless it won't work
Solutions please