Is it a good idea to use OpenFoam on a Mac (OS 10.7.5) or on Windows7?
 

I am primarily a Mac user (OS 10.7.5). However, I also work with Windows by using Parallels Desktop to run Windows7 (32 bit).

I want to start using OpenFoam. I would prefer to avoid Linux and see from a quick search that there are ways to run OpenFoam on Windows and Mac.

My question is, what do people think of avoiding the Linux version? I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with Linux--it is just that I have limited time and would prefer to use what I'm used to...

Do the Mac and/or Windows alternatives offer the same functionality as the Linux version? Are they easy to install and get? If it would be a good idea to use Windows or Mac versions, could anyone recommend a particular version?

I won't be running huge simulations. I'm mostly interested in doing some two-phase (gas and liquid) 2-D simulations. Thanks a lot for any advice!

My two cents:

I run OpenFOAM on Mac OS X 10.7 and it works great for me (I don't know of any lost functionality).

The installation is not that difficult if you have a bit of terminal experience.

I believe you will get better performance running OpenFOAM natively on your Mac than in a virtual machine of Windows.

Philip

No lost functionality? You compiled the PV3Reader/paraFoam too? Could you share the steps with us on http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Ho...using_ParaView ?

Full agree

OK good point, I have never compiled the PV3Reader. I instead use the ParaView binary built-in reader which works very nicely so I didn't consider this as lost functionality (but I have never used PV3Reader so I am not sure of it's functionality).


Philip

I thought so ;)

Compiled it some time ago (1.6 or so). But you've got to build Paraview from source and I don't bother to do that anymore. The built in reader is good enough (in some respects better, in some worse)