50
Self-hosting paradox: Windows for specifically MS word
(lemmy.world)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
50 points (98.1% liked)
Selfhosted
61790 readers
561 users here now
A place to share alternatives to popular online services that can be self-hosted without giving up privacy or locking you into a service you don't control.
Rules:
-
Be civil.
-
No spam.
-
Posts are to be related to self-hosting.
-
Don't duplicate the full text of your blog or readme if you're providing a link.
-
Submission headline should match the article title.
-
No trolling.
-
Promotion posts require active participation, with an account that is at least 30 days old. F/LOSS without a paywall has exceptions, with requirements. See the rules link for details. Tags [CBH] or [AIP] are required, see the links in Rule 8 for details.
-
AI-related discussions and AI-involved promotional posts have additional requirements for tagging, as noted in Rule 7 and the AI & Promotional Post Expanded Rules post, and find example disclosures here.
Resources:
- selfh.st Newsletter and index of selfhosted software and apps
- awesome-selfhosted software
- awesome-sysadmin resources
- Self-Hosted Podcast from Jupiter Broadcasting
Any issues on the community? Report it using the report flag.
Questions? DM the mods!
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Working in Remote Desktop for an extended amount of time is no fun. It’s possible, but you need the right version of windows and office to do that.
I wouldn’t want to rely on complex solutions like that for an essential for work. Now you have to administrate your local computer and the remote server. You also rely on a bunch of things going right to be able to use it from on the go: Internet connection on the go that doesn’t filter Remote Desktop, Home Internet connection, proxmox configuration and updates being okay. If you want to add a VPN on top, you get more possible failure points
So run a windows VM directly on your Linux machine. No need to make it more complicated. At least then you don’t depend on a working internet connection.
Alternatively try to run MS Word using WINE on Linux. This might work or break randomly.
If you don’t want to buy a license for office or windows use these scripts.
You really seem to need MS Office. It’s not necessary to make your life harder by building complex solutions. Run windows if it makes your life easier.
Other alternative: buy an Apple device and run MS Office for Mac. That’s the only reliable way to use it without windows.
Adding on to this, if you will run your VM locally, try WinBoat.
It handles installing Windows for you, integrates the filesystem and uses RDP to show the app windows, so you can use them side-by-side your Linux apps instead of having to always look at the full Windows Desktop.
That looks very intriguing and useful. Thank you.