How to use Windows software on Linux

If you are a Linux user and need to run some Windows applications, you may be wondering how to do it without having to install a dual boot system or virtual machine. Fortunately, there are some tools that can help you run software. Windows on Linux with minimal hassle and performance loss. In this publication of blog, we will present two of the most popular and reliable options: Wine and PlayOnLinux.

Wine is a free and open source compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows programs on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Wine stands for “Wine Is Not an Emulator,” which means that it does not emulate the Windows operating system, but instead translates Windows API calls into native Linux calls, thereby reducing overhead and improving speed. Wine supports thousands of Windows applications, from games to productivity software. You can check the Wine application database to see how well the program you want works with Wine.

To install Wine on Ubuntu, you can use the following commands in a terminal:

sudo dpkg –add-architecture i386

wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key

sudo apt-key add vinohq.key

sudo add-apt-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ focal main'

apt sudo update

sudo apt install –install-recommends winehq-stable

To install Wine on other Linux distributions, you can follow the instructions on the official Wine website.

After installing Wine, you can run a Windows executable file by right-clicking on it and choosing "Open with Windows Wine program loader." Alternatively, you can use the Wine command in a terminal, followed by the path to the executable file. For example:

wine /home/user/Downloads/setup.exe

Some Windows applications may require additional libraries or components to run correctly with Wine. You can use a tool called Winetricks to install them easily. Winetricks is a script that downloads and installs various redistributable runtime libraries and other components needed by some Windows applications. To install Winetricks on Ubuntu, you can use the following command:

sudo apt install Winetricks

To use Winetricks, you can run it from a terminal or from the application menu. You will see a graphical interface that will allow you to select which components you want to install. For example, if you want to install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0, you can select it from the list and click OK. Winetricks will download and install it for you.

PlayOnLinux is another free and open source tool that allows you to run Windows software on Linux. It is based on Wine, but provides a more user-friendly interface and some additional features. PlayOnLinux has a large collection of scripts that automate the installation and configuration of various Windows applications and games. You can browse the PlayOnLinux library and choose which program you want to install. PlayOnLinux will download the installer, create a separate Wine prefix for each app, and apply any necessary tweaks or patches to keep it running smoothly.

To install PlayOnLinux on Ubuntu, you can use the following commands in a terminal:

apt sudo update

sudo apt install playonlinux

To install PlayOnLinux on other Linux distributions, you can follow the instructions on the official PlayOnLinux website.

After installing PlayOnLinux, you can run it from the application menu or from a terminal. You will see a main window that shows your installed applications and allows you to add new ones. To install a new app, click the “Install” button and select a category from the left panel. You will see a list of apps available for that category. Click the one you want to install and follow the on-screen instructions. PlayOnLinux will guide you through the installation process and create a shortcut for your application in the main window.

You can also run your own Windows installation files with PlayOnLinux by clicking the “Install a non-included program” option at the bottom of the window. This will launch a wizard that will allow you to create a custom installation for any Windows program. You can choose which version and prefix of Wine to use, which components to install, and which settings to apply.

Both Wine and PlayOnLinux are powerful and versatile tools that can help you run Windows software on Linux without much trouble. However, they are not perfect and some apps may not work as expected or at all. You may encounter compatibility issues, bugs, crashes, or performance issues. Therefore, it is always advisable to check compatibility ratings and user reviews before installing any Windows program with Wine or PlayOnLinux. You may also need to modify some settings or try different versions of Wine to improve your experience.

Wine is a special software that allows you to run Windows applications on Linux. It doesn't create a virtual machine or emulate a processor like Qemu or Virtualbox, but it translates Windows API calls into Linux system calls. This way, Wine can run many Windows programs natively on Linux, without much overhead.

Wine has a long history that began 30 years ago, when Windows 3.1 was the dominant operating system. Wine's first project was a hobbyist's attempt to run a simple "Hello World" program and the classic game of Solitaire on Linux. When Windows 95 came out, Wine had to adapt to the new 32-bit API and made some notable progress, attracting the attention of Corel, who invested in Wine development for a year to port its popular Wordperfect suite to Linux.

However, the development of Wine suffered from fragmentation and commercialization, which alienated many open source contributors and slowed the project. Wine got a boost from Google in 2006, which used Wine as a compatibility layer for its Linux version of Picasa. Google helped the development of Wine by avoiding a full migration from Picasa to Linux.

I can provide a general understanding of how Wine works and some of the typical features and improvements that Wine developers work on. Wine is an open source compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on Unix-like operating systems such as Linux and macOS. Some common goals and improvements in wine development include:

1. **Improved Compatibility:** Wine developers are continually working to improve compatibility with a wider range of Windows applications and games. This involves addressing issues and errors that prevent specific software from running correctly.

2. **64-bit support:** Wine often aims to provide better support for running 64-bit Windows applications in a 64-bit environment. This may include advances in running 32-bit programs on a 64-bit host system without the need for additional 32-bit libraries.

3. **Library Support:** Wine can add or improve support for various Windows libraries that applications depend on. This helps make more Windows software usable on non-Windows platforms.

4. **User Interface:** Wine developers can work to improve the user interface and configuration options to make it easier for users to set up and run Windows applications.

5. **Windows Version Emulation:** Wine aims to emulate various Windows versions, such as Windows XP, Windows 7, etc. Improvements in emulation of newer versions of Windows, such as Windows 10 and 11, may be the focus of development efforts.

6. **Application Database (AppDB):** Wine maintains the Wine Application Database (AppDB), where users can check whether specific Windows applications or games are compatible with Wine and whether they require any configuration or special configuration.

If Wine 8 is released or is in development, it will likely bring more improvements in these areas. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Wine 8, I recommend visiting the official Wine website or community forums related to Wine development.