Want to run Windows applications on Linux? Yes, that’s possible. With WINE, you can use many Windows applications seamlessly on a Linux desktop. What about WINE? So, this article explains what WINE is about and how you can run Windows apps on Linux. So, let’s get started!
What’s WINE?
WINE is an open-source software project that allows you to run Windows applications on your Linux system. WINE is an acronym for “Wine Is Not an Emulator”. WINE transforms Windows API calls into POSIX calls unlike an emulator or virtual machine that simulates internal Windows logic. It removes the memory and performance penalties of any other methods. As a result, you become capable of integrating Windows apps into your Linux PC.
It functions as a compatibility layer between Windows apps and POSIX-based operating systems, such as BSD, Linux, and macOS. Is there any particular Windows application that’s holding you back from using Linux as your main operating system? WINE ends your worries. WINE has reinvented essential Windows libraries resulting in applications compiled for Windows running on Linux.
WINE doesn’t launch on its own. WINE is a backend application that gets put into action while a Windows application is launched. So, when you launch a Windows app installer, you get to interact with WINE for the first time.
Windows Apps Supported by WINE
You can check WINE Application Database to find out all applications that are supported by WINE. Currently, it has almost 24,000 supported apps rated with various statuses regarding how well they run on WINE. There are mainly five categories of ratings – Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Garbage.
The Platinum-rated apps run flawlessly with WINE. Gold-rated ones work well with WINE with some special configuration being done. Apps get a silver rating if they have minor issues. The Bronze-rated apps contain major issues. And the Garbage ones are simply incompatible with WINE.
Apart from the ratings, reviews, installation manual, the WINE version, and various other useful data have also been mentioned for every application. Of course, the WINE Application Database has been created based on users’ experiences, so you are welcome to try any application on your own and share what results you get.
Install WINE on Linux
Using your Linux distro’s repository, you can install WINE. On RHEL, Fedora, or CentOS Stream, use the following command to install WINE.
sudo dnf install wine
On Linux Mint, Elementary OS, and Debian, type:
sudo apt install wine
Getting Started with WINE
WINE makes use of a virtual drive_c as Windows apps use the drive_c. This virtual drive_c is known as Wineprefix. For this purpose, you need a Wineprefix. To create Wineprefix, go to your Linux terminal and type:
winecfg
The above command creates a Wineprefix and starts a configuration window for WINE. Just close that window for the time being, or you can change the options if you want. Next, locate the virtual drive_c at:
$HOME/.wine/c_drive
Install a Windows Application with WINE
Now, let’s take a Windows-compatible application and install it. TinyCAD is an open-source application that’s used in circuit designing. But, TinyCAD only runs on Windows. It incorporates some .NET elements as well.
First, download the TinyCAD installer. It should be a .exe file. Once the file is downloaded, double-click on it to launch. Select the “Open With Wine Windows Program Loader” option. Follow all instructions that appear on your screen. It’s best to choose the defaults. The WINE environment is self-contained and usually stays hidden in a drive_c directory. Once TinyCAD is installed, the app offers a launch. So, just go ahead and launch the application when you’re ready to test the app.
Launch Your Windows Application
Apart from the post-install launch, you launch a WINE application in a similar manner as you launch any other Linux application. You can use an Activities screen or an application menu or simply type the name of the application into a runner.
What If WINE Fails
Most of the applications run as expected. However, there are exceptions. If you face anything like that, wait for a few months to see if WINE’s dev team manages to make the desired changes. Else, you can reach out to a vendor like Codeweavers to check if they sell support for your application.
Conclusion
So, while using Linux if you require any Windows application for your work or hobby, you can readily do that with WINE. That’s how WINE reminds us just how flexible Linux is. And that’s a wrap! I hope you find this tutorial useful.
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