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Is it possible to create an OS that simply automatically runs .exe files through WINE/Proton/Bottles? (feddit.nl)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I really enjoy Linux but I find myself having to keep Windows partitions around for software that specifically requires Windows.

Proton makes everything easier by automatically running game files through a translation layer, and it "just works" quite well most of the time.

Also VanillaOS can apparently auto-spin a container when you try to open a .deb or AUR package (this is my rudimentary understanding).

Setting up WINE/Bottles, etc. is above my pay grade.

Is it not possible to create an OS that just does the same thing as Steam but for the entire OS?

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago (1 children)

As others pointed out already, most distros will ask you which program you want to use on a file the first time you double click on them, and you can tell it to always use the same program for all other similar files (just like windows btw)...the only difference with windows (regarding exe files) is that you need to have wine installed first (lots of distros have it preinstalled though). You can still do it later by right clicking (again, just the same as windows). I fail to see what's so complex about that.
You cant have the same expectation with Wine regarding any windows software vs Proton for games, games and softwares can be awfully different, that's why Wine can be a pain to use, and why it sometimes needs more fiddling for some soft than Proton does with games. Also some soft wont work on Wine period. Some softs will work just as simply as games on proton, some absolutely wont.
I am sure you are aware that windows softs are made for windows, so it is a bit odd to expect a different OS to handle exe files perfectly and make it an out of the box experience, it was never made for that. I have yet to see anyone complain about not being able to run any Apple exclusive app on windows, sure Linux has Wine and Proton, and that's cool... but some people don't use it. So yeah it won't be smooth and yeah it can get complicated, yet it's still better than nothing don't you think ?

I think all this should answer your post and your comment. Sorry if it sounds like I am scolding you, but to be plain your post is asking why an apple can't be an orange.

If you need any help with something and don't want unconstructive or vague answers it's better to be specific about your issues and to consider that one problem with an exe file (or anything really) won't be solved the same way as another. And if you don't get something just say it instead of accusing anyone offering advice of being cryptic or unhelpful snobs, you won't get far if you annoy everyone..just saying ;)

[+] [email protected] -3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Regarding Wine not working, if you feel overwhelmed with that and really need help, just make another post or edit this one and specify :

what Linux distro you are using
what windows software you'd like to run on Linux
what it is you are trying and failing to do exactly (as precisely as you can, you might get even better answers that way)

Otherwise you will get chaotic and vague answers that might not even apply to you. But frankly, some softwares you might still need windows for them, or you could find an alternative (if you can, if it exists alternativeto.net is your friend in that regard). It really depends on what you are using.

Also I get it can be bothersome to deal with and frustrating, but mostly this kind of stuff you configure it once and then it's done. So it might still be worth it.

[+] [email protected] -7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (1 children)

If that's your attitude, then I don't think this is going to work out.

Wine is not a company. People building and fixing Wine to support a specific piece of software are largely volunteers. Noone works at Wine. Noone does product support. It's a free service created by volunteers.

That's how most Linux software gets built. And none of these people owe you anything. No support, no easy to use config.

Frankly, you sound incredibly entitled and unwilling to listen and learn to everyone here who's tried to help you.

To answer your original question: there's no one global way to make Wine run all software out of the box. That's why Valve spends so much time tuning different setups of Wine for all the games they support. CodeWeavers to some extent does that for non game software.

Doing this for the wide variety of Windows software out there is an impossibly large task and frankly out of scope for what most Linux distributions have as a goal or intended use case. If you want to run Windows software on Linux, there are many different projects that try to package or help you install the most popular things. But other than that, you're free to try on your own.

[+] [email protected] -7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

So WINE was just imagined into existence? Or maybe it was a wizard with a magic spell?

GP is simply wrong on this one. While it is an open source project with a lot of volunteer involvement, there are companies like CodeWeavers and Valve which directly or indirectly contribute to development. You can get support from CodeWeavers AFAIK, but that means paying them.

Why do people get so uppity when I simply ask questions? I never claimed that anyone owed me anything. I never asked for anything.

Well you did ask for something, which is replies to your questions. And your reaction to those replies, whether intended or not, comes off as "uppity" as well. Hence the downvotes and hostility (not to say that I support that from either side of the conversation).

I am unwilling to learn.

Then why are you wasting peoples time with asking questions?

I’ve wasted hundreds of hours trying to learn to use Linux for basic tasks after everyone assured me it was “so easy” and not gotten anywhere. I’m done trying to learn.

Running software on an OS it wasn't made for is anything but a basic task. Try running various Linux software on Windows and you will see. If you want to run software made for Windows easily the way to do that is using the version of Windows it was created for.

What people mean by "basic tasks" is usually browsing and office, and there is Linux-native software for that.

Someone posted Zorin OS elsewhere, which appears to be exactly that.

Not really. It has deeper integration of Wine into the system by default, but it is still a Linux OS running a compatibility layer for Windows software. This will not save you if you are unwilling to learn, there will still be various problems. Some software will simply not work, or only partially work, or require additional configuration to work.

In summary, if your definition of "basic tasks" is running arbitrary Windows software then doing it on Windows is the way to go.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I am unwilling to learn.

This is the only thing you've said that matters. Nobody should ever make any effort to help you, because you expect to spoonfed like a baby.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Linux users are gems lmao. Take a look at yourself

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

¯_(ツ)_/¯ Well if you say so... Good luck !