this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
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I had to test/fix something at work and I set up a Windows VM because it was a bug specific to Windows users. Once I was done, I thought, “Maybe I should keep this VM for something.” but I couldn’t think of anything that wasn’t a game (which probably wouldn’t work well in a VM anyway) or some super specific enterprise software I don’t really use.

I also am more familiar with the Apple ecosystem than the Microsoft one so maybe I’m just oblivious to what’s out there. Does anyone out there dual boot or use a VM for a non-game, non-niche industry Windows exclusive program?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

notepad++ with textfx edit, textfx tools, and hex editor. I've tried a lot of other things and it is still my favorite.
I don't actually use it for coding, but I often have to futz with files received from customers/QA or test data that I create.

I have mac for work and have been mostly hating BBedit. I keep meaning to try Cate and I guess the folks that made Atom just released something new.

Edit: just remembered: I did try Cate but had really weird UI issues using any dark themes (menus, etc. all became unreadable) and gave up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah. I use quite a few windows exclusive programs. I know it is a long list but can't be helped. Good support and stability beats ideology and these apps provide me that. Here is the list:

I hope this list is helpful to others as well ☺️

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

I run Scrivener, which is a writing software that's only for Mac & Windows (well, there is a Linux version but it's ancient), but I just run that through Wine rather than a VM. That's about the only thing I haven't found a good equivalent for on Linux though.

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

I've been a Linux user for a long time. I started to use a lot of open source free software alternatives because of this, and most of them had Windows binaries.

But I always had a dual boot system only for gaming purposes.

So... I can't think of any software other than games that's educated la Windows only.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I use an old copy of Photoshop CS5 via VMWare and Windows 10 installed in it. Unfortunately the Gimp doesn't have adjustment layers and the Selective Color feature. I can't live without these two features, I need them on each and every scan of my paintings to fix colors.

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

I have a Windows computer in the basement to run one program: The virtual cycling platform Zwift.

But someone made a docker image for it, so even that is tenuous. I fired it up on the Linux system I'm typing this on, and it worked fine.

I'm not very familiar with Docker and the like, though. What if the person that created it decides he's no longer interested in maintaining it?

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

Don't worry. The chances of zwift having major updates and breaking anything is small.

I'm mostly joking, but they've been around for a decade and not a ton of progress to show for it

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

They broke the coffee break with last week's update.... Sigh.

Overall I really like zwift, but sometimes I just want to slap them. Like the newer teleport feature for the robopacers. Great idea. But if you look at the menu in the app, the groups are highest power to lowest power, but then within the groups, it's low to high. What were they thinking?!

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

For work I heavily rely on the Adobe creative suite (Photoshop and Premiere Pro specifically). I maintain Linux servers (and develop for them) and maintain Linux desktops at both home and for work, but the lack of any alternatives to Photoshop specifically has resulted in me still daily driving Windows (VMs really hamper workflow with regards to GPU passthrough and although I've successfully set up Looking Glass on my workstation in the past, running 2 gpus isn't practical). Yes I've tried the alternatives and while Premiere Pro has usable alternatives, Photoshop does not. GIMP is incredible given that it is FOSS but the UI and feature set is almost unusable (for me at least).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I found photoGIMP helped a bit on the UI aspect, but it still does have a lot of weird quirks that are just easier on photoshop

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

thanks, I'll check out photoGIMP. been trying desperately to make GIMP work as I wanna ditch Windows before they stop supporting 10, sooner if I can. I made the switch on everything else already.

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

I have a Windows VM that runs Visual Studio and a small number of developer tools so I can test my code on Windows. And another windows VM that runs Daz3D, Clip Studio Paint and the Epic Launcher (to download stuff from the Unreal Engine Marketplace).

Sometimes I misuse either VM by creating a snapshot and installing Garmin Connect so I can update the music library on my watch :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

QFIL aka Qualcomm Flash Image Loader but only because the rooting of my XR headset (Lynx) https://lynx.miraheze.org/wiki/Rooting_Process relies on it.

I've done it successfully so now I understand a bit better how it works. I could try to use instead https://github.com/bkerler/edl which looks even more complete and reproducible.

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

I use Scrivener for writing. Aside from one or two minor display bugs, it works great on WINE. Switch the UI to GNOME’s Cantrell font and it blends in fairly nicely.

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

Anyone using ReactOS for this?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

yes, but I don't use VMs or dual boot. I've been able to get everything I need working in Wine, which is a lot more seamless

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

SketchUp. Can't get it to work on Wine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I haven't been able to get Vectric Aspire to work yet, even under wine. It's used to layout tool paths for CNC operations, so it may be a little on the niche side, but it's pretty popular there.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Xbox app for game pass. But i would cancel that if i didnt also needed windows for Sunshine streaming. Linux REFUSES with everything its got, to make hardware acceleration work.

Oh and geforce now, which is still since release broken on linux when using hardware acceleration since colors close to black are just black. So darker games do not work.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

The only reason I have windows is to test apps that I write.

The apps are cross platform. I use it in Linux. But I also have users in Windows, so I just fire up a windows VM for testing releases. Thats it.

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

PKHex, but it runs OK in wine. Little buggy but servicable.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Current releases of AutoCAD, Revit and Solidworks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

MusicBee, Stardock Fences, obligatory Adobe mention, all VR everything (unless something has changed recently, I haven't looked in while).

[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago

confused noises

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I wonder what the state of wsl on wine is

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

... wine on wsl on wine

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

There are some programs I still use that are designed for Windows, but use cases are "niche" or at very least specialized:

  1. Guitar Pro 8 - Guitar Tab software

  2. Line 6 HX Edit - Helix Settings Editor

  3. Line 6 Powercab Edit - Amp Settings Editoe

  4. Line 6 Updater - Firmware Updater for Line 6 Products

  5. Steelseries GG - Configuration Software for Steelseries Peripherals

  6. Numerous VSTs and other Audio Plugins


These are just what I remember I use off the top of my head.

I do use Guitar Pro 8 with Wine, but the others won't work through Wine. I did try to use the others with a Windows KVM through QEMU but I ultimately gave up and left one windows workstation because of my issues with my Nvidia RTX 3090.

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