- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
- cross-posted to:
- linux@programming.dev
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The developer explains it should run basically everything unless “it requires strong GPU acceleration or kernel-level anticheat”.
That is a lot of use cases people have for Windows only applications.
I imagine this is more for productivity apps, where gamers are going to use proton or wine.
Sure, but many of those use GPUs as well. Consider things like CAD, photo or video editing. And “office suite” things tend to have Linux-friendly alternatives or are usable through web browsers. I’m sure there will be some niche applications this would be usable for but honestly I can’t think of… any.
I can think of one: Excel Macros. If this had come out before May 2022, it would have saved me from needing to dual boot for a single assignment where I needed to do data analysis using Excel just two months after switching to Linux. It was literally around 2 hours of work, or less, and the entire dual boot setup took a similar time.
A lot of music production software doesn’t rely on GPU acceleration. There’s also proprietary bullshit like software that controls specific hardware, like GPU control software, MIDI devices and other random devices like things for RGB control or printers. Oh yeah, and tax software, to do taxes and whatnot, most of them are windows or mac exclusive, so that would come in handy too. I used to run a full-fat windows VM for things like these, but winboat might actually be a more tidy solution.
There’s plenty of examples of software that either will never be created on linux or proprietary bullshit that devs simply can’t be bothered to reverse engineer for linux.
Isn’t wine meant for non-gaming apps too?
It is, but most modern software doesn’t work at all in Wine. I have 2 apps (Paint.net, and SketchUp Make 2017) which don’t have any real alternatives (or they suck) for Linux and they don’t work in Wine.
Instead of running compatibility layers, it runs a real copy of Windows using Docker and KVM under the hood.
I take it that it requires a Windows license then, I’ll stick with wine.
You can always just not activate windows. Nothing is stopping you from using it that way.
Unless you somehow use it commercially. Then the missing license could cause legal issues.
Sure, but if your company is at that point then the $200 is a drop in the bucket. You’ve gotta be a pretty big company before MS notices.
I’m assuming it’s using the dockur/windows image* the same as WinApps, which seems to be pre-registered ime.
it runs a real copy of Windows
then just run windows; at that point if you’re going to buy a license for windows, why go through hoops?
So now suddenly us lemmy linux tech nerds forgot about mass…🙄.
Unless that isn’t possible to run, then correct me pls
Didn’t we already have this same thing with a different name? https://github.com/winapps-org/winapps
I’ve tried both. WinBoat is on a whole different level of easy. You just download it, click next about 3 times and you have a working Windows VM providing Windows apps that run alongside your native linux apps.
It doesn’t get any easier than this.
Wait it does that using a VM? So even apps otherwise not compatible linux will work?
Fusion is about the only thing keeping me on windowsAutocad Fusion 360 ? Forget about it. Winboat doesn’t support GPU passthrough yet, so it will run sluggish as hell.
You either…
- wait for WinBoat to support it (if it ever does)
- learn how to virtualize and do GPU passthrough on your own
- switch to freecad which is very powerful
Check out this comparison of Free and vs OnShape:
From their FAQ
With WinApps you do the bulk of the setup manually, and there’s no cohesive interface to bring it all together. There’s a basic TUI, a taskbar widget, and some CLI commands for you to play with.
WinBoat does all the setup once you have the pre-requisites installed, displays everything worth seeing in a neat interface for you, and acts like a complete experience. No need to mess with configuration files, no need to memorize a dozen CLI commands, it just works.
