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?
I’ll quote your first reply verbatim:
That is coming into the conversation with hostility. You generalize a population (Linux users), insult them, and then complain about their comment by implying it isn’t helpful. The solution to this is to simply ask something like “Okay, how do I do this?” and not start your reply with what is essentially “You Linux users are never helpful, tell me how to do it instead of just suggesting an option”.
Need I repeat? Here’s the generalizing insult:
Perhaps you fail to grasp how this is an insult, so let me elaborate (because clearly you’ll get mad and whine that I didn’t elaborate if I don’t). You open with a generalizing statement that implies that all Linux users are unhelpful. You imply that the solutions they give are all, in your own words, “ridiculously complicated”, and you impolitely demand that they explain further. Any normal person who has any respect for other people would politely ask them to explain in more detail; it’s as simple as that. If you don’t think that it answers your question, either don’t reply at all, or reply by saying politely that you don’t think this is a solution, and why.
They actually provide a trivially easy solution to exactly what you’re asking. All you do is install the base WINE package from your software repository like any other app, and then right click on the .exe and run in WINE. It will be saved as a default action, so any .exe you click on past that point will automatically open in WINE. You asked if it was possible to create an OS so that all .exe files automatically open in WINE, and that’s the solution; yes it is possible and here’s how, essentially. Most mainstream OSs don’t do this by default, as WINE is not a default package since you’re expected to run applications designed for your distro, not ones packaged for Windows. ZorinOS does this by default, so yes it is possible to create one, or you can convert your existing OS to do exactly this by simply installing WINE (no configuration needed, just install from your app store or package manager), as the user suggested. WINE will automatically manage the installs and add entries to your application manager so you can run applications installed in WINE like any other program in your machine. If you’re using an installer, it will add the entry after installation, but if you’re using portable .exe files, you will just double click on them (or single click if you use one of those distros that uses single click instead of double click to open a file). You just need to make sure that you give permission to the file to be executable (right click and go to properties or permissions depending on your file manager, then tick the box that suggests allowing the file to be executable). For most people, having WINE installed by default is just needless bloat, which is again why you don’t see it installed as a default package in almost any distro.
This is so childish and unnecessary that it doesn’t even warrant a response.
Then answer it. If you’re going to ask for help here, you should show an ounce of respect to the people here who are trying to help you. You clearly aren’t going to be popular in this community if all you do is insult everyone else in it.
Then you better change your attitude. If you’re going to treat the people helping you here like shit, no one will want to help you. Or you could just figure things out on your own somewhere else.
Ah, the classic gaslighting. You know that doesn’t work when we can see your previous comments, right? Or are you delusional? Are you so paranoid that everyone is out to get you that you’re incapable of recognizing that you’re the one creating this problem?
I don’t see the analogy here. Your post asks if it’s possible to create an OS that runs .exe files through WINE like how Steam lets you run games through Proton. The user replied saying that WINE does this by default, and adds entries into your application shortcuts so you can run then like any other program. That’s how Steam does it with games, too. How is that not a solution? They answered your question exactly.
Sorry, but I throw politeness out the window when I’m conversing with people who are disrespectful and insulting to the community I’m a part of. You met us with aggression, you shouldn’t expect anything but the same from our replies. I’m not going to be polite and reserved with someone who clearly won’t reciprocate it. If you want polite discourse, don’t open up by generalizing and insulting the entire community that you’re posting to.
I do not need you to quote my own comments back to me.
Still lying, I see. None of that happened. You just fabricated all of it. I don’t know why, it’s there for everyone to see, you’re only embarrassing yourself.
No. We didn’t need it the first time and we don’t need it again. Need you go away.
Another lie. That is very clearly not what I asked for. You even said yourself already that it’s not right here:
Yes, there is. Several, in fact, as many others have actually helpfully pointed out at this point.
And even if there weren’t, the answer would be a simple “no” or just continue scrolling and let the more-knowledgeable contributors answer instead of this needless and unwarranted attack on someone for asking a question.
More lies. Never happened. At no point did I ask for, “demand” or even want an explanation, and even after I’ve stated this several times here you are STILL trying to explain and put this forward as a solution. Get it through your head: I am not interested. Never was interested. I asked for something specific. If you don’t have it, keep scrolling.
I have shown respect to the people who helped me. Several of you have decided you don’t want to be helpful but instead choose to deride and insult me because I don’t want to do it your way, as if I don’t deserve it unless I’ve spent dozens of hours trying to make it work.
Ah yes, the classic “accuse other people of the things I’m doing” strategy.
I don’t understand how you can take the time to write this out without understanding that it’s not what I’m asking for.
In fact you already spelled out all of the additional configurations required to make this “kinda work” without understanding that I’m not interested in that shit.
And yet you are incapable of understanding why I’m not being polite anymore.
Your question in the post is the following:
The user specified a way to do that, implying that it is indeed possible to do it. They answered your question by providing the solution to how one would do about creating an OS that does that: include the WINE package, as it does that automatically.
First off, I corrected that segment a couple minutes after posting that reply (feel free to check the edit timestamp) as I was doing my initial read-over. You’re replying to a part of a comment that no longer exists, and didn’t exist at the time of your reply. Feel free to reply to the corrected section that was available to you at the time you posted your comment, not that I expect it to matter.
Perhaps you misunderstand how your original reply reads, but insulting someone by saying they didn’t elaborate inherently implies that you want elaboration. If you didn’t want elaboration, why does your comment specifically insult Linux users by saying they don’t elaborate?
I (and the others in this thread), don’t care how you choose to do something. It’s Linux we’re talking about, after all; there are many different ways to do any task. But dismissing a solution that is in fact very easy and you can do in a matter of minutes depending on how long it takes your package manager to download the WINE package, is ridiculous. If you don’t want to do it that way, don’t. But don’t insult the solution by saying it’s wrong when it in fact is not. I even tested it on my install and it took me 2 minutes with no setup other than installing WINE from the app store and downloading an installer .exe file for a Windows program. Just right make sure the .exe is marked as executable (it shouldn’t be by default, so right click, properties/permissions, and tick the executable box), then right click and open with WINE (may have to use choose application menu depending on distro). From then on, any double click will automatically open a .exe file in WINE given it has executable permissions. It takes a couple minutes, not “dozens of hours”.
If you’re really so dead set on not doing it, simply stop replying. You aren’t being held prisoner here, after all. You have the choice to choose what you reply to, and if you don’t think it’s worth your time (which is contrary to what you’ve shown by your numerous replies), then don’t bother replying. I can’t think of a simpler solution.
You asked if it’s possible to make an OS to open .exe files by default. You were met with the original reply in this thread, which told you exactly how it would be possible. If you want to go through all the trouble of installing a completely new distro instead of spending 2 minutes following the instructions to apply this to your own, knock yourself out. But that’s irrelevant to the fact that your question was answered (albeit indirectly) by giving you exactly how it would be done. If you’re going to use Linux, I highly recommend you understand that installing a different distro will not solve all your problems. It’s much easier to install a single package.
I’m not expecting you to be polite in response to me, and I never said that I would expect that. I met the hostility that you already had shown in your first 2 replies with hostility because I don’t have the patience to try to be polite to you. My problem with your hostility is from before I started this conversation, when you insulted the entire Linux community. I don’t see how that isn’t clear given how specific I’ve been.