Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Wine

Open Source Software for running Windows applications on other operating systems.

Wine

Wine Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Wine is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Wine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-12-07

Features & Specs

  1. Cross-Platform Compatibility

    Wine allows users to run Windows applications on Unix-like operating systems, including Linux and macOS, thereby bridging the gap between different operating systems and expanding software usability.

  2. Performance

    Wine can offer performance that is comparable to running the software natively on Windows, avoiding the overhead associated with full virtual machines.

  3. Open Source

    Wine is an open-source project, allowing users to contribute to its development, customize it according to their needs, and benefit from a wide community of developers.

  4. Cost Savings

    By using Wine, there's no need to purchase a Windows license, which can result in significant cost savings, especially for businesses or users who only need occasional access to Windows applications.

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Videos

The Best Red Wines For Beginners (Series): #3 Merlot

One of America's Best Sommeliers Grades Boxed Wine | Tasting Notes

MY FAVORITE WINES OF ALL TIME || All under $20

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Wine and what they use it for.
  • Ask HN: What are good resources to learn more about WINE?
    I have tried to find resources (videos or websites) to understand the details of WINE (http://winehq.org) and how to get new applications to run with it, but have had no luck. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Linux issues
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please mention your exact version when filing bug reports on winehq.org. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Need help debugging game launch issue in Lutris.
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please don't report bugs about it on winehq.org and use https://github.com/lutris/wine/issues instead. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can I use VitualBox to run 32-bit Steam games on an M1 MacBook?
    "WINE is not an emulator" winehq.org originally developed for Linux (I believe). Source: about 3 years ago
  • I have been called so many slurs with this avatar (PS: Roblox stop blocking wine)
    No, it allows people to use Windows apps on Linux winehq.org you used to be able to play on Linux but roblox goes out of there way to block it and then says they will most likely not make a native Linux client https://devforum.roblox.com/t/proper-support-for-the-linux-platform/56544/112. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Red Dead Online AND !Pop OS
    Is there any error message when it crashes or is it just CTD Crash To Desktop. I would try verifying the game files. Also it might help to download Wine from the instructions on their website https://winehq.org/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How to switch to Linux...?
    LibreOffice is good enough for CS. You can run MS Office 2007 to 2016 on Linux (or anything) with Wine. Newer versions do not work yet. Instead, you could use the browser versions of these tools, or Google Docs, which I find to be adequate if it's not your full-time job to work with office software. Source: about 3 years ago
  • "Could not Initalize Graphics Device." Other time it gets stuck at League of Legends Logo. !
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please mention your exact version when filing bug reports on winehq.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Switching to Linux - iTunes?
    If it's worth your time, you can search for iTunes on WineHQ and see how far support will get for you. W. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Should I publish a Linux verion if my game at Steam? It's worth it?
    Steam Deck runs Linux (some variant of Arch apparently), so all Windows games get run through Proton, which is essentially a fork/superset of wine that focuses on adding stuff for gaming. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Best Linux for my chop computer?
    For carbide motion my suggestion would be to start by just booting over to Windows when you need to use it, but maybe think about moving over to linux based replacements that apparently should be able to control a shapeoko etc. With no problem, such as ugs or cncjs, but they will require a bit of tinkering that'll be way easier once you're used to linux. Although I'm not optimistic about using it for Carbide... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Modding The Witcher 3 Using Wine on SteamOS (Mod Manager & Script Merger)
    Q4Wine is a Qt GUI for Wine. It will allow you to run Windows executables out of the box. Flatseal is a graphical utility to review and modify permissions from your Flatpak applications. We will use it to give Q4Wine permission to access our filesystem so that the Mod Manager and Script Merger can access game files. Source: over 3 years ago
  • wine-hq.org
    This one relates to the compatibillity layer for linux and mac WINE, thats the url right, wine-hq.org, right? Wrong it's winehq.org, but that hyphen has ALWAYS been in the url, everyone I ask, they say there's a hyphen, but there is no hyphen, I dont have evidence but, there was a hyphen there right? Source: over 3 years ago
  • "Failed to open the audio device WineASIO Driver" in Ableton Live 11 Suite
    Your wine version seems to be pretty old, winehq.org and pick staging/stable. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Game crashes on startup using lutris
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please mention your exact version when filing bug reports on winehq.org. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Does anyone here know how to get mods working on the LinuxRuleZ! repack of Cyberpunk 2077? comctl32.dll initialization error upon attempting to launch game with -modded operator and Cyber Engine Tweaks.
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please don't report bugs about it on winehq.org and use https://github.com/Frogging-Family/wine-tkg-git/issues instead. Source: over 3 years ago
  • pls help, it used to be 3.88 gb and now its 3.43.
    If there's any Windows specific software that you need, 95% of the time you'll be able to run it with Wine, or there'll be an native alternative available. For games, over 87% of the top 100 Steam games run either natively or through Wine, according to ProtonDB. In my own Steam library, all of my 39 games run fine on Linux. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Massive abuse at winehq.org! Call the police!
    Most admins at winehq.org's Bugzilla are insanely abusive for no reason at all. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Steam on ChromeOS performance and compatibility?
    It can run windows games through proton (proton is based on wine -->: winehq.org). Source: over 3 years ago
  • [Summary] Linux SPNATI Offline / Development Linux Setup Guide r/spnati [Guide]
    Ubuntu/Mint Install the WineHQ packages, as explained here: https://wiki.winehq.org/Ubuntu If you already have Ubuntu's wine package installed, uninstall it first. NOTE: Ubuntu 18.04/Mint 19.04 requires a dependency (FAudio) that is not in the default repo. Download and install both 32bit (i386) and 64bit (amd64) packages. Links for the packages are included with the winehq.org guide, however I have them here... Source: over 3 years ago
  • League crashes on startup from lutris
    002c:fixme:winediag:LdrInitializeThunk Please mention your exact version when filing bug reports on winehq.org. Source: over 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Wine

Wine, the open-source compatibility layer aimed at running Windows applications on Unix-like operating systems, has been a cornerstone for users seeking to bridge the gaps between these disparate platforms. Its primary objective is to allow software built for Windows, including many video games, to function on Linux and other Unix systems without a need for native support. Wine achieves this through its architectural design that mimics a Windows interface without emulation, which explains the recurring mantra, "Wine is not an emulator."

Public Perception and Usability

Feedback from various forums and articles suggests a mixed reception of Wine's functionality. On one hand, users highlight its ability to run a significant portion of Windows applications, particularly older versions, with a notable bug-for-bug compatibility. This feature appeals deeply to individuals or organizations reliant on legacy software. For instance, users report successful deployment of Microsoft Office (up to the 2016 version) and even iTunes on Linux via Wine, marking its relevance in productivity suites integration.

Gaming is another realm where Wine exerts a notable influence, although challenges remain. Many users experience varying degrees of success when running Windows games on Linux, evidenced by frequent issues ranging from game initialization failures to crashes during gameplay. Despite this, boasting compatibility with over 87% of the top 100 games on Steam, Wine retains considerable sway among Linux gamers, often in collaboration with other tools like Proton, a specialized branch for gaming enhancement.

Areas Requiring Attention

However, Wine is not without its challenges and criticisms. Users often encounter cryptic error messages, such as "LdrInitializeThunk," while seeking to debug application failuresโ€”issues further compounded by the complex diagnostic messages when games or applications don't perform as expected. The technical depth required to resolve such issues poses a barrier for everyday users, leaving a gap in user-friendly documentation and resources. The community often notes a scarcity of comprehensive guides and tutorials, indicating an opportunity for better educational resources that demystify the process of maximizing Wine's potential.

Wine's community and support forums have attracted criticism too. Concerns have been raised regarding the occasionally abrasive interactions on WineHQ's Bugzilla, as some users have reported unwelcoming responses from administrators, a factor that undermines an otherwise rich collaborative platform.

Comparative Landscape

In the broader ecosystem of compatibility layers and software ports, Wine faces competition from alternatives like CodeWeavers CrossOver, PlayOnLinux, and the increasingly popular Proton tool. Each offers its own set of features and optimizations, sometimes providing smoother out-of-the-box experiences for individual apps or games. Nonetheless, Wine maintains a pivotal role within the developer community through Winelib, a compelling utility for porting Windows applications to Unix systems.

Conclusion

Wine remains a vital tool in overcoming software compatibility challenges across operating systems. While it undoubtedly succeeds in numerous applications, continuous enhancement in user support, community engagement, and educational outreach could further cement its status as an essential utility for interoperability in modern computing environments. Its role in conjunction with other compatibility projects, especially Proton for gaming, demonstrates its central importance in the ongoing effort to unify computing experiences across diverse platforms.

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Is Wine good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Wine here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.