Run Windows Applications on Mac, Linux using WineHQ

At times, a Mac or Linux user may wonder if they would be able to run Windows applications and software on their operating system, without installing a copy of the Windows OS on their computer.  WineHQ, a free software, and a program loader does exactly this! It enables Linux, Mac, FreeBSD, and Solaris users to run Windows applications on their system, without running a copy of Microsoft Windows.

The program is an alternative implementation of the Windows API consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code that makes many Windows applications available on the Web run on other operating systems, by using VNC and its Java client. Besides software, the program also includes support for games too.

How to install WineHQ

Currently, there are 3 methods available for installing Wine from winehq.org namely,

1. Installation from the package – This is the simplest method for installing Wine. The package includes ready-to-run Wine binary files, regularly tested by packagers for functionality and completeness.
2. Installation from a source archive – The method is useful for users who like to build Wine using their own compiler optimizations. Installing Wine using this method is fairly difficult.
3. Installation from GIT tree – It is the most suitable method that allows you to develop Wine yourself by downloading the latest source code from GIT repository. Visit the given link to download the latest source code from the GIT repository.

Before installing Wine, kindly check and make sure that there is no previous version of the program installed on your system either from a package or from source. If any, it is advisable to uninstall the older one and update it to the latest available version.

To get information on desired applications compatibility with Wine you can check out the Application Database (AppDB). Note that most of the features of the Application Database require that you have a user account and are logged in.

Membership benefits:

• Vote on your favorite applications
• Receive credit for your witty posts
• Submit new applications and versions
• Submit new screenshots

Recently, Wine 1.2.3 was released, and the Wine development release 1.3.33 is also available. Even though the program may be missing some features, it has been widely accepted by many users, who have found it useful in running a growing number of Windows programs. To view success and failure reports on many Windows programs check the Application Database, as well as the Bug Tracking Database for a list of known issues.

Can I run applications for MS Windows on Linux?

Yes, you can easily run Windows apps on Linux. As there is no official support, you must take the help of a third-party tool called WineHQ. It is freeware, and you can download it on most of the Linux distributions using Terminal. However, you must have the executable file for the Windows app.

Is WineHQ safe for Mac?

Yes, WineHQ is safe for Mac, and you would not have any problem using it to install Windows apps. Although some apps may not run as fluently as they run on Windows, you can at least try them in compatibility mode. As WineHQ is available for free, you can surely give it a try.

If any of you have had any experience running Windows software on Linux, Mac, FreeBSD or Solaris, please do share with us.