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What is Wine?

Wine is software that allows you to run Windows programs on non-Microsoft operating systems such as Linux. By using Wine, you are not required to pay for a copy of Windows although if you do have a copy installed Wine can use it to improve reliability.

What is Linux?

Linux is an operating system available for free: anybody can use it, anybody can improve it, and nobody owns it. Wine is licensed in a similar way, and both projects have a large community of developers working on them. Find out more about Linux.

What can Wine do?

Wine can run Windows programs as if they were applications written specifically for Linux, as seen here [insert link to screenshots]. They can be added to the menus, open files on your Linux system, they integrate with the clipboard and taskbar. By using Wine, when you find an application, you can use it in Linux just as you would in Windows.

How much does Wine cost, and where can I get it?

The open source builds and source code are available from WineHQ, however at present these versions are more suitable for developers.

For home and business usage of standard Windows applications, CodeWeavers CrossOver distributes an easy to use and commercially supported version of Wine, as well as CrossOver Plugin which allows you to use Windows web browser plugins from Linux. This version of Wine does not support games particularly well. Although it can run many Windows programs, CodeWeavers only support a subset of applications (at this time notable office applications such as Microsoft Office, Quicken and Lotus Notes).

For gamers, TransGamings WineX specializes in running the latest entertainment titles, and TransGaming also provide support for a growing range of titles.

Is Wine perfect?

No. Unlike other emulators such as VMware, Wine does not actually run Windows itself - it is effectively an open source implementation of the parts of Windows that are required to run applications (called the APIs). Unfortunately the Windows APIs are huge, and although Wine has implementations for most of them, sometimes an application may not work as expected, or at all.

Wine is an ongoing effort, involving hundreds of programmers. You will find that the products supported by commercial Wine companies such as CodeWeavers and TransGaming normally work extremely well or perfectly. Other applications may or may not work, so we maintain an applications database to keep track of how well particular versions of programs work. The link at the top of this page will tell you how well the application you just came from works in Wine.

How can I learn more about Wine?

Read the pages on the WineHQ site.