Why can't linux run windows programs?

[PatrickMay16]

It's weird how some of you guys make the whole free software thing like it's a war or something.
There's a particular windows app I use which has the source code released, but no linux version has been written. Now I could port it myself, but I don't know anything about programming, so that won't work. So I run it using wine. Are you going to regard me as scum for that?

[Adamant1988]

It's weird how some of you guys make the whole free software thing like it's a war or something.
There's a particular windows app I use which has the source code released, but no linux version has been written. Now I could port it myself, but I don't know anything about programming, so that won't work. So I run it using wine. Are you going to regard me as scum for that?

Uhm, you're getting awfully defensive there Mr. peacekeeper. No one in this thread bashed windows at all (which is a small miracle in and of it self) yet you're acting like we're 'all up in your territory'.

I give your post an 7 out of 10 for creative use of irony.

[PatrickMay16]

Uhm, you're getting awfully defensive there Mr. peacekeeper. No one in this thread bashed windows at all (which is a small miracle in and of it self) yet you're acting like we're 'all up in your territory'.

I give your post an 7 out of 10 for creative use of irony.

Yeah, I'll give you 10/10 for being ridiculous. My post was aimed at Doctormo who was saying something about 'sad pathetic people' who use proprietary software.

You've got a lot to learn before you can beat me. Try again kiddo heh heh heh heh heh

[cantormath]

Why? I want to know....after all its all text which can be converted to bianry code and used by the machine.....I am intrigued..
any ideas?

These are the questions that keep me coming back again and again........Thank you for saying this......It has made my day!

[DoctorMO]

There's a particular windows app I use which has the source code released, but no linux version has been written. Now I could port it myself, but I don't know anything about programming, so that won't work. So I run it using wine. Are you going to regard me as scum for that?

If the source code is available how is it proprietory or what private formats does it use that isn't in the available source code? I hardly see that what I way saying applies to you; since not only is the source code available but you've never felt like whining about the availability in these forums anyway.

As for wine, you will use the tools that you can and you will also accept the risks those tools come with. I'm saying wine will never be complete and it's better to port, it seems like you can't port so you'll have to ask the original developers or get someone else interested.

At least if you push at it you'll open up a new application to everyone else on these forums.

As for scum, well I fear you've read to much into it, I don't intent to insult people who depend on windows only proprietory programs, but I feel a great deal of sorrow for them; like children who won't take their hand out of the fire, it's not their fault really.

[mthakur2006]

Yes thanks, I know why now... a happy camper now.
Regards,

[EdThaSlayer]

Linux can't run Windows programs because its Linux. Linux and Windows do things differently and use different types of libraries to do the same thing. If you did want a program to run on all systems you would have to do a lot of "if" statements which would probably double the amount of code needed by the program and as a result probably slow it down.

[mech7]

Linux can't run Windows programs because its Linux. Linux and Windows do things differently and use different types of libraries to do the same thing. If you did want a program to run on all systems you would have to do a lot of "if" statements which would probably double the amount of code needed by the program and as a result probably slow it down.

Umm that would not really matter as you only need 1 if / switch statement in the beginning to check for aobut 2 of the major os linux / os x / windows..

wish i could run windows apps on linux especially photoshop

[ssam]

there is the system calls issues. programs need to ask the kernel to do things. (windows does actually have all the POSIX system calls)

library differences. if you want to display a window on the screen you use a GUI library (rather than trying to specify what colour each pixel should be). windows has its APIs, linux has GTK, Qt etc. same issues for sound, networking, 3d etc. you could include all this code in your program instead of using libraries, but that would waste of a lot of effort.

cross platform programming. if you assume that code will only be run on a certain type of computer you might be tempted to make assumptions out of lazyness. eg assume that the directory separator is a '/' or a '\' or a ':', that line endings are '\c\f' or '\c' or '\f', that certain files should be in certain places. it does not take to much effort to make a dir_sep variable, and use that, but people don't always.

binary executable formats. there are different types. eg ELF, a.out, PE, .com etc.

WINE does a pretty good job of dealing with all these issues. you could always donate 50% of how much you would pay if you had to buy vista to them, to help them out.

[Tundro Walker]

See, everyone missed the opportunity on this thread. Nobody should have actually answered his question...we should have all just answered in analogous questions like the first few posters did...

Why can't Linux run Windows programs?!?!?!

Why can't penguins fly when other birds can?

Why do hot dog buns come in packages of 8 when hot dogs come in packages of 10? (Oh, wait, that was from Bullet Proof Monk, and I beleive the answer was, "sometimes things just work out that way...")