Slashdot Mirror
Linux On Windows - The Thin End Of The Wedge?
AYeomans writes: "LINE version 0.3 has just been released.'LINE is a utility which executes unmodified Linux applications on Windows by intercepting Linux system calls. The Linux applications themselves are not emulated. They run directly on the CPU just like all other Windows applications.' Could this be the thin end, to which the Linux wedge is attached, allowing people currently tied to Windows the opportunity of easily using native Linux applications?" I wonder how many Windows users are actively waiting for Linux programs to use. (TuxRacer one day maybe?) The version number is low but this is an interesting, oddball project.
WINE: Good for users because you can use Windows applications on Linux.
LINE: Good for users because you can use Linux applications on Windows.
The problem some people having with the Windows part of this is that they want to see Linux do better. Users don't care which does better. They just want more and better choices, and LINE gives them another choice. Open source doesn't empower users (not directly anyway) because they can't modify source (most of them are not programmers). Additional choices empower the users, because they are all capable of making choices.
For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
...just think, now all the Micro$oft users can see how unstable Linux applications are when running under Windows -- talk about a great way to present bad publicity to the uninitiated masses.
--
Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
Yeah. The only thing holding me back from running Windows is the lack of decent apps. Not that I can run all of my wonderful Linux software, I've got no reason NOT to switch!
-atrowe: Card-carrying Mensa member. I have no toleranse for stupidity.
At long last, the stability of windows with the broad application base of Linux -- we could make a less useful computer if we really put our minds to it!...
---------------------------------------------
Recursive: Adj. See Recursive.
Not so great for creating stability.
/etc or /conf'
As I write this, the link to the information has been slashdotted out of existence, so I'll have to make some assumptions.
First of all is the fact that this is going to have to intercept pretty much all file-system calls and do some pretty damn nifty conversion to get the different shells to work properly. Heaven help you if you try to chmod kernel32.dll or something like that... ^_^
Second is the fact that this is going to be a popular program amoung 'amature' hackers, and people who consider themselves hackers because they know a little more about their workstation than the guy in the next cube. For every guy who manages to get 'xeyes' to run, you're going to end up with two or three calls to any given IT department like this:
'My computer won't boot into Windows any more!'
'What did you do to it?'
'I tried to run linuxcfg, but it crashed and deleted my Windows directory when it couldn't find
'Hybrid' sytems are never fun to support.
If this works, however, and starts working reliably, it could be a great boon to getting certain apps ported over to Linux. If a Windoze software developer can run an app that will allow him to a compile a linux binary of his Windows program, it will start to open the door for a lot of 'effortless' porting work between the two OS's.
The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!