Run Linux apps on Windows or OS X with Lina

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Open Source

Run Linux apps on Windows or OS X with Lina

by Brad Linder May 27th 2007

Next month a California-based startup plans to release an application that will allow Windows, Mac, and Linux users run Linux binaries without any modifications. Lina is a Linux virtual machine that allows users to run applications with the native look of their host operating system. It also lets you install applications with a mouse-click, no need to compile software from source code.

The idea is that developers will be able to create programs for one platform, and they'll be able to run on three different operating systems. This could both expand the market for open source Linux applications, and cut down work for developers. Lina will be free for open source developers, while a licensing fee will apply to commercial developers.

Lina is still a work in progress, with no support for GTK+ or USB peripherals yet. The virtual machine takes up less than 40MB when installed.

[via Slashdot and Linux Devices]

Tags: cross platform, CrossPlatform, gtk, lina

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

aleenm88 said 10:57PM on 5-27-2007

who would want that? should't be backwared? run windows or mac apps on Linux

Me said 10:58PM on 5-27-2007

Hurrah! Finally, Amarok on Windows!

Kevin said 10:58PM on 5-27-2007

I don't see the point. GTK has already been ported to Windows and is in the process of being ported to OS X. Qt apps already run pretty much everywhere (Skype being an example). All it takes for both in many cases is a recompile. This is more than a little redundant, especially since these programs can be run natively.

noak said 8:10AM on 5-28-2007

I actually read about it first here:

http://ostoolbox.blogspot.com/2007/05/lina-linux-applications-on-windows-and.html

Seems like this solution depends on implementing system call support for each GUI toolkit supported.

poopadoop said 10:30PM on 5-28-2007

Retarded... Just use linux on OSX and avoid windows! :)

Steve said 10:30PM on 5-28-2007

I dont get it....these people talk too fast and their video sucks

Matt said 10:30PM on 5-28-2007

JAVA Anyone?

dude said 10:30PM on 5-28-2007

Yeah, I liked this concept better, back when it was called JAVA.

Markus Sorensson said 10:30PM on 5-28-2007

Is that a guy and a girl or two lesbians?

Matt said 7:34AM on 5-29-2007

@7 - Java in the Status Quo too slow on most compies =[

jak said 7:34AM on 5-29-2007

I can see using this to test drive certain apps before doing a switch to Linux. There are two Windows apps I use daily and if I knew that linux equivalents existed and worked the way I want I would make the switch myself.

Ari said 7:34AM on 5-29-2007

Why did they use nano as an example when it already comes with OS X as a native console binary?

Anon said 7:34AM on 5-29-2007

I totally thought the person on the left was a decent looking girl, and the guy on the right was ugly.

devon said 7:35AM on 5-29-2007

java solves this problem, but from the sounds of it the luna project extends cross platform to many other languages which is a plus

Smoke Tetsu said 7:36AM on 5-29-2007

I for one would want to use this if you could get The GIMP running through it as that is really the only "Linux" app and I put that in quotations because The GIMP isn't strictly a Linux app. But I would like this if it meant The GIMP becomes more integrated than using it through X11 which it looks like it would be.

Also I think there is enough room for projects like thisbecause first of all it doesn't seem like the native GTK for OS X would integrated the menu bar and such the same way as this does and even on windows this might seem more native than the GTK port there. On there even though there is a theme that takes your system skin and apply it to the application it still looks and feels very much like a foreign application.

I just wonder how much of an overhead there would be with this particularly on the PowerPC.. or if it requires Intel (on the Mac) or what.

MagikMan74 said 9:52AM on 5-29-2007

guy/girl debate aside, and the validity or useability of this aside.... did anyone else run out of breathe reading #15?

alex said 1:09PM on 5-29-2007

this is great... i would like to use linux but am stuck on WinXP right now. There are some apps which only are developed for *nix that i would like to have available to me.

Eric said 1:13PM on 5-29-2007

Okay, so what? Most of us want our Windows Apps on Linux, not the other way around.
Call me when you can run Windows Apps seamlessly in Linux. Until then, I'll continue using Windows XP and Vista.

smoke_tetsu said 4:41PM on 5-29-2007

BTW, MagikMan74 if you are going to get on my case for a run on sentance it's BREATH not BREATHE.

smoke_tetsu said 4:44PM on 5-29-2007

I meant sentence. =P

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