Difference between revisions of "Compatibility layers"
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* [[Darling]] is a translation layer that allows you to run unmodified macOS binaries on Linux. In its nature, it is similar to the well-known [[Wine]] project. At this point, does not yet run macOS application with a GUI. | * [[Darling]] is a translation layer that allows you to run unmodified macOS binaries on Linux. In its nature, it is similar to the well-known [[Wine]] project. At this point, does not yet run macOS application with a GUI. | ||
− | == | + | ==Wrappers== |
Compatibility layers may also make use of '''wrappers''', which translate a specific graphics API to another. How the user sets up the wrapper varies between each project but most involve a drop-in replacement of the original libraries. | Compatibility layers may also make use of '''wrappers''', which translate a specific graphics API to another. How the user sets up the wrapper varies between each project but most involve a drop-in replacement of the original libraries. | ||
− | + | {{Main|Wrappers}} | |
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[[Category:Compatibility layers]] | [[Category:Compatibility layers]] | ||
[[Category:Not really emulators]] | [[Category:Not really emulators]] |
Revision as of 11:53, 25 December 2019
While not strictly emulation per se (hence why Wine stands for "Wine Is Not an Emulator"), compatibility layers allow software written for one operating system to run on a different OS, often by translating API and system calls made by an application to their equivalent calls in the host operating system. In theory, this should allow for near-native performance since no processor emulation takes place, but in practice some software such as games will tend to run a bit slower due to other bottlenecks that occur as a result of replicating the correct behavior, such as accounting for graphics APIs like Direct3D that aren't supported on non-Microsoft platforms. Additionally, compatibility layers may also use emulation in order to run software built for a different architecture.
Compatibility layers
Name | Operating System(s) | Latest Version | Active | Recommended | Runs the following software |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PC | |||||
Wine | Linux, macOS | 9.0 (Dev: 9.10 ) |
✓ | ✓ | Windows applications and games |
Proton | Linux | 9.0-2 | ✓ | ✓ | Windows games |
TeknoParrot | Windows | 1.0.0.140 | ✓ | ✓ | Windows-based arcade games |
Anbox | Linux | Git | ✓ | ✗ | Android software |
Darling | Linux | Git | ✓ | ✗ (WIP) | macOS software |
WineVDM | Windows | v0.7.0 Dev |
✓ | ✗ | 16-bit Windows apps and games |
Wineskin | macOS | 1.7 | ✗ | ✗ | Windows applications and games |
WineBottler | macOS | 4.0.1.1 Dev | ✗ | ✗ | Windows applications and games |
WoW | Windows | ? | ✗ | ✗ | Windows 9x apps and games |
Win3mu | Windows | ? | ✗ | ✗ | Windows 3.x apps and games |
Ardi Executor | Multi-platform | 2.1.17 | ✗ | ✗ | Classic Mac OS software up to System 6 |
Mobile | |||||
Wine | Android | 9.10 | ✓ | ✗ (WIP) | Windows applications and games |
Hangover | Android, Linux ARM | 0.4.0 | ✓ | ✗ | Windows applications and games |
Anbox | Linux ARM | Git | ✓ | ✗ | Android software |
Comparisons
- Wine is a free and open-source compatibility layer that aims to allow computer programs (application software and computer games) developed for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems, primarily Linux and macOS. Since late 2017 there is also an experimental build for Android. Wine is almost as old as the Linux project, starting in the summer of 1993. Today it's widely used, very popular and sponsored by companies such as CodeWeavers and Valve. The core Wine development aims at a correct implementation of the Windows API as a whole. In this regard it's similar to the MAME project in its focus on correctness over usability. There are a lot of versions/forks of Wine which focus of different goals, such as usability, compatibility, gaming, office applications, etc. A few are listed below, Wikipedia has a more complete list.
- Proton is Valves one-click solution to play Windows games on Linux. It's included in the Steam Linux client by default. Simply click on a whitelisted game and it will launch without any configuration, or enable it for all games in the settings. Proton is based on a fork of Wine in combination with other components such as DXVK (explained below) and FAudio.
- Wineskin is an open-source compatibility layer which allows users to easily convert Windows software to macOS. The ports are in the form of Mac .app bundles with a self-contained Wine instance which are wrapped around the application to be converted.
- TeknoParrot is a compatibility layer for Windows PCs to run games originally made for Windows-based arcade systems. Has since version 1.51 also support for some games from the Linux-based Sega Lindbergh arcade board.
- Darling is a translation layer that allows you to run unmodified macOS binaries on Linux. In its nature, it is similar to the well-known Wine project. At this point, does not yet run macOS application with a GUI.
Wrappers
Compatibility layers may also make use of wrappers, which translate a specific graphics API to another. How the user sets up the wrapper varies between each project but most involve a drop-in replacement of the original libraries.
- Main article: Wrappers