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WinBoat is a new Linux app to run Windows apps with "seamless integration"
(www.gamingonlinux.com)
this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2025
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I imagine this is more for productivity apps, where gamers are going to use proton or wine.
The only reason I boot into Windows is to use Substance Painter. It unfortunately requires 3D acceleration.
Can that not run through Proton? You could probably launch it through Steam, even if you bought your copy somewhere else. I have loads on external apps added just for easy setup with Proton
Nope. Haven’t gotten the installer to run. Tried copying over the already installed software too, no dice.
Isn't wine meant for non-gaming apps too?
Sort of? In my experience, the people working on WINE have always been more interested in game compatibility. Sometimes other software will work, but it's a crapshoot.
It is, but most modern software doesn't work at all in Wine. I have 2 apps (Paint.net, and SketchUp Make 2017) which don't have any real alternatives (or they suck) for Linux and they don't work in Wine.
Adobe shit doesn't work properly in wine
Sure, but many of those use GPUs as well. Consider things like CAD, photo or video editing. And "office suite" things tend to have Linux-friendly alternatives or are usable through web browsers. I'm sure there will be some niche applications this would be usable for but honestly I can't think of... any.
PKhex, I hope. As long as it'll run it, PKhex needs not your GPU acceleration, it just gives me pokemon when I have nobody to trade with (or $999999999, change OT names, etc).
Although worst case scenario, it runs ok under wine, and for the trading I can actually use the Flipper 0, but not the OT names.
Right, pretty much the bulk of my work use for my PC :( I guess I still need to wait a bit more before I can finally switch over...
I can think of one: Excel Macros. If this had come out before May 2022, it would have saved me from needing to dual boot for a single assignment where I needed to do data analysis using Excel just two months after switching to Linux. It was literally around 2 hours of work, or less, and the entire dual boot setup took a similar time.
A lot of music production software doesn't rely on GPU acceleration. There's also proprietary bullshit like software that controls specific hardware, like GPU control software, MIDI devices and other random devices like things for RGB control or printers. Oh yeah, and tax software, to do taxes and whatnot, most of them are windows or mac exclusive, so that would come in handy too. I used to run a full-fat windows VM for things like these, but winboat might actually be a more tidy solution.
There's plenty of examples of software that either will never be created on linux or proprietary bullshit that devs simply can't be bothered to reverse engineer for linux.