Wine 11: A Major Update for Windows Apps on Linux
Wine 11 is here, and it's a significant step forward for running Windows applications on Linux. This release introduces a stable WoW64 mode, a feature that was first introduced in Wine 9 as an experiment. The new mode offers feature parity with the old WoW64 mode, bringing a range of improvements and new capabilities.
Here's a breakdown of the key changes and additions in Wine 11:
- 16-bit Application Support: WoW64 mode now supports 16-bit applications, expanding the range of compatible software.
- WoW64 Mode Activation: You can force an old WoW64 installation to run in the new mode by setting the WINEARCH=wow64 variable. This requires the prefix to be created as 64-bit (the default).
- Deprecation of Pure 32-bit Prefixes: Pure 32-bit prefixes created with WINEARCH=win32 are now deprecated and not supported in the new WoW64 mode.
- Unified Wine Loader: The wine64 loader binary is removed, replaced by a single wine loader. This loader automatically selects the correct mode based on the binary being executed. For binaries with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, it defaults to 64-bit. You can launch the 32-bit version explicitly using an explicit path, e.g.,
wine c:\windows\syswow64\notepad.exe.
These changes represent a significant advancement in Wine's ability to run Windows applications on Linux. The introduction of WoW64 mode as a stable feature brings feature parity and expands compatibility. For those interested in exploring Wine 11, it's available for download on the Wine HQ website. Additionally, a comparison article highlights the benefits of virtualization over Wine for running Windows apps on Linux.
