What do you think of loss32?

A dream of a Linux distribution where the entire desktop environment is Win32 software running under WINE. A completely free and open-source OS where you can just download .exe files and run them, for the power user who isn't necessarily a Unixhead, or just for someone who thinks this sounds fun.

I like the layout and looks of windows 2000 but I think running actual exe files from the old OS is not viable from security standpoint.

64 points · 18 comments · view on lemmy.world

18 Comments

solrize@lemmy.ml · 33 pts · 207d (2 replies)

A dream of a Linux distribution where the entire desktop environment is Win32 software running under WINE.

Sounds like a nightmare to me. Why would anyone want that?

corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 207d (1 reply)

Familiarity goes a really long way. My mom still wants her PortalTV unit to answer to voice commands.

solrize@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 207d

That sounds like a windows application she wants to run? Ok but why the rest of the stuff? I set up Debian+MATE (windows-like window manager) for my mom to replace her old Windows box and she didn't notice the difference.

crpknkr@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 207d

BRB, gotta dig out the old Bonzi Buddy exe.

comfy@lemmy.ml · 11 pts · 207d (1 reply)

Win32/Hurd when?

corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 207d

They've only almost barely nearly shat out a usable Unix with hurd. Give them another few decades, my dude!

NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone · 11 pts · 207d

Is this loss32?

db2@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 208d

Doubt I'd use it any time soon but I hope they make something fun.

AndrewZabar@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 207d (2 replies)

Is there not already ReactOS? Or has that been abandoned?

randy@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 207d (1 reply)

Follow the link and go down to the third point:

Isn't this just ReactOS?

ReactOS tries to reimplement the Windows NT kernel, and that has always been its Achilles heel, holding it back from a hardware compatibility and stability standpoint. The loss32 concept is to achieve a similar-feeling end result to ReactOS, but built on a more usable foundation, using components known to work well (the Linux kernel, WINE, everything that glues those together, and a sprinkling of ReactOS userland niceties). As a bonus, the OS would still technically be a Linux distro, so it would be possible to run Linux software when necessary, something ReactOS can't do.

AndrewZabar@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 207d

Ahhhh okay. Cool.

Personally, I don’t see the appeal though. I am really happy to have left Windows in the trash.

comfy@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 207d (2 replies)

I wonder if this has any practical benefits over running a Windows OS in a VM...

edit: piping, or easier collaboration between, Win32 and Linux programs could be an example. The creator mentions creative and gaming applications.

corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 207d

My mom and my wife's mom have computers soon to be out of support. Windows.

They need something stable, but also that does all their normal stuff. I'd love something that updated cleanly like enterprise Linux, but gave them the win7 interface they had for so long (they complain about this one now).

So that's your market. Yeah, a wine box would work well, and Nobara is nearly the winning candidate. But even it requires a lot of finagling for windows people, and I'd love something completely seamless so it's easier to support.

beyond@linkage.ds8.zone · 1 pts · 207d

I would say not running Windows is itself a practical benefit. I would also say the four freedoms constitute a very practical benefit (even if the software you're running on top of the OS is proprietary).

umbrella@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 207d

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KindaABigDyl@programming.dev · 3 pts · 207d (1 reply)

I'd recommend using something like Niri instead of mutter for the compositor as Niri is:

Extremely customizable
Meant to be used alone (unlike mutter which is for Gnome)
Supportive of Wayland portals better than any compositor I've tried
Very modern
Pretty stable
Making use of scrolling window management which is, imo, superior to anything else
- You could force all windows to be floating if you want that traditional method tho

I'd also recommend using DankMaterialShell and simply providing a theming to get the appeal you want. It works well with Niri and provides all the system tools you need for an OS like bluetooth and audio management, application lookup, etc. It's sort of a stripped down Gnome-shell for standalone compositors but way more customizable.

Then everything else can just be installed WINE apps.

umbrella@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 207d

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vortexal@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 207d (1 reply)

I currently don't have a use/need for a 32bit Linux distro but I do believe that one with support should always exist. I normally recommend Q4OS to people who need a 32bit Linux distro but they're only going to be supporting the 32bit version for 2 more years. There was some discussion about 32bit distros a while back and it seems like all or at least most distros are doing something similar. While loss32 is just a proof of concept, I would support it if it actually did release because for as long as old 32bit computers exist, there will be a need for 32bit operating systems.

Edit: I realize that I missed the actual point of loss32 but I'm not deleting my comment.

randy@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 207d

Follow the link and go down to the third point:

Isn't this just ReactOS?

ReactOS tries to reimplement the Windows NT kernel, and that has always been its Achilles heel, holding it back from a hardware compatibility and stability standpoint. The loss32 concept is to achieve a similar-feeling end result to ReactOS, but built on a more usable foundation, using components known to work well (the Linux kernel, WINE, everything that glues those together, and a sprinkling of ReactOS userland niceties). As a bonus, the OS would still technically be a Linux distro, so it would be possible to run Linux software when necessary, something ReactOS can't do.

AndrewZabar@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 207d

I miss Win 3.11 using Dashboard. That app was the tits! Goodbye Program Manager always obstructing up the wallpaper.