Packaging Windows apps for Linux Was: Picasa for Linux

[Conrad Knauer]

On 5/29/06, Dana Olson <dana at ubuntustudio.com> wrote:

> While we're discussing the issue of putting closed-source Windows
> binaries with a dozen MB of Wine binaries each into Ubuntu's Multiverse,
> I'd like to suggest a few additions that should be considered if Picasa
> is approved and accepted.

I think the major differences between what Google is doing and what
you're proposing is first, that Google did all the work for Picasa
(who are you suggesting should test and bundle up these various apps?)
and second, Google has the legal (copy) right to do whatever they want
with their software (are the developers of the various programs you
mentioned interested in allowing repackaged versions of their
programs?)

Assuming that these issues are resolved, you then have to consider
which would be a better use of resources; to tweak a custom Wine
package for each program or to just make itself Wine better?  In the
latter case, why bother packaging Windows apps when people can just
download them?  And further, if you want to use all these Windows
apps, why not dual boot?  As much as I find Wine useful for the
occasional program, if I want to make sure that the Windows app is
going to run right (consider Google Earth), I quickly boot into
Windows, use it and when I'm done, boot back into Linux.

> - AdAware Personal. It removes spyware and tracking cookies, which might
> not be a big concern, but we do have anti-virus software too, and
> viruses aren't any bigger a threat at this time than spyware is. Best be
> prepared.

Of all your examples, this is perhaps the worst example of software to
package for Linux.  If you need a program that is checking for Windows
malware, you are using Wine too much (would that mean you're drunk? ;)
and really should just dual-boot.

As far as viruses go, AFAIK, they're mostly for when you have a system
setup as an e-mail server (scanning e-mail attachments before they
ever get to a Windows machine).  I should direct your attention to
these op-ed pieces:

http://linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/index.php?page=virus#virus
http://www.linuxtoday.com/security/2006050502026OPSW

Sincerely,
Conrad Knauer