[ubuntu-za] Windows applications on Ubuntu

[Peter Nel]

On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 8:40 PM, Jan Greeff <jan at verslank.net> wrote:
> Thanks Peter. Now my next question.
>
> I need to run my Legacy genealogy software on Windows. (Gramps is not an
> option)
>
> This was previously done via Virtualbox OSE, but it's a nuisance to go back
> and forth. Is there a better solution, e.g. via Wine?
> ...

Hi Jan,

First I give my obligatory rant on perspective :-)
(yup, there are veggies on my spoon... haha)

The world of Free/Open Source Software is interesting and fantastic,
but it's not ALWAYS organized in a way that's easy or convenient for
everyone to use.

There are varying levels of maturity or accessibility of any given project -

On the one end of the spectrum we have the software's raw source code,
often available in online repositories where programmers and other
contributors actively share and collaborate - this is usually the most
up to date version, but understandably also more likely to be
unstable, and more difficult to install. For instance in the past we
had to get the source, build the code and install it manually. It's
still possible, for example if you need the absolute latest version,
or want to help testing or development.

On the other end we have package managers like Ubuntu Software Center,
containing peer reviewed-, highly stable & mature-, packaged and
branded programs that are customized for the particular OS (in this
case Ubuntu), and that we can search and install at the click of a
button. The collection of software packages available here is usually
quite a few versions older, and there are fewer to select from than on
the other end of the spectrum, but most of us gladly bear this for the
ease and convenience we gain.

In between these two extremes there are intermediate incarnations for
software projects, like the PPA's I mentioned earlier that are on
launchpad (which can be manually added to the software center), or
less mature ".deb" install packages, or install scripts, or .rpm's
that first have to be converted from another linux distribution's
package format.

99% of us will find what we need in the Software Center 99% of the
time. But 99% of us, sometimes, fall outside the norm
(i.e. sometimes each of the 99% is in the 1%** ... ;-)  needing
software that's newer, rarer, or less mainstream and therefore not
available in the software center (yet?) - sometimes we find it then
package it for others to use more easily, if so inclined; and if we're
diligent, might even get it included in the standard software center.

[** Disclaimer: numbers not verified 8-]

Now, my attempt at an answer:
Firstly, I haven't ever used genealogy software, so you're probably
already more knowledgeable on that end.
Secondly, I'm personally not a fan of windows software on linux via
Wine or otherwise, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

This is my general strategy when looking for software:
1) Search the Software Center, read the reviews and google a bit to
see which one is best, or, install them all and simply try them out.

2) If none are available or viable, google "ubuntu X software" or
"ubuntu open source X" to see if there are any other X software
options out there that are just not in the Software Center.
 * e.g. my search yielded:
 # http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20090826141137344/FamilyHistory.html
 # http://www.mylinuxsoftware.com/linux_genealogy_software.html
 # http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Free_genealogy_software
 2.a) If nothing viable on ubuntu, then I widen my search to include
any debian (on which ubuntu is based) installers , i.e. files ending
".deb"
 2.b) If no debian, then include general linux-based options.
 2.c) If no open source, I then look for linux-based closed-source options

3) If there still aren't any, and the ONLY option is a windows program
(this happens VERY rarely to me btw) then I try Wine:
 * goto http://www.winehq.org/ and search the program name you know
(e.g. "Legacy")
 * in the case of Legacy some versions are reported to be supported here:
 # http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=3207
 * take note of a) the version of the software you're installing on
wine; b) the version of wine you have installed from the software
center (there may be a discrepancy between the Software Center version
of Wine and the version reported to support the program); and c) the
level of support (e.g. gold, silver, garbage, ..) for the program
 * In the end... the only way to know if it will work is to try it...
but I'm starting to think you might have known that already ;-)

4) If Wine is not an option, then I boot up windows in VirtualBox or
VMWare; if either is already available, this may be preferable to
wine.
 * both of these (VirtualBox / VMWare) have "seamless integration"
modes where you can switch between "windows" and linux applications as
if Virtualbox isn't even running, i.e. "alt+tab" between them as if
both run on ubuntu.
 * if seamless integration doesn't do it for you, what I also do is
put VirtualBox on another desktop "workspace" then switch between
desktops -- there's a panel app for desktop switching in classic
gnome, before unity; or use the desktop-switching shortcut
"ctrl+alt+arrow", or "ctrl+alt+1..4" (if mapped to those shortcuts)
 * virtualbox and vmware can both hassle you with switching between
the host and client OS, by holding onto the mouse & keyboard: there's
a keyboard combo you hit to release focus - in VMware it's CTRL+ALT in
VBox I believe it's the right CTRL key, or ALT+right-CTRL


Wow, quite a mouth full, ain't it >.<

Kind Regards
-- 
Péter Nel