How to Run Windows Programs on your Ubuntu Shell™ Using WINE

Introduction

WINE is not an emulator; in fact, the acronym actually stands for it! WINE (Wine Is Not an Emulator) runs a compatibility layer that translates Windows commands into commands that your Ubuntu Shell™ can understand!

WINE comes installed on your Ubuntu Shell™, so you can quickly get started!

Before you get started

Not all Windows programs are fully supported by WINE, as new programs and updates are released their team works to make them available on WINE. To check if your Windows application is supported by WINE, check the Wine Application Database.

Wine uses a virtual C: drive as Windows depends on it to run. The directory of WINE's vitrual C: drive is called wineprefix. You must create a wineprefix using WINE's configuration wizard. Enter the following command to open the wizard:

# winecfg

This creates a wineprefix and allow you to change the configuration options if you choose to, or you can close it and make changes later. Now, the virtual C: drive will be located at the following path:

# $HOME/.wine/drive_c

Typically, new users should stick to installing each new application into its own new wineprefix. It is possible to use several wineprefix manually but can be cumbersome for beginners. This manual will be aimed toward newer users of WINE, or users looking to get more out of their Shell™.

Installing KeePassXC with WINE

KeePass is a free/open-source password manager or safe which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key-disk. So you only have to remember one single master password or insert the key-disk to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known (AES and Twofish).

For the purposes of this tutorial, we will be installing KeePassXC. A useful screen-recording a capturing tool for Windows.

1. Check the WineHQ application rating at:
https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=5780

Versions 2.x have a Silver rating, so they could be a little buggy. Today, I will be installing KeePassXC version 2.3.1 64-bit.

2. Download KeePassXC to the directory of your choice.

We recommend a simple path. I will be placing the file into the Downloads folder for my profile. (/home/jmiller/Downloads/.)

3. Open the Installation executable from the directory that you selected in the previous step.

In most cases, this step is as easy as simply double-clicking onto the executable Windows installation file. WINE should function as the default application for Windows files on your Ubuntu Shell™.

Note: You can also, right-click onto the file and select 'Open With Wine'

4. Click Next.

5. Select "I agree" (If you do), then click Next.

6. Install KeePassXC into the Program Files folder, click Next.

7. I recommend installing the shortcut in a simple location like the Desktop. Simply type 'Desktop\' before KeePassXC v2.3.1., then click Install.

8. Click 'Finish' to launch the application.

Done! You can open your application in the future by clicking the button and double clicking the icon for KeePassXC.

You can also open the installed application through the command line by entering 'wine', followed by the path for your application.

# wine "$HOME/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/KeepassXC/KeePassXC.exe"

By the way, to check your version of wine simply type:

# wine --version