this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
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I had to test/fix something at work and I set up a Windows VM because it was a bug specific to Windows users. Once I was done, I thought, “Maybe I should keep this VM for something.” but I couldn’t think of anything that wasn’t a game (which probably wouldn’t work well in a VM anyway) or some super specific enterprise software I don’t really use.

I also am more familiar with the Apple ecosystem than the Microsoft one so maybe I’m just oblivious to what’s out there. Does anyone out there dual boot or use a VM for a non-game, non-niche industry Windows exclusive program?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (7 children)

Visual Studio (Not VS Code), C# is fantastic these days cross-platform wise and a pretty solid general language

But the non-ms IDEs for it...are lacking...and MS just terminated MacOS support for VS (Not that it really mattered the macOS version was a bastardized version of VS anyways) so I don't think their flagship is coming (officially) to Linux anytime soon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Yeah I second Jetbrains Rider. It’s fantastic on Linux and dotnet development has never been better with it. The only lacking thing is WPF but there’s open source alternatives that are actually cross platform and integrate just as well (AvaloniaUI).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Rider has just been better in every way imo. I haven't touched VS in years.

It does cost but you also get a permanent licence for the version you paid for so you can pay for a year and keep that version.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

My experience has been very much the opposite. Windows is terrible for any development, even windows applications.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

There are some programs I still use that are designed for Windows, but use cases are "niche" or at very least specialized:

  1. Guitar Pro 8 - Guitar Tab software

  2. Line 6 HX Edit - Helix Settings Editor

  3. Line 6 Powercab Edit - Amp Settings Editoe

  4. Line 6 Updater - Firmware Updater for Line 6 Products

  5. Steelseries GG - Configuration Software for Steelseries Peripherals

  6. Numerous VSTs and other Audio Plugins


These are just what I remember I use off the top of my head.

I do use Guitar Pro 8 with Wine, but the others won't work through Wine. I did try to use the others with a Windows KVM through QEMU but I ultimately gave up and left one windows workstation because of my issues with my Nvidia RTX 3090.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Anyone using ReactOS for this?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I have a Windows VM that runs Visual Studio and a small number of developer tools so I can test my code on Windows. And another windows VM that runs Daz3D, Clip Studio Paint and the Epic Launcher (to download stuff from the Unreal Engine Marketplace).

Sometimes I misuse either VM by creating a snapshot and installing Garmin Connect so I can update the music library on my watch :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I run Scrivener, which is a writing software that's only for Mac & Windows (well, there is a Linux version but it's ancient), but I just run that through Wine rather than a VM. That's about the only thing I haven't found a good equivalent for on Linux though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah. I use quite a few windows exclusive programs. I know it is a long list but can't be helped. Good support and stability beats ideology and these apps provide me that. Here is the list:

I hope this list is helpful to others as well ☺️

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

non-game, non-niche

Nope, that's actually strictly my reason for having a dedicated Windows rig. Games, and niche homebrew apps.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Why not Gramps which is open sourced and works flawlessly in Windows, Limux, and macOS? 🙂

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

[email protected] if I am donating GPU power to science research. There is a BOINC client for Linux but packaging is a hot mess (though getting better) and compatibility with graphics drivers is hit-or-miss. So any crunching rigs I have w/ GPUs all run Windows.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Adobe Lightroom Classic. I have darktable installed on Linux, but I haven't mastered it yet. Lightroom is the software for photo editing, unfortuntately.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

notepad++ with textfx edit, textfx tools, and hex editor. I've tried a lot of other things and it is still my favorite.
I don't actually use it for coding, but I often have to futz with files received from customers/QA or test data that I create.

I have mac for work and have been mostly hating BBedit. I keep meaning to try Cate and I guess the folks that made Atom just released something new.

Edit: just remembered: I did try Cate but had really weird UI issues using any dark themes (menus, etc. all became unreadable) and gave up.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

I use an old copy of Photoshop CS5 via VMWare and Windows 10 installed in it. Unfortunately the Gimp doesn't have adjustment layers and the Selective Color feature. I can't live without these two features, I need them on each and every scan of my paintings to fix colors.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I have a Windows computer in the basement to run one program: The virtual cycling platform Zwift.

But someone made a docker image for it, so even that is tenuous. I fired it up on the Linux system I'm typing this on, and it worked fine.

I'm not very familiar with Docker and the like, though. What if the person that created it decides he's no longer interested in maintaining it?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

QFIL aka Qualcomm Flash Image Loader but only because the rooting of my XR headset (Lynx) https://lynx.miraheze.org/wiki/Rooting_Process relies on it.

I've done it successfully so now I understand a bit better how it works. I could try to use instead https://github.com/bkerler/edl which looks even more complete and reproducible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I have a Windows 11 VM which I keep around. I was forced to use it for iTunes because I needed to sync my old photos onto the phone (fortunately a one time process).

I also played around with RemoteApp because I wanted to use Visual Studio or Office on Linux through the Windows VM, but I have not managed to get it working.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I haven't been able to get Vectric Aspire to work yet, even under wine. It's used to layout tool paths for CNC operations, so it may be a little on the niche side, but it's pretty popular there.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago
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