Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Linux?

Posted by phakding on Saturday January 12, 2019 @08:54PM
from the ask-hn dept.

We use Linux desktops at work and all our development/release is on Linux. We are however using Office 365 suite. We are now forced to move to MS Teams as hipchat is going away. MS Teams does not have a native Linux client and MS does not have any future plans to develop one.

I am wondering if there are any solutions that I can sell to management besides running entire windows os in VMware?

( 9 comments | 7 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by craftoman on Sunday January 13, 2019 @05:29PM (#18899120)

I run everything on Linux using virtualbox, I don't recommend Wine though. All you need is a decent PC unless you're at school or something. The only problem you will face is USB support for some cases I don't think an average user can setup everything in a matter of minutes, you may need hours even days on researching but in the end you'll be rewarded.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by lks128 on Sunday January 13, 2019 @07:04PM (#18899557)

I would consider using MS Teams web client to be a better option rather than running it in a virtual machine.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by arachno on Sunday January 13, 2019 @05:39AM (#18896102)

Virtualbox can emulate a windows machine on top of Linux

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by mark_l_watson on Saturday January 12, 2019 @08:57PM (#18894543)

This really doesn’t answer all your needs but the Microsoft Office 365 office and productivity apps are available as web apps, and work very well on Linux.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by phakding on Saturday January 12, 2019 @08:59PM (#18894552)

Agree. That's how we are using it. However teams webclient can't do some of the things like desktop sharing and conferences like we could do in hipchat.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by doose_droppa on Sunday January 13, 2019 @04:00PM (#18898653)

linux has a native desktop sharing, and if you secure things properly SShing to eachothers Boxes over an inhouse VPN.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by roschdal on Saturday January 12, 2019 @11:33PM (#18895088)

wine

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by mimixco on Saturday January 12, 2019 @11:32PM (#18895084)

How about Docker?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What are my options to run Windows programs on Li... by doose_droppa on Sunday January 13, 2019 @03:41PM (#18898549)

Libre Office.

it can work with MSO files, but has caveats regarding the nonstandard file specs. [docx. vs doc.] you can open and work with MSO nonspec files in libre office, but there is usually a note regarding format mangling due to a certain corporation breaking the file spec. Myself i have not had problems switching between the two ecosystems[MSO vs Libre] and the typical MS baggage is not attached to libre.

[ Parent | on HN ]