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d3Xt3r
WinApps doesn't use a Docker backend btw, you can use any Windows machine running anywhere - cloud, physical, container etc. All you need is the IP address of the box once it's set up.
This looks great though. +1 choosing Qt instead of Electron. -1 for Python though. Otherwise, your approach ticks most of my boxes.
One feature I'd like to see though is reverse file associations - basically associate Linux filetypes inside the Windows VM so that any file you open in a Windows app would open the file in Linux, assuming Linux has a file association for it. Say I've installed Directory Opus in the VM and I want to use it as my primary file manager in Linux, and say I double-click on a .xml file, I would like to open it in the Linux app associated with that filetype (which would be Kate in my case).
kernalix7
Right, I had WinApps pinned to dockur in that comparison and missed the IP-based flexibility part. That's an actual difference, will fix the README.
On Python: fair pushback. Picked it for stdlib coverage (zero runtime deps on 3.11+, one tomli fallback for 3.9/3.10) and iteration speed. Heavy lifting is in the container and FreeRDP so perf hasn't been the bottleneck, but yeah the language choice is a tradeoff.
Reverse file association is interesting, hadn't thought about that direction. The v0.3.0 agent could probably handle it but I'd want to look at the security model first. Marking it TBD. If you open an issue with the use case that'd help me scope it.
thesuavefactor
What's wrong with python for this use case?
d3Xt3r
I'm fine with the language, I just don't like its dependency ecosystem. I don't mind using it for quick-and-dirty single-file scripts, but once a python project reaches a certain level of complexity, you start relying on external libraries and before you know it, you now have to maintain this messy behemoth of a project with a gazillion dependencies, breakages and potential vulnerabilities up the chain... just thinking about it gives me a headache.
romanroe
Doesn't this apply to every language? You always will rely on external libraries once a project reaches a certain level.
kernalix7
yeah.. I also agreed with that. so I'll optimize the code continuously and lower the dependency on python. but for now I'll keep it because of some benefits.
Sithuk
How does the responsiveness of the application compare between the OCI winpodx approach and a VM based winapps approach?
The OCI approach should mean that resources are not ringfenced and held separate from the host, which would be beneficial for applications run on the host. A winapps approach using a VM that is run on the host would constrain the host while the VM is running, which the VM would need to be to make sure the windows app is "always available".
Is there a noticeable performance benefit to using winpodx compared to winapps? How does the idle resource usage compare too?
kernalix7
[dead]
deevus
Demo? Video? That's the first thing I want to see.
kernalix7
Fair point. Working on it now — will push a screenshot and short clip soon.
shlip
Does this mean that each software you run is now the size of a windows install + sw or is it a single container that runs all your softwares ?
kernalix7
For now single container runs all softwares. tradeoff with dockur/windows limits, saves ram and disk. planning multi container later for better isolation.
the_wolo
Is it intended that readers initially read "windpox" (as I did)? I hope so. That'd be funny.
satvikpendem
So, Linux subsystem for Windows?
happymellon
Since this is a UI forwarder to a Windows machine, I don't think so?
satvikpendem
Well, WSL GUI apps are just a forwarder to a Linux VM in the Hyper-V hypervisor.
happymellon
WSL2 is. The first WSL wasn't though, was it?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux
> allows the use of a Linux environment from within Windows, foregoing the overhead of a virtual machine and being an alternative to dual booting.
WSL2 isn't a Windows subsystem by definition as far as I can tell.
kernalix7
yeah from user side it feels like that. but technically its more like extremely user-friendly way of using VMs.
politelemon
> GPU passthrough via VFIO is a manual bring-your-own setup — not yet packaged.
Can we take this to mean that GPU passthrough is planned? This would be huge especially for running Adobe/Canva software.
kernalix7
Just at the planning stage, needs careful consideration first.
hallegbg
Interesting!
quincepie
Might be harsh to say but not bothering to fix the spacing in the ai generated ascii diagram tells me how much i should be taking this project seriously.
kernalix7
That's my mistake. I just focused on the functionally working, so I missed that point.
walrus01
Let's hope nobody teaches "AI" how to use aalib to generate cool looking renderings of things.
mtucker502
Every reply by OP sounds like AI.
bugufu8f83
Yes, looking at their profile it does look that way for all their contributions on HN. Ctrl+F "real" and Ctrl+F "genuine" as one quick indicator--AI absolutely loves these adjectives and their forms right now.
kernalix7
The Korean intent is mine, but I run it through an LLM to phrase in English. That's where the pattern comes from. Will skip the LLM step from here.
tomhow
It's against the guidelines to do this. The community much prefers you write in your own voice, even if your English is imperfect.
selfhoster11
I use both of these and I don't think I've once had an LLM rewrite my comment before posting it on HN.
thunderbong
And "fair"
Zetaphor
Terse sentences? This is how I naturally write and think out loud and I assure you I'm not an LLM
odie5533
Fair hit, though I'd like to push back slightly
faangguyindia
On Mac, you can select a text you write, right click > Writing tools, which uses AI to rewrite and proofread.
kernalix7
Fair, English isn't my first language and I've been leaning on tooling. I'll dial it back.
trollbridge
English-as-a-second language is very much welcome here--your grammar/spelling do not need to be perfect. Just try your best.
kernalix7
Thanks for your opinion, i ll try my best!
seoulful
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Will Solidworks work on Linux now?